The project will have the capacity to store 800MWh of energy Engie has begun construction works on one of Europe’s largest battery parks at its Vilvoorde site in Belgium will store 800 megawatt hours (MWh) of energy The development follows the project’s construction permit granted in July 2023 and its selection for capacity remuneration in October 2023 the Vilvoorde BESS will consist of 320 battery modules The system will have a four-hour grid release capability equivalent to the storage capacity of 160,000 domestic 5 kilowatt-hours (kWh) batteries The project has secured a 15-year contract with national grid operator Elia ensuring its contribution to the stability of Belgium’s electricity supply Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis The battery park will become operational in two phases the first 100MW coming online in September 2025 and the remaining 100MW in January 2026 Engie is also advancing two other BESS projects in Belgium with permits already in place for sites in Kallo (100MW/400MWh) and Drogenbos (80MW/320MWh) These projects align with Engie’s strategy to develop large-scale flexibility solutions and aim to achieve 10GW of installed battery capacity globally by 2030 ENGIE executive vice-president in charge of flexible generation and retail activities Sébastien Arbola stated: “With the growing share of renewable energies in the energy mix the contribution of battery energy storage systems to ensuring the reliability and security of energy systems is becoming crucial “Batteries will enable the absorption of peaks in renewable energy production and the release of this energy when production is lower and consumption higher These flexibility solutions will thus help accelerate the development of renewable energies and the energy transition.” Engie had 1.3GW of battery capacity in operation and 3.6GW secured for development Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishMOBILITY, SOCIETYBelgian train language rules under fire after conductor’s greeting sparks complaint18 December 2024 A Belgian train conductor is facing a complaint for greeting passengers in both French and Dutch while passing through the Flemish city of Vilvoorde where only Dutch announcements are allowed The case has reignited debate over Belgium’s strict language rules A train conductor for Belgium’s national railway SNCB/NMBS is facing an official complaint for greeting passengers with “bonjour-goedemorgen” in the Flemish city of Vilvoorde where only Dutch greetings are permitted under strict language regulations who frequently shares stories about his job on social media revealed that a passenger filed the complaint with the Permanent Commission for Language Supervision located in Flanders but just a minute by train from the bilingual Brussels region falls under Dutch-only language requirements The NMBS confirmed the complaint and reiterated its push for more lenient language policies “Our conductors should be able to focus on their important responsibilities” conductors must adhere to complex and location-specific language guidelines and the same applies to the digital information boards inside trains conductors may switch to bilingual announcements in French and Dutch the order of the languages depends on the conductor’s native tongue only French is allowed for announcements and information boards One notable exception exists for trains heading to Brussels Airport where announcements can be made in four languages: Dutch regardless of the train’s location in Belgium Outgoing mobility minister Georges Gilkinet (Ecolo/Greens) has joined the SNCB in advocating for more flexible language rules He has criticised the “rigid enforcement often pushed by right-wing Flemish parties such as Vlaams Belang and N-VA” which he says makes no longer sense in today’s context #FlandersNewsService | A train conductor in Zaventem © BELGA PHOTO KRISTOF VAN ACCOM Copy linkGet updates in your mailboxYour email addressSubscribeBy clicking "Subscribe" I confirm I have read and agree to the Privacy Policy rapid and high-quality information 24 hours a day from Belgium and abroad to all Belgian media not to mention entertainment and lifestyle our journalists and press photographers produce hundreds of photos and news stories Since the end of March 2022 English has been added as a language businesses and various organisations that need reliable information Belga News Agency also offers a comprehensive range of corporate services to meet all their communication needs www.belganewsagency.eu the global leading PV inverter and energy storage system provider is happy to announce the supply of its state-of-the-art liquid-cooled BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) solution for the 800MWh Vilvoorde BESS project in Belgium The project will be developed by ENGIE an international utility group who is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services.  