What is the future
for heating in Brussels?

Green hydrogen, an alternative for heating in Brussels?

Unlike natural gas, which is extracted from deposits, green hydrogen is a manufactured gas. It is obtained by electrolysis, using water and electricity produced by renewable energy.

Could it ever meet the heating needs of Brussels customers? This is one of the questions explored in a study commissioned by Sibelga from SWECO and Deloitte. Its results, communicated in June 2022, confirm that hydrogen could be a technically and economically feasible solution to meet part of the heating needs of Brussels customers in the future.

As for the network, this first study shows that the majority of gas pipes would be able to transport hydrogen. Further analysis of the full compatibility of the network will be carried out.

A task force to advise the Brussels government

Sibelga is working closely with Brussels Environment, the office of the Minister for Energy and the regulator Brugel within an energy taskforce launched in July 2022.

The aim? To advise the regional government on the technical and economic dimensions of energy transition options for the coming years. “Every four years, Europe requires governments to carry out a full assessment of the heat and cooling potential. Until now, Brussels Environment has been responsible for this task. This time we are working together within the task force,” says Bruno Deremince, Energy Transition Officer.

Sibelga joins forces with Fluxys for hydrogen transport

Although its practical applications have yet to be determined, green hydrogen will undoubtedly play a role in the future energy landscape. Faced with this situation, Sibelga and Fluxys, the two players in the Brussels gas networks, decided to join forces by signing a partnership agreement in June 2022. This Memorandum of Understanding aims to jointly develop the necessary infrastructure elements to enable open access to hydrogen for all producers and consumers who require it. “The hydrogen players currently in the market work in a closed loop to supply industrial customers. The idea here is to develop a network or backbone open to all participants in stages, depending on market needs, which would also make it possible to pool deployment costs,” comments Marie-Hélène Noel, Strategy Officer.