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Homepage Overview 2021 year 2021 year 2020 year 2019 year 2018 year 2017 OSM location
summary energy [kWh/d/p] energy [%] energy [TWh] renewables and biofuels


This page shows the energy use for Belgium, using 0.39 percent of world energy production for 11.6 million inhabitants in 2019. Energy is typically specified in Million metric Ton of Oil Equivalent [Mtoe] for large quantities. This work prefers to use TeraWatt-hours (TWh) instead, which is obtained by multiplying the a value expressed in Mtoe with a factor 11.63 . To allow an easy comparison between countries, we normalize the TWh value to kiloWatt-hour per day per person (kWh/d/p) - David MacKay introduced this energy unit in [5]. Day to day energy production or consumption can fluctuate from a kWh/d/p value, for example space heating consumes more energy in the winter season.

These values are summarized in table 0.1 . The first two columns show the gross inland energy consumption and gross renewable and biofuel consumptions. We do so since some renewable and biofuel sources are converted to electricity for final energy consumption. The third column shows the total final energy consumption of Belgium. The fourth column shows the electricity consumption, which is a part of the final energy consumption.

The main data source for this page are the Eurostat energy balances, edition April 2022. A population plot of Belgium and a list of data source references are available below.

Table 0.1 Energy summary for Belgium in 2018.
Gross inland consumptionGross renewable and biofuel consumptionFinal energy consumptionElectricity consumption
54.7 Mtoe4.25 Mtoe33.2 Mtoe7.12 Mtoe
636 TWh49.4 TWh386 TWh82.8 TWh
153 kWh/d/p11.9 kWh/d/p92.8 kWh/d/p19.9 kWh/d/p
100 % (gross)7.76 % (gross)60.7 % (gross)13.0 % (gross)
165 % (final)12.8 % (final)100 % (final)21.4 % (final)
Gross inland energy consumption in 2018 for Belgium
Figure 0.1 Belgium yearly gross inland energy consumption, split according to fuel type.
monthly average percentage of solar PV, heating and cooling degree days for Brussels in Belgium
Figure 0.2 Monthly average percentage of solar photovoltaics, heating and cooling degree days for Brussels in Belgium.
Energy balance summary, using kWh/d/p to express energy consumption
normalized final energy in kWh/d/p for Belgium
Figure 1.1 Yearly final energy consumption in kWh/d/p for Belgium.

Table 1.1 Final energy consumption in kWh/d/p for Belgium in 2018.
Belgium 2018 [kWh/d/p]TotalElectricityOil and petroleum productsNatural gasSolid fossil fuelsRenewables and biofuelsNuclear heatNon-renewable wasteHeat
Gross inland consumption153
-3.44%		4.16
+187%		64.0
=0.0%		42.1
+2.78%		8.61
=0.0%		11.9
+2.22%		19.5
-32.7%		1.79
+0.47%		0.92
-9.83%
Final energy consumption92.8
+0.27%		19.9
+0.37%		37.3
-0.27%		26.6
+0.29%		1.36
+2.21%		5.55
+0.59%		0.0
0.41
+12.2%		1.19
+8.3%
  + Industry sector  29.9
  +1.84%		  9.38
  +0.69%		  4.23
  +5.19%		  11.3
  +0.28%		  1.16
  +6.21%		  2.02
  +2.23%		  0.0
  		  0.33
  +15.8%		  0.98
  +8.47%
  + Transport sector  24.9
  =0.0%		  0.42
  +2.12%		  23.0
  =0.0%		  0.12
  +21.5%		  0.00018
  -0.41%		  1.34
  -0.38%		  0.0
  		  0.0
  		  0.0
  
  + Other sectors  38.1
  -0.8%		  10.1
  =0.0%		  10.1
  -2.9%		  15.2
  +0.15%		  0.2
  -15.9%		  2.19
  -0.28%		  0.0
  		  0.08
  -0.41%		  0.21
  +7.49%
    ++ Services    13.0
    =0.0%		    5.22
    =0.0%		    2.11
    -2.82%		    5.28
    +0.79%		    0.0
    		    0.16
    +7.78%		    0.0
    		    0.08
    -0.41%		    0.16
    +7.58%
    ++ Households    22.6
    -1.4%		    4.45
    -0.57%		    6.87
    -2.79%		    9.15
    -0.56%		    0.16
    -18.5%		    1.9
    -0.65%		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.036
    +5.79%
    ++ Agri/forest    2.25
    =0.0%		    0.4
    +6.8%		    0.88
    -5.65%		    0.8
    +4.25%		    0.043
    -4.07%		    0.12
    -4.42%		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.014
    +11.0%
    ++ Fishing    0.089
    +8.64%		    0.0
    		    0.089
    +8.64%		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    
Energy balance summary, using percent to express energy consumption.
final energy in percent for Belgium
Figure 1.2 Yearly final energy consumption in percent for Belgium.