The system will be one of the largest ever installed in Europe with a power capacity of 200MW/800MWh and is the first BESS project Sungrow will supply in Belgium Set for a grid connection in 2025 this project will deliver power to up to 96.000 households Sungrow will supply 320 units of its cutting-edge liquid-cooled energy storage system PowerTitan for the ENGIE BESS project in Vilvoorde and innovative storage solution that supports ENGIE to deliver energy Due to the compact design and the pre-assembled delivery the PowerTitan saves 50% of on-site installation time due to its back-to-back installation scheme the small footprint makes the system especially efficient for large ESS plants The liquid-cooled technology also ensures a longer battery life as it offers an intelligent temperature control system enabling a maximum battery temperature difference of up to two and a half degrees Celsius leading to a successful and sustainable in every aspect project.  said: "Sungrow is delighted to begin this new project together with ENGIE and to deliver our first BESS project in Belgium - one of the first storage projects of this size in mainland Europe Energy storage is at the very forefront of enabling a secure and clean energy transition cleaner future for all and remain eager to build the bridge to a sustainable future together with our partners." having achived remarkable shipments in 2023 of over 10,5GWh worldwide supporting the adoption of utility-scale storage systems across the energy industry With a full range of innovative energy storage solutions and zero security incidents Sungrow is on the path to becoming the world-leader in supply of ESS equipment and integrated system solutions Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2459912/Sungrow_liquid_cooled_energy_storage_system_PowerTitan.jpgLogo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2439560/Logo_Sungrow_Logo.jpg announced that it won the 2025 iF Design Award for its flagship project,.. As Europe accelerates its adoption of dynamic tariff mechanisms Environmental Products & Services Utilities Alternative Energies Electrical Utilities Do not sell or share my personal information: - photo credits @ Boerkevitz at Dutch Wikipedia You can read this article in 1 minuteAgnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus tonnage restrictions will come into effect on a section of the Brussels ring road The new restrictions will mainly impact heavy goods traffic and will be both cyclical and long-lasting Vilvoorde Viaduct on the Brussels Ring over the sea canal Brussel-Schelde a temporary tonnage restriction will apply to the Vilvoorde viaduct The restriction is due to ongoing welding work Vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes will be prohibited from using the viaduct from Friday 23:00 to Monday 4:00 These restrictions will be enforced every weekend from today (9 August) until 31 December 2025 The new rules apply to the inner ring road towards Zaventem the Koningslo-Vilvoorde exit towards the inner ring road will be physically closed to all traffic at weekends Pölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Agnieszka Kulikowska - Wielgus Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Sabina Koll Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 GXO to manage Northern Italy transport operations for PRG retail groupPölös Zsófia Journalist Trans.info | 5.05.2025 Multinational utility and IPP Engie has launched construction on a 200MW/800MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Belgium The France-headquartered firm announced the start of construction in the 4-hour duration project in Vilvoorde The 3.5 hectare site will comprise 320 battery units totalling 800MWh though Engie hasn’t revealed which BESS provider has been enlisted for the project The project has a 15-year contract with the transmission system operator (TSO) in Belgium It is being co-located with Engie’s 870MW combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant which it acquired in 2020 It will be commissioned in two phases, with 100MW coming online in September 2025 and a further 100MW in January 2026. Vilvoorde is one of three large-scale projects the firm has construction permits for, along with ones in Kallo (100MW) and Drogenbos (80M), revealed in April 2023 The projects were part of a 3.6GW pipeline of BESS projects under development which will add to its 1.3GW of already-operational assets The Belgium market is among the most active in Europe, with a storage-friendly grid regulatory environment and ample revenue opportunities in flexibility services, energy trading and capacity markets, where 357MW of BESS projects were awarded contracts in the most recent tender The largest approved project in Europe, Giga Storage’s 2.4GWh system The country had around 372MWh of front-of-meter grid-scale BESS online as of the end of 2023, with another 140MWh coming online this year and a staggering 1.7GWh set to come online in 2025 according to data from LCP Delta provided for our Energy Storage Report earlier this year. You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience the four-hour battery energy storage project will operate under a 15-year contract with Elia and be located next to Engie’s gas power plant in Vilvoorde From pv magazine ESS News site rench electric utility Engie has launched construction works on one of Europe’s major battery energy storage systems (BESS) at its Vilvoorde gas power plant site the 200 MW/800 MWh Vilvoode BESS project will occupy a 3.5-hectare site and feature 320 battery modules measuring 25 m x 4 m x 3 m The battery park has a 15-year