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Belgian Energy Transition: What Are the Options?

Author

Listed:
  • Gauthier Limpens

    (Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1030 Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium
    Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering (IPESE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland)

  • Hervé Jeanmart

    (Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil Engineering, Université Catholique de Louvain, 1030 Louvain-la-neuve, Belgium)

  • Francois Maréchal

    (Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering (IPESE), École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, 1000 Lausanne, Switzerland)

Abstract

Different scenarios at different scales must be studied to help define long term policies to decarbonate our societies. In this work, we analyse the Belgian energy system in 2035 for different carbon emission targets, and accounting for electricity, heat, and mobility. To achieve this objective, we applied the EnergyScope Typical Days open source model, which optimises both the investment and the operation strategy of a complete energy system for a target year. The model includes 96 technologies and 24 resources that have to supply, hourly, the heat, electricity, mobility, and non-energy demands. In line with other research, we identify and quantify, with a merit order, different technological steps of the energy transition. The lack of endogenous resources in Belgium is highlighted and estimated at 275.6 TWh/y. It becomes obvious that additional potentials shall be obtained by importing renewable fuels and/or electricity, deploying geothermal energy, etc. Aside from a reduction of the energy demand, a mix of solutions is shown to be, by far, the most cost effective to reach low carbon emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Gauthier Limpens & Hervé Jeanmart & Francois Maréchal, 2020. "Belgian Energy Transition: What Are the Options?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-29, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:1:p:261-:d:305282
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Limpens, Gauthier & Jeanmart, Hervé, 2018. "Electricity storage needs for the energy transition: An EROI based analysis illustrated by the case of Belgium," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 152(C), pages 960-973.
    2. Limpens, Gauthier & Moret, Stefano & Jeanmart, Hervé & Maréchal, Francois, 2019. "EnergyScope TD: A novel open-source model for regional energy systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    3. Prina, Matteo Giacomo & Lionetti, Matteo & Manzolini, Giampaolo & Sparber, Wolfram & Moser, David, 2019. "Transition pathways optimization methodology through EnergyPLAN software for long-term energy planning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 235(C), pages 356-368.
    4. Caroline Hambye & Bart Hertveldt & Bernhard Klaus Michel, 2017. "Working Paper 10-17 - Belgium’s Carbon Footprint - Calculations based on a national accounts consistent global multi-regional input-output table," Working Papers 1710, Federal Planning Bureau, Belgium.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jonathan Dumas & Antoine Dubois & Paolo Thiran & Pierre Jacques & Francesco Contino & Bertrand Cornélusse & Gauthier Limpens, 2022. "The Energy Return on Investment of Whole-Energy Systems: Application to Belgium," Biophysical Economics and Resource Quality, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 1-34, December.
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    4. Borasio, M. & Moret, S., 2022. "Deep decarbonisation of regional energy systems: A novel modelling approach and its application to the Italian energy transition," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    5. Eleonora Riva Sanseverino & Le Quyen Luu, 2022. "Critical Raw Materials and Supply Chain Disruption in the Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-5, August.
    6. Régis Delubac & Mohammad Sadr & Sabine Sochard & Sylvain Serra & Jean-Michel Reneaume, 2023. "Optimized Operation and Sizing of Solar District Heating Networks with Small Daily Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-20, January.
    7. Dubois, Antoine & Dumas, Jonathan & Thiran, Paolo & Limpens, Gauthier & Ernst, Damien, 2023. "Multi-objective near-optimal necessary conditions for multi-sectoral planning," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
    8. Xavier Rixhon & Gauthier Limpens & Diederik Coppitters & Hervé Jeanmart & Francesco Contino, 2021. "The Role of Electrofuels under Uncertainties for the Belgian Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-23, July.
    9. Régis Delubac & Sylvain Serra & Sabine Sochard & Jean-Michel Reneaume, 2021. "A Dynamic Optimization Tool to Size and Operate Solar Thermal District Heating Networks Production Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-27, November.
    10. Plazas-Niño, F.A. & Ortiz-Pimiento, N.R. & Montes-Páez, E.G., 2022. "National energy system optimization modelling for decarbonization pathways analysis: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).

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