Energy

The FPS Economy groups together, on a national level, all the technical expertise able to identify, analyse and anticipate the major changes in the energy sector. Developing this sector is fundamental in terms of challenges, both economic (price increases, competition) and environmental (climate change, reduction of CO₂ emission, nuclear energy).

Monitoring the security of supplies arriving within the country and analysing the markets

Stimulating innovation and supervising infrastructure security

Promoting renewable energy sources

The FPS Economy at the heart of the international energy context

Monitoring the security of supplies arriving within the country and analysing the markets

The FPS Economy’s responsibility is to work alongside major market players in the energy sector in order to find the main issues relating to the security of supplies. Geopolitical challenges related to gas and oil supplies are an essential component of this work.

Similarly, the liberalisation of the gas and electricity markets appears to be a complex matter for the average citizen and business. It leads to a great deal of questions and difficulties, requiring the FPS Economy to inform energy consumers on improvements to accessibility and on protection against unfair business practices.

In this context, the implementation of an Energy Observatory, by the collecting and use of available energy data, must support full knowledge and understanding of this sector.

Stimulating innovation and supervise infrastructure security

The production, transportation, storage, distribution and rational use of energy are sources of both risk and opportunity which must be controlled. The FPS Economy is developing rigorous and dynamic policies in terms of the security of gas pipelines and gas storage. It maintains a central role in granting the authorisations required for using these networks. It is also responsible for the safety of electric and gas installations and appliances.

Innovation is also at the heart of energy developments thanks to the allocation of substantial research budgets and through the signing of scientific cooperation and partnership agreements. Special attention is paid to nuclear energy R&D, in particular with the ITER project (nuclear fusion) and 4^th generation reactors (more durable in terms of radioactive waste).

Promoting renewable energy sources

The FPS Economy pays special attention to the development of renewable energies, in accordance with the general objective of the European Summit of March 2007 requiring 20% renewable energy out of all energy consumption by 2020. Similarly, it makes energy efficiency a priority, with specific emphasis on standardisation and construction.

The FPS Economy at the heart of the international energy context

Belgian interests are defended through the active participation of the FPS Economy in drawing up and coordinating positions for debates on energy issues held by the European Union, the United Nations, the International Energy Agency, the OECD, the WTO and more. On a European level, the FPS Economy has prioritised negotiations relating to the third "European Energy Package."