contract with Elia “[The site] has ample space and excellent electrical grid connectivity,” said Quentin Renoy This milestone follows the project’s construction permit in July 2023 and its selection for capacity remuneration in October 2023. Following the last year’s auction, Belgian authorities said that Engie’s 796 MW gas power plant in Vilvoorde would serve as a backup plant for an initial three years and be extendable thereafter given “the current limitations of green energy capacities.” Engie described this as “a double success within the CRM framework,” which ensures a future for its site in Belgium The Vilvoorde BESS project will be launched in two phases with the commissioning of 100 MW of batteries in September 2025 To continue reading, please visit our ESS News website More articles from Marija Maisch Please be mindful of our community standards and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" By submitting this form you agree to pv magazine using your data for the purposes of publishing your comment Your personal data will only be disclosed or otherwise transmitted to third parties for the purposes of spam filtering or if this is necessary for technical maintenance of the website Any other transfer to third parties will not take place unless this is justified on the basis of applicable data protection regulations or if pv magazine is legally obliged to do so You may revoke this consent at any time with effect for the future in which case your personal data will be deleted immediately your data will be deleted if pv magazine has processed your request or the purpose of data storage is fulfilled Further information on data privacy can be found in our Data Protection Policy Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value" This website uses cookies to anonymously count visitor numbers. View our privacy policy. × The cookie settings on this website are set to "allow cookies" to give you the best browsing experience possible If you continue to use this website without changing your cookie settings or you click "Accept" below then you are consenting to this Close ENGIE's future 200-megawatt battery park will be capable of meeting the electricity consumption needs of nearly 96,000 households by 2025 Infrastructure development work commenced immediately after the official announcement of the project's selection on October 30th The new battery park will span three hectares within the 30-hectare area covered by the Vilvoorde gas power plant “[The site] has ample space and excellent electrical grid connectivity,” says Quentin Renoy the Vilvoorde site has been dedicated to electricity generation since the 1960s it is transitioning towards greener energy Auctions are being conducted within the Belgian CRM (Capacity Remuneration Mechanism) framework to ensure sufficient network supply from the winter of 2027-2028 onwards Following standard civil engineering transformations the site will accommodate battery containers (80 rows of 35-meter modules) and necessary electrical installations which will then be connected to the high-voltage grid Organized in two phases of 100 MW construction the project will be operational by the end of July 2025 with its phase 2 expected to conclude by late October 2025 we've been testing the technology with pilot projects like the Battery Park in Drogenbos on the southern outskirts of Brussels,” explains Quentin Renoy ENGIE is scaling up this technology industrially It is the first time that such a large-scale project has been launched in Europe the Group is investing between 230 and 290 million euros ENGIE estimates that the Vilvoorde battery park will eventually supply electricity to nearly 96,000 households “The success of this project is a concrete manifestation of One ENGIE It's not just the result of the work of the teams in charge of Flexible generation but also involves public relations teams GEMS (Global Energy Management & Sales: market analysis and support teams – including the legal department,” says Quentin Renoy The battery park is contracted for 15 years with Elia ensuring a steady income over an extended period Given the current limitations of green energy capacities the reliance on other energy sources remains necessary Belgian authorities also announced that ENGIE's former gas power plant in Vilvoorde would serve as a backup plant for an initial three years This double success within the CRM framework ensures a future for ENGIE's historic site in Belgium ENGIE plans to explore the valorization of its sites in Kallo (near Antwerp) and Drogenbos with new battery park projects starting as early as 2024 Belgium: Second Largest GEMS Platform Worldwide You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience. ‘Goeiedag, bonjour", it’s a greeting heard across Belgium, but one that can cause irritation: when a conductor greeted passengers on the train in Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant) with these words, it struck a nerve with one of them, who was so unhappy that he filed an official complaint with the railways. ‘The incident happened when the train conductor entered the carriage to check the tickets,’ Dimitri Temmerman of NMBS told VRT NEWS. ‘To greet everyone, he welcomed everybody in 2 languages. But that was not to the liking of one of the passengers, who thought it was unacceptable because the train was still in Vilvoorde station, and therefore in Flanders.’ Officially, language laws stipulate that French cannot be spoken in official communications in Flanders, except in municipalities where minorities enjoy special rights, the 'facilities'. In the same way Dutch is not allowed on trains in Wallonia. In the Brussels region, both languages are allowed. On the train to the airport, Dutch, French, English and German can be used so tourists can understand too. This language legislation is far too strict, the NMBS now argues. Dimitri Temmerman: ‘We always want to respect the language legislation, but this is about a conductor who wants to welcome all the passengers on his train warmly. We are certainly not going to condemn that, but rather applaud it. We support train conductors like this, who are good ambassadors for the NMBS.’ The rail company has received the complaint but is not going to follow it up. ‘Like all other complaints, we are going to analyse it and see if we can learn lessons from it. But in this case, it's really clear. If our train conductors want to greet passengers in other languages, that is certainly allowed. We are advocating a much more flexible approach to language legislation.’ In Brussels stations language use is neatly divided. In Brussels-North, announcements first list which train is arriving in Dutch, followed by French. In Brussels-South, it is the other way round. And in Brussels-Central, a very Belgian creative solution has been found. If it is an even year, the announcements start in Dutch, during odd years they start in French. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishECONOMYFood giant Cargill to cut 164 jobs in Belgium amid global restructuring3 December 2024 US food giant Cargill plans to cut 164 jobs in Belgium as part of a global restructuring effort that aims to reduce the company’s workforce by 5 per cent Cargill employs approximately 1,200 people in Belgium across facilities in Antwerp The majority of the layoffs are expected to affect the technical operations unit in Mechelen-Vilvoorde “The unions strongly regret this intent for collective redundancies,” said Tina De Greef union secretary at CSC/ACV Food and Services “Cargill is not a company in financial difficulty; they simply want more profit We will do everything we can to protect these jobs.” Cargill’s management has confirmed the global restructuring plan but has not disclosed specific figures for Belgium we need to reallocate our talent and resources to align better with our strategy this means reducing our global workforce by 5 per cent,” said Nicole Marlor Cargill’s European media relations director “This difficult decision was not taken lightly We remain committed to supporting our employees during this transition guided by our core value of putting people first.” Cargill has been active in Belgium since 1953 beginning as a grain import office in Antwerp it has expanded significantly and now operates in food ingredient production agricultural processing and product distribution Belgium also hosts Cargill’s European headquarters for food activities its European research and development centre Cargill's House of Chocolate in Mouscron © BELGA PHOTO KURT DESPLENTER You can read this article in 2 minutesPölös Zsófia Hauliers using the Vilvoorde Viaduct in Belgium face stricter enforcement of weekend traffic bans with drivers of vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes risking immediate suspension of their licences those caught flouting the ban will have their driving licences withdrawn for 15 days Photo credits @ Boerkevitz at Dutch Wikipedia is part of measures aimed at facilitating sensitive welding work on the viaduct’s steel support structure The ban applies every weekend from Friday at 11:00 p.m authorities have implemented several deterrents These include a height restrictor with a maximum clearance of 3 metres installed near exit 6 Koningslo-Vilvoorde and flexible height limiters to warn drivers earlier prompting the public prosecutor’s office to escalate enforcement with the licence suspension penalty The restrictions are critical for maintaining the precision of welding work which requires the viaduct to remain static involving narrowed lanes and reduced speed limits is designed to enhance the bridge’s structural integrity and is scheduled to continue until spring 2026 exit 6 Koningslo-Vilvoorde will remain physically closed to all traffic during the restricted hours to prevent unauthorised access The Sikh temple on the Lange Molensstraat in the Flemish Brabant town of Vilvoorde will remain closed indefinitely. The Mayor of Vilvoorde announced that the temple will remain closed for the foreseeable future in a press statement released on Friday. The closure follows an incident in mid-December in which one person was injured in a knife attack. On 15 December last year a dispute between 2 men that were inside the temple ended in violence. One of the two men stabbed the other, injuring his leg. The man required hospital treatment. The incident led the not-for-profit association that runs the temple to close it to the public. The aim was to take time to restore order and calm. However, the