Sibelga emphasises the importance of declaring all photovoltaic installations within 30 days
Sibelga emphasises the importance of declaring all photovoltaic installations within 30 days
Sibelga, the gas and electricity network operator, is reminding owners of photovoltaic panels in Brussels to declare their installations within a maximum of 30 days. This sometimes unknown or forgotten legal obligation helps to stabilise the grid, prevent congestion, plan ahead for investments and enables customers to benefit from green certificates.
What are the risks to the infrastructures of an undeclared installation?
The increase in solar panels in Brussels is posing a challenge for network management. If it is not declared, an installation can eventually cause local congestion, the decoupling of inverters and damage to infrastructures, not only affecting the installation in question but also neighbouring installations. This same issue also affects devices such as charging stations and storage batteries, which must also be declared to Sibelga.
4 steps to make sure you're compliant
1. Installation of a smart meter: contact Sibelga before having your panels fitted to assess whether the power needs to be raised and, if you still don't have a smart meter, plan to have one installed. This step is required by law to measure the extraction and injection of energy.
2. Installation of panels: once the preparatory work is completed, the panels can be installed.
3. Electrical inspection: request a visit from an inspection body approved by the RGIE (Belgian General Regulations on Electrical Installations) so you can obtain a compliance certificate, which is necessary in order to authorise the commissioning of your panels.
4. Declaration to Sibelga: declare the panels within 30 days of delivery of the compliance certificate. Sibelga will then proceed to verify the various components, including the presence of the smart meter. Once this step has been confirmed, Sibelga will provide a certificate that is essential for customers to obtain green certificates and make the most of the surplus production re-injected into the network.
Green certificates: make the most of your production
Upon receipt of Sibelga's certificate, contact an accredited certification body (OCA) who will certify the production installation and forward to file to BRUGEL, the Brussels energy regulator. This process enables you to obtain and resell green certificates, offering financial support to help you make your renewable energy installation profitable.
30 days to declare and cash in on your installation
Declaring your installation helps us to ensure optimal network management, while you can take full advantage of the valuation mechanisms for the energy you inject. That's why any installation you already have or are currently having installed must be declared to Sibelga within 30 days. From 1 May 2025, undeclared installations (PV installations, charging stations & storage batteries) may be subject to potential "penalties", such as the application of a non-declaration tariff. For example, if a prosumer is using a traditional meter without taking the necessary steps to ensure compliance despite receiving reminders, Sibelga may, in addition to these "penalties", adjust their consumption on the assumption that they have neither used their own energy supply nor injected electricity into the network.
The customer's role is essential in stabilising the electricity grid. Declaring their solar panels not only enables us to avoid any eventual congestion on the distribution network, but also to guarantee targeted investment that is tailored to people's real needs. This approach helps to maintain a secure network while ensuring prosumers have access to green certificates and the chance to make the most of their energy production.
