Energy sharing: a pragmatic answer to the challenges facing large industrial players in Belgium

The CREG study reveals several critical issues. The price volatility, exacerbated by price-setting mechanisms based on futures quotations, shifts part of the risk onto industrial customers. Moreover, local production (on site), which is essential for reducing costs, suffered a decline in 2023, largely due to unfavourable weather conditions. At the same time, market concentration remains a concern, with Electrabel still holding a 60% market share, which limits the range of options available to industrial players. 

Faced with these challenges, energy sharing emerges as a collaborative and effective solution. This approach enables companies to pool their energy resources and optimise their collective consumption. By forming energy communities, industrial players can not only reduce their costs but also increase their resilience in the face of an unstable market. Around a third of the electricity consumed by customers connected to the Elia grid already comes from local production units. By sharing these surpluses with other companies, it is possible to maximise their value while reducing losses. 

Energy sharing also offers advantages in terms of cost stabilisation. By avoiding exclusive reliance on short-term markets, companies can benefit from more predictable pricing. Moreover, this pooling encourages the optimal use of renewable energy and limits dependence on fossil sources, thereby contributing to lower CO₂ emissions. 

RaYSun positions itself as a key catalyst in this transition towards energy sharing. We firmly believe that this approach is a strategic lever for addressing the current challenges facing large industrial players. By facilitating the creation of energy communities, we give companies the tools to reduce their exposure to market fluctuations while optimising their consumption through a collective approach. 

In conclusion, in light of the challenges highlighted by the CREG study, energy sharing represents a pragmatic and effective solution for large industrial customers in Belgium. At RaYSun, we stand ready to support this transition so that energy becomes a driver of cooperation rather than a burden.