municipal authority in Vilvoorde says that this has not yet been achieved and that there have been other incidents involving those that worship at the temple in the intervening period. The mayor of Vilvoorde Jo De Ro (liberal) has now ordered that the temple will be closed until further notice. In a statement Mr De Roo said “If the Sikh community is able to demonstrate that its internal conflicts have been resolved and that there is no risk of further incidents linked to the temple, the decision may be revoked”. “Until then, the temple will only be accessible to the priest that is in charge of worship there. The police will ensure that this measure is implemented”. The temple has already been closed several times in the past, mainly due to fights between those that worship there. There have also been allegations that it has been used for human trafficking. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishCLIMATE, INNOVATIONEngie is building one of the largest battery parks in Europe in Vilvoorde5 July 2024 Engie has started building one of the largest battery parks in Europe in Vilvoorde the energy company wants to respond to the growing demand for flexibility on the electricity grid more and more electricity is generated by solar panels and wind turbines these renewable energy sources also produce electricity when there is little demand they do not always produce enough when there is a higher demand “The gap between production and demand is increasing,” explains Engie Belgium CEO Vincent Verbeke "To absorb these fluctuations between supply and demand on the grid there is a need for more flexibility." a new 875-megawatt gas-fired power station in Flémalle and already has the largest natural battery in the country It wants to expand this flexible capacity by building additional battery parks 250 million euros will be invested in what will become one of the largest battery parks (200 megawatts) in Europe the park will be able to store 800 megawatt hours of electricity If solar panels and wind turbines generate excess energy and there is a period of high demand the battery can inject electricity into the grid for up to four hours This can cover the power consumption of almost 100,000 households Engie also wants to build battery parks in Kallo and Drogenbos “Batteries are highly complementary to energy from wind and sun,” says Verbeke "Our ambitions in this regard are great."​ From this evening (9 August 2024), welding work will get underway on the Vilvoorde Viaduct. Due to the work vehicles that are heavier than 3.5 tonnes will be prohibited from travelling over the viaduct between 11pm on Friday on 4 am until spring 2026, lorries heavier than 3.5 tonnes will no longer be allowed to drive along it at weekends between 11 p.m. on Fridays and 4 a.m. on Mondays. HGV drivers travelling between Ghent and Leuven are advised to use the southern part the Brussels Orbital via Halle, Ittre and Waterloo. The work will be carried out at the weekend as there is less traffic. However, there may still be disruption, as work is also being carried out on the Leonard Tunnel on the southern part of the Brussel Orbital. This work is due to conclude on 18 August. The Vilvoorde viaduct is currently undergoing a complete renovation. In order to enable delicate welding work to be carried out vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes are allowed to drive over the eastbound carriageway of the viaduct between 11pm on Friday evenings 11pm and 4am on Monday mornings. “There are numerous signs indicating that there is a ban well ahead of the roadworks in order to enable HGV traffic to seek an alternative route. In addition to this, mobile gantries have also been placed on sit to form a physical barrier. Nevertheless, there are still trucker that are ignoring the signs and in so doing are creating life-threatening situations”, the public prosecutor’s office says. Up until now drivers that ignored the weekend ban were only issued with a fine. The public prosecutor's office is now going a step further. “To better enforce the weekend ban, the police will now also have the option, subject to permission from the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office, to revoke the driver's licence for 15 days. If the driver is issued with a court summons, they risk an additional driving ban of up to five years".  ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishECONOMY, JUSTICELarge-scale money laundering network uncovered 19 July 2024 The Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office and federal judicial police have uncovered a large-scale money laundering network During 13 house searches in Halle-Vilvoorde police also confiscated €440,000 in cash and blocked 500 bank accounts “It all started when the Financial Intelligence Processing Unit (CTIF - CFI) reported suspicious transactions on a company's bank accounts to the public prosecutor,” said public prosecutor spokesperson Sabine Lievens “The unit found that over a period of 14 months the accounts of this company were credited with a total amount of over €1,500,000 Because of the company's history and the nature of the transactions it was suspected that money laundering was involved.” The investigation then uncovered an organisation involved