Belgium has committed to a clean energy transition, aligning with the goals of the Paris Agreement and the EU’s climate and energy targets for 2030.

• The binding targets include the following:
  • Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40%
  • Increasing energy efficiency by at least 32.5%
  • Increasing the share of renewable energy to at least 32% of EU energy use
  • Ensuring at least 15% electricity interconnection levels between neighboring member states

• Belgium’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan proposes an 18.3% share of energy from renewable sources in gross final consumption by 2030 as its contribution to the EU renewable energy target.

Since 2014, the EPB has required a minimum proportion of the energy needed in buildings to be obtained from renewable sources. How large the minimum share must be, and which quality requirements apply depends on the date of the building permit application, the nature of the works (new construction or major energy renovation) and the destination (residential or nonresidential building).

Flanders

In the Flemish Region, as of 1 January 2022, nonresidential buildings of more than 500 square meters have to meet a minimum use of 5% of renewable energy. This obligation has to be complied with within a five-year period and applies to every new owner, tenant under a lease that includes construction works, and long leaseholder (emphytéote/erfpachter) of offices or retail buildings.

The requirements in Flanders for new permit applications can be found here: https://assets.vlaanderen.be/image/upload/v1693302908/epbeisentabel2025_sq9f78.pdf (in Dutch).

As a rule of thumb, the share of energy stemming from renewables is at least 20 kilowatt-hours per square meter per year.

Brussels

In Brussels, the EPB submissions for new buildings with a surface area of more than 1,000 square meters or substantial renovation works with a surface area of more than 5,000 square meters have to include a similar feasibility study regarding alternative high-efficiency energy systems. Brussels has very ambitious targets: For a building to comply with zero or very low energy consumption targets, the recommendations of the EU (2016/1318) must be taken into account, depending on the EPB destination:

• Residential: 15 to 30 kWh/(m².year) primary energy consumption (after deduction of renewables)
• Nonresidential: 40 to 55 kWh/(m².year) primary energy consumption (after deduction of renewable energy sources)

The new rules set an indicative target of at least a 49% renewable energy share in buildings by 2030.

Additionally, renewable targets for heating and cooling will gradually increase as follows:

• A binding increase of 0.8% per year at the national level until 2026
• A binding increase of 1.1% per year from 2026 to 2030

Wallonia

Wallonia aims to reach its 2030 target of a 17.5% share of renewable energy sources. Measures focus on wind, photovoltaic energy, biofuels and the use of waste heat. Since 1 January 2023, large nonresidential buildings in Wallonia have had to achieve a minimum 5% renewable energy share within five years of transfer.