Belgian grid congestion risks billions in economic losses, employers warn

ISTANBUL

Electricity grid congestion in Belgium risks causing billions of euros in economic damage if urgent action is not taken, the Flemish employers’ organization Voka warned on Wednesday.

The business group said rapid electrification, including the growing use of heat pumps, electric vehicles, battery parks and data centers, is placing increasing pressure on the power grid.

As a result, companies are facing growing delays in securing connections to the electricity network, with the situation deteriorating quickly, Voka said.

“The number of projects that can no longer be connected conventionally is increasing exponentially,” the organization said.

It noted that applications unable to obtain conventional grid connections rose sharply from 35 in March 2025 to 650 in March this year, with even higher numbers reported for battery-related projects.

Voka warned that without swift action from policymakers, regulators, and grid operators, major investment projects could be postponed or canceled.

The group said such delays could slow the deployment of sustainable technologies and have significant economic consequences.

To address the issue, Voka proposed prioritizing industrial electrification projects in industrial zones and port areas when allocating limited grid capacity.

The organization also called on grid operators Elia and Fluvius to accelerate planned infrastructure investments and improve the management of waiting lists so that mature projects can be connected faster.

Businesses could also help ease pressure on the system by voluntarily releasing unused grid capacity, Voka said, adding that Fluvius has indicated it is working on a potential solution.