in money laundering “This organisation was the hub between criminal organisations with a lot of cash at their disposal and companies in need of cash to pay employees off the books The money laundering involved the organisation issuing invoices for services not performed to their ‘customers’ The organisation repaid this money in cash the companies had dirty money with which they amongst others paid employees.” several ‘fictitious’ companies were set up About €50,000,000 a year was allegedly circulated this way on which the criminal organisation pocketed a commission of between 8 and 10 per cent Euro bank notes seized by customs officers at the Felix Eboue International airport in French Guiana in 2022 © BELGA PHOTO jody amiet / AFP Japanese Festival Japan Fes is heading for Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant). Last year’s edition of the festival on Japanese culture in Hasselt was already a great success. This year, the event moves to the Asiat Park in Vilvoorde and will be held in April. Japan's ambassador to Belgium Masahiro Mikami attended the press conference staged to publicise the event. Last year, over 6,000 visitors flocked to the Japan Fes in Hasselt. This year, the festival, which is entirely dedicated to the many facets of Japanese culture, is heading closer to Brussels. Expect live performances, workshops, demonstrations of Japanese rituals and crafts, including a tea ceremony, Taiko drum shows and calligraphy workshops in Vilvoorde. Visitors will also be able to sample typical Japanese dishes including sushi, ramen, Japanese beers, sake and much more. The Japanese ambassador to Belgium Masahiro Mikami was also present during the presentation of this year’s Japan Fes: ‘In 2026 the diplomatic and cultural friendship between Japan and Belgium will have existed for no less than 160 years. Japan Fes is not only a celebration of Japanese traditions, but also a platform to promote cooperation and strengthen ties.’ Japan Fes 2025 takes place at Asiat Park in Vilvoorde on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 April. ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishMOBILITYRevamped Heldenplein in Vilvoorde officially opened5 June 2024 The redesigned Heldenplein in Vilvoorde was officially opened on Wednesday The design focuses on greening the square and was developed by landscape architect Bas Smets The renovation features safe cycle connections better public transport facilities and more greenery The Flemish government invested 12 million euros in the project and an additional 1 million came from the city of Vilvoorde transforming a car park that was plagued by traffic problems into a green neighbourhood Architect Smets is internationally recognised for his innovative designs and sustainable vision His credits include the Parc des Ateliers in Arles and the design for the public space around Notre-Dame in Paris he says he placed particular emphasis on creating accessible green spaces in urban environments The square will also be a key stop for De Lijn's Ringtrambus which carries passengers along the northern edge of Brussels from UZ Brussel university hospital in Jette to Brussels Airport in Zaventem The final touches are still being made to the stop but it should be operational by the beginning of the summer the Boerenpaard (Farm Horse) statue by sculptor Rik Poot was also put back in place The statue had stood on Heldenplein since 2002 and symbolises the region's rich farming tradition #FlandersNewsService | Heldenplein in Vilvoorde © PHOTO DE WERKVENNOOTSCHAP The Carmel of Our Lady of Consolation in Vilvoorde is the 4th and last foundation of Blessed John Soreth It was canonically erected on 11 February 1469 The Sisters fled from Liege during the “Siege of Liege” in 1468 Through the efforts of the then Prior-General of the Order after a period of discernment and preparation took an important step: the transition from the Ancient Observance (O.Carm.) to the Teresian Carmel (OCD) The Sisters were given the freedom to choose whether to join a calced Carmel in the Netherlands or to pronounce their profession as discalced Carmelites was elevated to a minor basilica by Pope Benedict XVI upon the recommendation of His Eminence Godfried Cardinal Danneels Since the 550-jubilee year was not yet so long ago the community has decided not to celebrate publicly this year but rather sing with their hearts at prayer God’s praises and hymns of thanksgiving to the Holy Trinity and Our Blessed Mother The Belgian power transmission system operator (TSO) Elia has replaced Engie Electrabel's 796 MW Vilvoorde gas-fired project by Luminus's 805 MW gas-fired project in Seraing in the first auction of the capacity remuneration mechanism which aims to ensure the security of power supply in Belgium after the closure of five of the seven nuclear reactors Engie had failed to secure permits for the Vilvoorde project leading to a "re-run" of the CRM mechanism in March 2022 The price is not made public due to the fact that only one candidate was selected in the "re-run" but was identical to the price submitted by Luminus in the October 2021 auction Elia released the results of the first capacity remuneration mechanism (CRM) auction for the 2025-2026 delivery year representing a total