Brussels: Quota system (Certificats verts)

Updated: 08.02.2019

Author: Stijn Anciaux

The Brussels-Capital region introduced the quota system to increase the proportion of renewable energy in total energy generation. In Brussels-Capital, green certificates are allocated by the Brussels regulatory authority Brugel. The number of certificates depends on the amount of electricity generated (in kWh) in proportion with the CO2 saved: one certificate is issued for every 217 kg of CO2 saved. 

Eligible technologies

Green certificates will be issued only if the installation has been certified, which allows the renewable energy producer to sell its electricity under a label of guaranteed origin (Art. 27 §1, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001). In order to receive green certificates, the installation shall, among other requirements, be certified for a maximum of 10 years (Art.18 §1, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015). Over a capacity of 1MW, the number of green certificates is limited to 1 certificate per MWh of produced electricity, except for photovoltaic installations (Art.21 §4, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).

Wind energy

Eligible

Solar energy

Eligible

A multiplicative coefficient is applied to the number of green certificates allocated to photovoltaic installations, so that the return on investment can be achieved within 7 years. The multiplicative coefficients are applied as follows (Art. 21§2, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015):

  • 1.65 if the total electric power of the installation(s) is less than or equal to 5kWp;
  • 1.32 if the total electric power of the installation(s) is over 5 kWp;
  • 1.32 for building-integrated installations

Geothermal energy

Eligible.

Biogas

Eligible

A multiplicative coefficient of 5 is applied to the green certificates of electricity installations using biogas (Art. 21§3, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).

Hydro-power

Eligible

Biomass

Eligible, provided that the installation meets the sustainability criteria defined in Annex I of the decree of 17 December 2015 (Art. N1, Annex 1, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015)

Amount

Amount of quota and period of application

The quotas for the following years are published on the website of Brugel and are defined as follows:

Quota

%

2013

3.5

2014

3.8

2015

4.5

2016

8.2

2017

7.8

2018

8.5

2019

9.2

2020

10.0

2021

10.8

2022

11.5

2023

12.3

2024

13.1

2025

14.0

Green certificates have a validity of 5 years (Art. 24, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).

  • 3.8 % for 2014;
  • 4.5 % for 2015;
  • 5.1 % for 2016;
  • 5.8 % for 2017;
  • 6.5 % for 2018;
  • 7.2 % for 2019;
  • 8.0 % for 2020;
  • 8.8 % for 2021;
  • 9.5 % for 2022;
  • 10.3 % for 2023;
  • 11.1 % for 2024;
  • 12.1 % for 2025.

Green certificates have a validity of 5 years (Art. 20, Arrêté du 6 Mai 2004).

Adjustment of quotas

The Brussels-Capital government analyses the green certificate market on a regular basis. Brugel advises the Ministry of Energy on the amount of the quotas for the following years. The Walloon government then decides on whether or not to introduce new quotas (Art. 28 §2, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001). 

Number of certificates according to technology

The formula for the calculation of the number of green certificates is the same for all technologies. However, different multiplicative coefficient can be applied according to the technologies (Art.20, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).

Minimum price per certificate

The transport system operator Elia buys the green certificates at a minimum price of € 65 (Art. 28 §1, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001).  

Fees and penalty charges

If a grid operator does not meet its quota, it shall pay a fine of € 100 per missing certificate (Art. 32 §3, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001).  

Annual average certificate price

Each quarter, Brugel publishes the average certificate price of the previous quarter (Art. 29, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015). According to Brugel, the price of the green certificates in the Brussels-Capital region lies in general between € 81 and € 92.

Addressees

Certified installations producing green electricity are entitled to the allocation of green certificates, provided they meet several requirements listed in article 18 of the decree of 17 December 2015.

Procedure

Process flow

    • Each installation of green electricity production has first to be certified by an authorised body, attesting that the installation meets the existing standards and requirements for installations of green electricity production and that the amount of electricity produced and consumed can be recorded in accordance with the stipulations of the grid code (Art 3, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015). Brugel approves the certifying bodies. In order to certify his installation, the owner shall submit an application file to the certifying body. The documents to be filed in the application are listed in article 5 §2 of the decree of 17 December 2015.
    • Within one month of receipt of the application file, the certifying body shall inform the applicant whether his application is complete (Art 6, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).
    • Within one month after the application has been completed, the certifying body shall visit the installation and check whether the installation meets the required standards as determined by Brugel. Only PV installations below or equal to 10 kWp may be certified without an onsite visit (Art 6, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).  
    • The owner of the installation shall receive the certification statement of his installation maximum one month upon onsite visit of the certifying body. The certificate is valid during 10 years (Art 7, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).  
    • Once certified, the electricity produced by the renewable energy installation is entitled to the allocation of a label of guaranteed origin (Art 12, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).  
    • The production of electricity is then registered and communicated to Brugel each quarter (Art. 12, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).  
    • Brugel allocates a number of green certificates according to the registered electricity production of the last quarter (Art. 18, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015).
    • Each electricity supplier is obliged to buy and deliver to Brugel a quota of labels/certificates of guaranteed origin (Art. 28 §2, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001).

    Competent authority

    The Government of the Brussels-Capital region decides on the allocation process for green certificates in the Brussels region. The Brussels regulatory authority (Brugel) awards green certificates to the operators of renewable energy plants objectively and without discrimination (Art. 28, Ordonnance du 19 juillet 2001).

    Distribution of costs

    Consumers

    In the end, the consumers bear the costs via their electricity bills.

    International certificate trade

    Upon notice of the regional regulatory authority Brugel, the Government of Brussels-Capital can recognise green certificates allocated by other national or foreign authorities, under certain conditions including (Art 35, Arrêté du 17 décembre 2015):

    • The green certificates shall regard electricity production.
    • The calculation of the number of green certificates shall be made on the basis of CO2 saving.
    • The allocation procedure shall be comparable to the procedure of the Brussels-Capital region

    Belgium
    Electricity
    Heating & Cooling
    Transport

    Further information

    • BRUGEL, régulateur bruxellois pour le marché du gaz et de l’électricité – Brussels Regulatory Authority for Electricity and Gas
    • +32 25 63 02 00
    • BRUGEL website
    • info(at)brugel.be

    Basic information on legal sources