Table 1.2 Final energy consumption in percent for Belgium in 2018.
Belgium 2018 [percent]TotalElectricityOil and petroleum productsNatural gasSolid fossil fuelsRenewables and biofuelsNuclear heatNon-renewable wasteHeat
Gross inland consumption165%
-6.34%		4.49%
+2.92%		69.0%
-0.2%		45.3%
+1.11%		9.28%
=0.0%		12.8%
+0.24%		21.0%
-10.3%		1.92%
=0.0%		0.99%
-0.11%
Final energy consumption100%
=0.0%		21.4%
=0.0%		40.2%
-0.22%		28.7%
=0.0%		1.47%
=0.0%		5.97%
=0.0%		0.0%
=0.0%		0.44%
=0.0%		1.28%
=0.0%
  + Industry sector  32.2%
  +0.5%		  10.1%
  =0.0%		  4.56%
  +0.21%		  12.2%
  =0.0%		  1.25%
  =0.0%		  2.18%
  =0.0%		  0.0%
  =0.0%		  0.35%
  =0.0%		  1.06%
  =0.0%
  + Transport sector  26.8%
  =0.0%		  0.45%
  =0.0%		  24.8%
  =0.0%		  0.13%
  =0.0%		  0.00019%
  =0.0%		  1.44%
  =0.0%		  0.0%
  =0.0%		  0.0%
  =0.0%		  0.0%
  =0.0%
  + Other sectors  41.0%
  -0.44%		  10.9%
  =0.0%		  10.9%
  -0.35%		  16.4%
  =0.0%		  0.22%
  =0.0%		  2.36%
  =0.0%		  0.0%
  =0.0%		  0.086%
  =0.0%		  0.23%
  =0.0%
    ++ Services    14.0%
    =0.0%		    5.62%
    =0.0%		    2.27%
    =0.0%		    5.69%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.18%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.086%
    =0.0%		    0.17%
    =0.0%
    ++ Households    24.3%
    -0.41%		    4.79%
    =0.0%		    7.4%
    -0.23%		    9.86%
    =0.0%		    0.17%
    =0.0%		    2.05%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.038%
    =0.0%
    ++ Agri/forest    2.42%
    =0.0%		    0.43%
    =0.0%		    0.94%
    =0.0%		    0.86%
    =0.0%		    0.046%
    =0.0%		    0.13%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.015%
    =0.0%
    ++ Fishing    0.096%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.096%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%		    0.0%
    =0.0%
Energy balance summary, using TWh to express energy consumption
final energy in TWh for Belgium
Figure 1.3 Yearly final energy consumption in TWh for Belgium.

Table 1.3 Final energy consumption in TWh for Belgium in 2018.
Belgium 2018 [TWh]TotalElectricityOil and petroleum productsNatural gasSolid fossil fuelsRenewables and biofuelsNuclear heatNon-renewable wasteHeat
Gross inland consumption636
-3.05%		17.3
+188%		266
+0.39%		175
+3.21%		35.8
+0.34%		49.4
+2.64%		81.0
-32.4%		7.43
+0.89%		3.81
-9.45%
Final energy consumption386
+0.68%		82.8
+0.79%		155
+0.14%		111
+0.7%		5.67
+2.63%		23.1
+1.01%		0.0
1.69
+12.7%		4.95
+8.74%
  + Industry sector  124
  +2.26%		  39.0
  +1.1%		  17.6
  +5.63%		  46.9
  +0.7%		  4.83
  +6.65%		  8.4
  +2.65%		  0.0
  		  1.36
  +16.3%		  4.08
  +8.92%
  + Transport sector  104
  +0.48%		  1.75
  +2.54%		  95.7
  +0.38%		  0.51
  +22.1%		  0.00073
  =0.0%		  5.56
  =0.0%		  0.0
  		  0.0
  		  0.0
  
  + Other sectors  158
  -0.39%		  42.0
  +0.42%		  41.9
  -2.5%		  63.4
  +0.56%		  0.85
  -15.5%		  9.11
  +0.13%		  0.0
  		  0.33
  =0.0%		  0.87
  +7.93%
    ++ Services    54.2
    +0.46%		    21.7
    +0.47%		    8.78
    -2.42%		    22.0
    +1.21%		    0.0
    		    0.68
    +8.22%		    0.0
    		    0.33
    =0.0%		    0.67
    +8.02%
    ++ Households    93.9
    -1.0%		    18.5
    -0.16%		    28.6
    -2.39%		    38.1
    -0.15%		    0.67
    -18.2%		    7.92
    -0.24%		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.15
    +6.22%
    ++ Agri/forest    9.36
    +0.4%		    1.68
    +7.24%		    3.64
    -5.26%		    3.31
    +4.68%		    0.18
    -3.67%		    0.49
    -4.02%		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.057
    +11.5%
    ++ Fishing    0.37
    +9.09%		    0.0
    		    0.37
    +9.09%		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    		    0.0
    
Renewables and biofuel gross inland energy consumption
gross inland consumption of renewables and biofuels for Belgium
Figure 1.4 Yearly gross inland consumption of renewables and biofuels for Belgium.

