Renewable energy in Flanders: objectives, plans and implementation

With 2020 and 2030 as planning horizons, the EU has imposed targets and requested efforts from member states for the use of renewable energy—electricity, heat, and fuel generated from non-fossil sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass. The Court of Auditors examined whether the Flemish plans allowed for achieving the European targets. It found that the Belgian authorities have difficulty agreeing on targets. The final, updated National Energy and Climate Plan was only approved in early October 2025. The Flemish Region narrowly achieved its 2020 target, partly due to the statistical purchase of surplus renewable energy from abroad. Flanders focuses disproportionately on green electricity, while green heat—despite its significant potential—remains underutilized. Moreover, the support policy has not always been stable.