2023-08-14 05:52:39
With the decommissioning of the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 reactors, the Belgian electricity fleet lost 2 gigawatts from sources with relatively low CO2 emissions.
Belgian electricity production emitted during the last semester 13% more CO2 than during the same period the previous year, because of the fclosure of the Doel 3 and Tihange 2 nuclear reactorsreports De Standaard on Monday, citing calculations by researcher Sam Hamels, a post-doctoral researcher in energy economics at the University of Ghent.
Doel 3 closed on September 23 last year, and Tihange 2 on February 1. The Belgian electricity fleet has therefore lost 2 gigawatts, which are altogether low CO2 emitters.
CO2 emissions during the first six months of the year went from 148 to 168 grams of CO2 per kilowatt hour (KWh). The calculation remains conservative in itself, assuming emissions of 500 grams per KWh by gas-fired power plants.
Emissions from energy production in neighboring countries were 349 grams per KWh in the Netherlands, 486 grams in Germany and 72 grams in France. The Netherlands and Germany still use coal-fired power plants.
A very polluting month of February
In Belgium, the differences are also notable from month to month. In February 2023, CO2 emissions were for example 57% higher than last year at the same time.
In Julyon the other hand, they were 33% lower until July 2022. It depends a lot on the production of renewable energies.
Last year was relatively sunny, and this year more windy, especially in July. But also in 2022, the nuclear power plants worked more.
1692048057
#Belgian #electricity #production #emitted #CO2 #semester