Table 1.4 Gross inland consumtion of renewables and biofuels for Belgium in 2018.
Belgium 2018 renewables and biofuels[percent (gross)][percent (final)][kWh/d/p][percent][TWh]
Gross inland consumption100% (gross)165% (final)1531290%636
Renewables and biofuels - gross inland consumption7.76% (gross)12.8% (final)11.9100%49.4
  Hydro (0.35% of electricity)  0.046% (gross)  0.076% (final)  0.07  0.59%  0.29
  Tide, wave, ocean (0.0% of electricity)  0.0% (gross)  0.0% (final)  0.0  0.0%  0.0
  Wind (9.15% of electricity)  1.19% (gross)  1.96% (final)  1.82  15.3%  7.57
  Solar photovoltaic (4.72% of electricity)  0.61% (gross)  1.01% (final)  0.94  7.9%  3.9
  Solar thermal  0.048% (gross)  0.079% (final)  0.073  0.62%  0.3
  Geothermal  0.0053% (gross)  0.0087% (final)  0.0081  0.068%  0.034
  Primary solid biofuels  3.65% (gross)  6.01% (final)  5.58  47.0%  23.2
  Charcoal  0.026% (gross)  0.042% (final)  0.039  0.33%  0.16
  Biogases  0.42% (gross)  0.69% (final)  0.64  5.37%  2.65
  Renewable municipal waste  0.68% (gross)  1.13% (final)  1.05  8.81%  4.35
  Pure biogasoline  0.21% (gross)  0.34% (final)  0.32  2.67%  1.32
  Blended biogasoline  0.0% (gross)  0.0% (final)  0.0  0.0%  0.0
  Pure biodiesels  0.68% (gross)  1.11% (final)  1.03  8.71%  4.3
  Blended biodiesels  0.0% (gross)  0.0% (final)  0.0  0.0%  0.0
  Pure bio jet kerosene  0.0% (gross)  0.0% (final)  0.0  0.0%  0.0
  Blended bio jet kerosene  0.0% (gross)  0.0% (final)  0.0  0.0%  0.0
  Other liquid biofuels  0.034% (gross)  0.056% (final)  0.052  0.44%  0.22
  Ambient heat (heat pumps)  0.17% (gross)  0.28% (final)  0.26  2.2%  1.09
Population trend
Population trend of Belgium
Figure 2.1 Population trend for Belgium.

Acknowledgement: We would like to express our gratitude to Eurostat, part of the European Commission, for allowing free re-use of energy balances and related data. Website: ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy.

Disclaimer: This work provides a summary of the original data, converting ktoe (kilo ton oil equivalent) values to other energy units such as relative percentages, TWh (TeraWatt-hours) and normalized kWh/d/p (kiloWatt-hours per day per person) values. Values are rounded to 3 significant digits. Eurostat is not responsible for data conversion or rounding errors in doing so.

Other visualizations: Since 2022 Eurostat provides a set of interactive visualization tools for energy at ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy/visualisations. For energy balances Total energy supply is used there, which is equivalent to the Gross inland consumption minus the energy of international aviation.

References:

[1]
Eurostat yearly energy balances. This work uses edition 2022 (up to year 2020). The energy data is converted to TWh (terra Watt-hour) and derived units.
ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/energy/data/energy-balances
[2]
Energy balance guide - new methodology. Explain the use(fulness) of energy balances, as well as how they are constructed.
energy.at-site.be/eurostat/energy-balance-guide-01-2019.pdf
[3]
EU energy in figures, Statistical pocketbook 2020, ISBN 978-92-76-19443-9. Visualizes energy statistics up to 2018. The glossary in appendix 7 explains energy terminology.
doi: 10.2833/29877
[4]
The number of persons having their usual residence in a country on 1 January of a given year.
ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/tps00001/default/table
[5]
David J.C. MacKay. Sustainable Energy – without the hot air, UIT Cambridge, 2008. ISBN 978-0-9544529-3-3. Chapter 2 - energy and power section.
www.withouthotair.com
[6]
PVGIS 5 post processed data plots for Brussels -- Additionally, Renewables.ninja post processed data plots for Belgium can be found at energy.at-site.be/ninja/EU/Belgium .
energy.at-site.be/pvgis/EU/Brussels

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