The Belgian transmission and distribution system operator says it plans to connect solar panels and batteries to the grid for households with a plug and socket from May 2025.
Synergrid, the federation of Belgian transmission and distribution system operators for electricity and gas, will soon allow solar panels and household batteries with a plug and socket to be used on the country’s electricity distribution networks.
The measure applies to mobile plug-and-play solar panels and batteries that function as standard household appliances and can be purchased from well-known retailers.
Synergrid is adapting C10/11, a legally binding rule in Belgium that outlines the technical requirements for electricity generation installations connected to the distribution grid. The current version prohibits plug-in devices.
A public consultation on the amendment to C10/11 began earlier this year. In July, the revised version was submitted for approval to the Belgian regional energy regulators – VREG, CWaPE and Brugel in Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
Synergrid said that once regulators approve the amended C10/11, it will likely be published in November and come into effect six months later in May 2025.
Once published, manufacturers can have their mobile devices certified by Synergrid, so that they comply with Belgian regulations for plug-in use after May 2025.
Synergrid said approved equipment provides owners with security by ensuring proper internal installation and automatic disconnection during power outages.
“Manufacturers, importers and distributors of these devices must in turn market safe devices, with clear instructions on how to operate them, including instructions on how to connect them to the customer’s electrical system,” Synergrid said. “The equipment owner should be informed of the risks, especially if multiple devices are plugged into the same electrical outlet.”
The cumulative installed solar capacity in Belgium amounted to more than 10 GW at the end of 2023. Analysts say 337 MW of new solar power is likely to have been added in the first half of this year, while the residential market remains relatively stable.
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