Vande Lanotte to Flanders: "Pay off solar energy debt”

Minister Johan Vande Lanotte (SP.A) is calling for the Flemish government to come up with an alternative means to finance the subsidies for solar energy. He suggests a debt fund be set up to absorb the debts incurred.

In this way, the socialist deputy prime minister wants to prevent a sharp rise in consumer electricity bills. Calculations from the Socio-Economic Council of Flanders (Serv) last week showed that electricity bills could rise by 30% from 2016. That's because so far the Flemish government intends to pass on the indebted subsidies to the consumer.

Vande Lanotte (pictured) instead favours the creation of a fund by the Flemish government. The fund should cover the outstanding debt for green electricity subsidies. According to Vande Lanotte, the debt amounts to around €500 million. The Flemish Region would have to commit to working away the deficit over a period of 20 years.

According to Vande Lanotte, the Flemish Region must take its responsibility. “The cost of solar energy subsidies is so high because the Flemish government used them for too long to encourage the installation of solar panels.”