Engie plans an investment of 4 billion euros, but does not want to extend nuclear power plants for another twenty years: “We already have enough work” | Domestic
Engie plans an investment of 4 billion euros, but does not want to extend nuclear power plants for another twenty years: “We already have enough work” | Domestic
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The energy group Engie plans to invest up to four billion euros in our country by 2030. The new CEO of Engie Belgium, Vincent Verbeke, announced this today. The Belgian market leader is launching a new strategy, called Energize2030, for the coming years. Engie wants to generate more electricity through renewable energy, invest in flexible capacity and be a pioneer in the change to green hydrogen energy. But there is currently not much enthusiasm about a possible extension of the lifespan of Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear power stations by twenty years instead of ten years.
According to the CEO, Engie plans to produce three times as much renewable energy by 2030. All together, the investments amount to 4 billion euros. This includes the costs for the extension, by ten years, of the Doel 4 and Tihange 3 nuclear power stations. The cost of this is estimated at 1.6 to 2 billion euros, half of which will be borne by Engie and the other half by the government. .
That would be a completely different project. We already have enough work
Vincent Verbeke, CEO Engie Belgium
The energy group and the federal government reached an agreement in 2023 on a ten-year extension of the lifespan of both nuclear power plants. That is “very complex,” Verbeke explains. “It has never been done before in Belgium.” Now, in the run-up to the elections, discussions are being held about an extension of twenty years instead of ten years. According to Verbeke, that option is not on the table. “That would be a completely different project.” Engie therefore wants to focus fully on the ten-year extension. “That is the priority for us. We already have enough work.”
Other priorities
The new CEO points out that within the group, priority is given to renewable energy, flexibility and green hydrogen. Engie wants to participate in the new wind farms in the Princess Elisabeth zone, which is the zone designated for the construction of new wind turbines in the North Sea. A doubling of the capacity of onshore wind turbines is also planned, as well as a tripling of the capacity of solar panels.
In addition, work has been underway for some time on the expansion of the Coo hydroelectric power station. Additional battery parks are also planned, in addition to the recent plans for the construction of a large battery park in Vilvoorde. Engie is also building an 875 megawatt gas-fired power station in Flémalle, but there are no plans yet for additional gas-fired power stations.
Engie also focuses on flexibility on the demand side. This concerns, for example, charging electric cars at times when there is little demand for electricity. When there is a need for electricity, these cars can put part of their power back on the grid, “making them function like one big battery,” says Verbeke.
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