capacity of 4,448 MW at an annual average price of €31,671.57/MW Most of the offered capacity came from existing units (56%) and 36% from two new gas-fired CCGT power projects in Vilvoorde (796 MW) and Les Awirs (805 MW) through its Belgian affiliate Engie Electrabel nuclear accounted for 52% of Belgium's electricity generation in 2021 (compared to 40% in 2020) thanks to the higher availability of the nuclear fleet Enerdata has developed a market research service to screen monitor and analyse the development of power generation assets Power Plant Tracker offers an interactive database and a powerful search engine covering power plants worldwide – including both installed and planned capacities for renewables and fossil fuels Register now to subscribe to our informative monthly lead candidate on the Team Fouad Ahidar+1800 list in Vilvoorde (Flemish Brabant) wants Brussels residents moving to Vilvoorde to be helped in languages other than Dutch when visiting local municipal offices ‘Staff don't need to know all languages but speaking four or so world languages would be very interesting Part of the problem in Vilvoorde lies in the fact that people from Brussels are poorly informed We are specifically targeting this group of new Vilvoorde residents in the elections.’ Vilvoorde is one of four cities in Flanders where Team Fouad Ahidar+1800 is fielding candidates in the municipal elections on 13 October ‘The request arrived very last minute from Brussels,’ says Nick Deknudt He worked with Fouad Ahidar in Brussels for many years Team Fouad Ahidar+1800 is sometimes called a Muslim party List leader Deknudt says that is not the case ‘It is true that we focus on newcomers from Brussels There is a real urban exodus to Flanders and certainly to Vilvoorde The houses are in better condition and are cheaper than in Brussels The quality of life is higher and there is a lot of public transport with good connections.’ Deknudt notes that because of the many newcomers the problems people moved out of Brussels for are now cropping up in Vilvoorde litter and problems with spending power,’ he says But that is not due to the newcomers themselves ‘These many newcomers need better reception in Vilvoorde They get a welcome pack with all the information It would be better in four or so world languages.’ Team Fouad Ahidar+1800 has great ambitions in Vilvoorde which could give us 5 seats on the Vilvoorde municipal council,’ Deknudt calculates The real estate group WDP has acquired the former Renault car factory site in the Flemish Brabant town of Vilvoorde for 100 million euro The company sees "unique potential for new development" on the 1.2-kilometre-long site Although the French car manufacturer Renault closed its factory in Vilvoorde in 1997 the site is still known as the “Renault site” WDP is buying the site from investment company Alcopa Existing leases and activities on the site will continue part of which runs under the Vilvoorde motorway bridge “offers unique long-term redevelopment potential in an area of the country where plots of land of this size is not available”  WDP said in a statement WDP’s Country Manager Kristof De Witte says that the site provides an “unparalleled opportunity for both the city of Vilvoorde and WDP to transform a piece of industrial heritage into an innovative and future-oriented urban distribution centre that goes beyond traditional industrial and logistical usage” The aim is to create space for a with a “combination of functions” that with include small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and manufacturing The site with provide WDP with a net initial yield of around 7% New warehouse extension improves efficiency and increases storage space for large and heavyweight parts KOMATSU Europe have extended their European Parts Organization facilities with the opening of a new warehouse that will provide additional storage space for large and heavyweight spare parts ensuring extra support towards a fast and steady supply of Komatsu genuine parts to customers across Europe The new extension covers an area of 10,000 sq m increasing the total warehouse space in Vilvoorde It is equipped with the latest sustainable technology to provide a yearly production of 32,499MWh for an estimated 3,323 tonnes reduction in CO2 over 20 years More than 1,000 additional solar panels will be installed in the coming year Other high-tech features include rooftop light captures that rotate with the sun and a safe storage place and foam sprinkler system for hazardous or dangerous materials the extension will facilitate support for the electric dumptrucks recently delivered to Scandinavia and will enhance the efficiency of warehouse operations by increasing the inventory for large and heavyweight parts ‘We are excited to be expanding our warehouse facility in Vilvoorde,’ said Tadashi Maeda ‘This investment is a commitment to continue providing our customers with the highest level of service and support The increased storage capacity will allow us to respond more quickly to our customers' needs ensuring they quickly receive the parts they require.’ jobs events and articles direct to your inbox Subscribe Here Agg-Net is the ‘go-to’ website for key decision makers within the aggregates and recycling industries market reports and industry features provide an independent and informed voice for the industry Agg-Net is the official digital partner for Hillhead providing unrivalled coverage of our June event 7 Regent StreetNottinghamNG1 5BSUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0)115 941 1315 Archive Projects ​CategoriesCategoriesEnglishECONOMYEnergy giant Engie still wants to build gas plant in Vilvoorde21 April 2022 Next to keeping the two nuclear plants open energy company Engie is demanding guarantees to be able to build the gas plant in Vilvoorde if additional capacity is needed Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and Minister of Energy Tinne Van der Straeten have already had several meetings with the French energy giant Engie the talks are focusing on three issues: timing The latter is remarkable because in itself it has nothing to do with the nuclear extension After the Vilvoorde gas plant was denied a permit by Flemish Environment Minister Zuhal Demir last fall a Luminus project in Seraing came into the picture a subsidiary of the French government group EDF would replace the Engie project in Vilvoorde This was a serious financial hangover for Engie as the Electrabel parent would have received an estimated 450 million subsidies over 15 years for Vilvoorde Engie now wants to compensate for that loss and is asking the federal government for permission to still build the gas plant if any energy shortages would take place But the federal government has nothing to say about the Vilvoorde licence Its the county that deals with these kinds of issues the Flemish-Brabant deputation will decide on it But the De Croo government can promise Engie that it will provide state support for the extra gas plant once it is licensed This can be done perfectly within the framework of a new auction that will be organised by this legislature © ​ BELGA PHOTO (ERIC LALMAND) Illustration shows the gas plant in Seraing Luminus has won the contract for the construction of another gas power plant on the same site The Brussels waterbus runs on the Brussels Canal from Sainctelette to Vilvoorde you’ll have to take the boat to get around Brussels The Brussels-Vilvoorde waterbus offers a transport alternative for local residents It’s even said that “La Croisière s’amuse” in the capital Could it be the sound of an engine amid the waves we hear in the distance the waterbus sails on the waters of the Brussels Canal from the port of Sainctelette (Yser) to Vilvoorde A 1-hour boat trip to travel in optimum comfort in the direction of your choice with the option of taking your bike on board with you (€1 supplement) there are 8 stops connected to other public transport networks that will enable you to link important points in the city Waterbus services include: Sainctelette/Yser Domaine Trois Fontaines (Domein Drie Fonteinen) London and Johannesburg-based Counterspace has won an international contest to design a pedestrian bridge in Vilvoorde which designed the 2021 Serpentine Pavilion and is led by architect Sumayya Vally topped an undisclosed shortlist to win the commission backed by the city of Vilvoorde and Horst Arts & Music Counterspace’s winning concept for the Asiat-Darse pedestrian bridge features a ‘series of boats tied together’ to cross the canal It references the story and legacy of Paul Panda Farnana a former local resident ‘who epitomises the region’s complex relationships with past and future generations of migrant bodies and communities’ Vally said: ‘Vilvoorde is a city celebrated for its diversity I was deeply moved to uncover the story of Paul Panda Farnana through our research which then drove our response to the city’s brief for a pedestrian bridge.’ She said Farnana had trained as a horticulturist at the Vilvoorde Horticultural School not far from the site adding: ‘This project will revive Farnana’s legacy by foregrounding the concept on the species explored in his research alongside water architectures from the Congo.’ technical director of the project’s consulting engineer AKT II said: ‘The concept resonates with the purity of a crossing being more than just a means; but a journey and reflection of two points in time.’ Construction is expected to start in April 2024 and complete by December 2025 Tags BDP’s College of Arts & Society at Coventry University has been named… Lewisham Council has given Turner Works planning permission for a mixed-use regeneration… Wandsworth Council has given Gehry Partners planning permission for two more residential… Southwark Council has approved tp bennett’s plans for a 25-storey student tower… Looking to access paid articles across multiple policy topics Interested in policy insights for EU professional organisations Speaking in the European Parliament yesterday (21 March) a municipality sometimes called “the city of Jihadists” shared his experience on how to avoid the radicalisation of young people Sarah Turine is at the forefront in the fight against radicalisation in Molenbeek Although she detects that fewer people from her commune have left to join ISIS than suggested in the press she asked for more resources and access to … Education is the way to disarm the processes that can lead to radicalisation by undermining prejudice and fighting ignorance and indifference