Wallonia’s wind capacity increased by 125 megawatt-hours (MWh) in 2023 but this still falls short of the region’s targets, says Edora – the renewable energy federation.
The organisation says that over 150 MWh of new installations are required each year to achieve Wallonia’s production goal of 6,200 GWh annual power output by 2030.
41 wind turbines were erected in Wallonia (137 MWh) last year, while just eight were dismantled (12 MWh), contributing to the net capacity increase to 125 MWh. Consequently, Wallonia’s total wind power capacity reached 1,422 MWh – enough to generate annual electricity for more than 750,000 households, Edora points out.
Across Belgium a total of 60 onshore wind turbines (203 MWh) were added in 2023, bringing the nation’s total wind capacity – including offshore installations – to 5,493 MWh. This capacity accounts for over 15% of Belgium’s electricity consumption.
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However, Edora laments the rising “legal insecurity” facing the sector, evidenced by the 680 MWh of awarded wind permits, which have been impeded, usually for several years, by a small number of objectors with the State Council involved. These projects, if unblocked, could generate an amount equivalent to the annual power consumption of 350,000 households, the federation notes.
Despite the efforts at both the federal and levels, Edora laments that “numerous obstacles persist in wind turbine implementation”. They are urging the Wallonia government to ensure “a structural and sustainable revival of the wind sector”.
