The Brussels Capital Region 2022: Air, Climate and Energy  

The National Energy and Climate Plan focuses on the Belgian ambitions to transition towards a low-carbon society. To achieve this, both national and regional funding is needed. Amongst others, the Brussels Government approved the creation of an Economic Transition Fund in September 2022. With 10 million euros, the purpose of this fund is to support companies that make the choice of economic transition, by adopting more resource-efficient models. 

A look at Belgium 2030 

At the end of 2019, Belgium submitted to the European Commission the final version of the National Energy and Climate Plan for 2021-2030. Besides energy and climate, mobility, science policy, finance, defence, agriculture, both at the federal and regional levels, are involved. Together they focus on the transition to a low-carbon society and offer funding today to achieve that ambition. 
The plan outlines how the country will contribute to the long-term greenhouse gas emission reduction targets under the Paris Agreement. The aim is to transition to a more sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy system for the Belgium of tomorrow.  

Air, Climate and Energy management in Brussels 

The Brussels Code for Air, Climate and Energy Management (COBRACE) was adopted in 2013 and has continued to evolve since. This code includes numerous measures relating to energy efficiency, renewable energy, transport, air quality and climate. 

• Bringing together regional air, climate and energy policies; 
• Minimize energy requirements; 
• Reduce our dependence on non-renewable energy sources; 
• Use energy produced from renewable sources; 
• Promote the rational use of energy; 
• Improve the energy performance and indoor climate of buildings; 
• Reduce the environmental impacts related to mobility needs; 
• Make public authorities exemplary in terms of the energy performance of buildings, transport and the rational use of energy. 

In 2021, new measures were integrated into this code: 

• Setting targets for reducing direct and indirect regional greenhouse gas emissions. The Region must achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, by reducing direct regional emissions by at least 40% in 2030, 67% in 2040 and 90% in 2050 compared to 2005. The methodological framework will be proposed by Brussels Environment by 1 January 2023 at the latest.  
• The creation of an independent Committee of Climate Experts to assess the adequacy between regional policies and measures and climate objectives; 
• The ban on the placement of coal and oil heating installations, from September 2021 and June 2025 respectively. 

The Brussels Air Climate Energy Plan (PACE) was adopted in 2016 within this code and proposes 64 measures and 144 actions. 

• The aim is to enable the Brussels-Capital Region to reduce its emissions by 30% by 2025 (compared to 1990), as well as to achieve its objectives in terms of air and energy 
• Target sectors that emit the most greenhouse gases and atmospheric pollutants (building, transport, …) 
• Encourage the production of renewable energy 
• Integrate the themes of air, climate and energy in Brussels policies 

The creation of the Economic Transition Fund in 2022 

In September 2022, the Brussels Government approved the creation of an Economic Transition Fund, endowed with 10 million euros. The purpose of this fund is to support companies that make the choice of economic transition, by adopting more resource-efficient models.  

It will contribute to helping businesses with their energy efficiency needs together with the Air Climate Energy Plan, which sets an objective of reducing GHG emissions by at least 47% by 2030. 

An additional instrument to create economic opportunities 

The Economic Transition Fund is an additional instrument which should make it possible to achieve these ambitious objectives while offering economic opportunities for Brussels businesses. Its mission is to finance those who make the choice of economic transition through the adoption of low-carbon, circular or regenerative economic models .  

The Economic Transition Fund will finance companies via loans, bank co-financing, quasi-equity debt or minority equity stakes in companies. 

It will finance: 

• Companies which, wishing to reduce the ecological footprint of their activities, make investments in connection with the following themes: energy efficiency (insulation, cogeneration, renovation of buildings, etc.), the transition to clean mobility, renewable energies, the circular economy, the optimization of processes in the fields of energy, etc. 
• Companies that develop solutions to help other companies reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. 

The investments made by the Economic Transition Fund are a minimum of 80,000 euros and a maximum of 1,500,000 euros. 

For more information on eligibility for this fund, analysis of your company and economic situation and application support, contact an expert consultant from FI Group. After an audit, they will be ready to help you with the applications and conditions for accessing the Economic Transition Fund. 

FI Group has 20 years of experience and wants to support you in understanding and exploiting the available R&D+I opportunities. Our experts are at your disposal to analyse your project and take the next steps together with you towards innovation.  

Yvette Poumpalova