The conclusions from the main analysis for 2030 and for the 2050 demand sectors remain the same. 

• By 2030, in all scenarios -including sensitivities- solar PV capacity needs to increase by a factor 4 and wind onshore and offshore by a factor 2. In all sensitivities, there are 1,5 million residential homes and commercial buildings with heat pumps and 2 million electric cars on the Belgian roads.
• By 2050, there is no more fossil fuel used except small quantities in some industries.
• On the supply side, low carbon electricity is the largest resource for the total energy system. There is no uptake of local green hydrogen production before 2030.

The Central and the Clean molecules scenarios have a structural deficit of low carbon resources. 

• The interconnection import capacity increases from the current 6.5 GW to 13 GW by 2040 and yet, there is not enough electricity. In fact, there is a structural deficit of low carbon resources, especially in the period 2030-2040. The imports from the neighbouring countries as well as the import capacity are not sufficient, and importing of molecules is costly. Solar electricity is very cost efficient however for some demands, it is too costly to match solar production profile with demand profiles.
• Without enough low carbon electricity, some demand sectors will not be able to electrify and will reinvest in fossil-based technologies. In other words, there is a high risk of stranded assets. A stranded asset is for example a replacement of an existing diesel truck with a new diesel truck that cannot be used any longer even before reaching its end of life.

It is important to have clean electrons timely. 

2030 is an important milestone but also the period 2030 to 2040 is crucial. The most cost optimal net-zero emission scenario is a scenario in which Belgium looks for renewable energy resources beyond its borders.

• Demand electrification can happen in time only if zero carbon electricity reaches 70TWh by 2030 and 150 TWh by 2040. Starting from currently 22 TWh, electricity production from renewable resources must triple by 2030 and must increase sevenfold by 2040.
• Access to additional offshore wind is the most important factor to lower the energy system cost because it can enable early electrification of demand sectors. In doing so, around 19 GW of offshore is active by 2040 (8 GW in Belgian waters + around 11 GW additional).
• Based on our assumptions, new small modular nuclear power plants (SMR) and offshore wind have a comparable electricity cost however SMR comes too late for guaranteeing a smooth transition in the demand sectors.
• Much of the energy will be imported from nearby sources and in all scenarios, we will import far less energy than we do today.

Current (2020) renewable electricity generation is

22 TWh

By 2030 zero carbon electricity reaches

70 TWh

in all scenarios

By 2040 zero carbon electricity has to reach

150 TWh

to electrify demand timely

It is more important to have clean electrons timely
than to have the optimal mix. 

• All scenarios that have at least 15 GW offshore wind power by 2040, have very similar total costs.
• Regarding cost efficiency in the period 2030-2040, offshore is followed by onshore wind and solar electricity. In the sensitivity where we enforce a high level of solar in 2040 (‘Electr. PV 75% Push’), photovoltaic power starts to outcompete onshore wind power and the less favorable offshore wind parks.
• Introducing new small modular nuclear power plants (SMR) has a major impact on the electricity mix in 2050, mainly reducing PV and hydrogen needs.
• The investments in small modular nuclear power plants get outcompeted if Belgium manages to get access to 32 GW of additional offshore wind power or if the cost of SMR is above 10800 euro per kW.
• Electrification of demand sectors is largely independent from the electricity mix. The only effect we observe is that high levels of solar power trigger heat storage with basic electric heaters.