ENGIE’s New Flexible Infrastructures Reinforce Belgian Electricity Supply

ENGIE is currently commissioning and developing strategic infrastructures in Belgium, enhancing grid resilience and supporting continuous renewable energy integration in a series of major milestones to secure domestic electricity security and supply.

“Flexibility is at the heart of the energy system,” said Paulo Almirante, ENGIE Senior Executive, EVP of Renewable and Flexible Power. “It plays a crucial role in maximizing the full potential of renewable energy around the clock and ensuring grid stability at all times. In Belgium and elsewhere, our strategy is built on complementarity: renewable generation, storage, and dispatchable assets to deliver a reliable, low-carbon, and competitive electricity system.”

The 875-MW Flémalle combined-cycle gas turbine plant is now available for Belgium’s grid, following selection during the first auction of the Belgian Capacity Remuneration Mechanism in 2021. It features low-emissions operation with future plans for complete CO₂-neutrality and above 63% efficiency—one of the world’s most efficient plant designs. Also, the facility maintains fast start-ups and modulation capability, delivering high flexibility to meet demand fluctuations and supply over 1 million homes.

Since 2021, the Coo pumped-storage plant has been undergoing a significant expansion and modernization program, such as constructing the upper reservoirs dams. ENGIE is actively increasing capacity by 70 MW / 450 MWh to reach a total output of 1.16 GW / 6.45 GWh. The company is also extending the pumped-storage facility’s lifetime, which has been recognized as a cornerstone of Belgium’s electricity system for over 50 years.

Lastly, ENGIE commissioned its battery energy storage system (BESS) in Vilvoorde two months ahead of schedule. One of the largest systems in Europe, the 200 MW / 800 MWh BESS can store and deliver 4-hours-worth of the daily electricity consumption of approximately 100,000 households. The company is also evaluating an extension to 300 MW / 1,200 MWh. With Vilvoorde, Kallo, and Drogenbos, ENGIE will have 380 MW / 1.5 GWh of BESS capacity in Belgium by 2027.

Combigolfe Power Plant

In early May 2025, Ansaldo Energia installed its MXL3 upgrade at ENGIE’s Combigolfe power plant in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, France. The upgrade included a redesigned compressor with high-pressure-capable parts, an improved combustion chamber for Ansaldo’s GT26 gas turbine, H-class features to enhance performance in challenging conditions, and refined insulation. With these upgrades, ENGIE Flexible Generation France’s plant offers improved efficiency, performance, and a lower environmental footprint.

It also implemented a 45% hydrogen co-combustion capability with the potential to minimize emissions by up to 20%. Applicable across Ansaldo’s GT26 turbine fleet, the technology’s M and XL operation modes allow operators to alternate between optimized performance or optimized maintenance costs. This enhanced fuel flexibility is supported by the MXL3 combustor technology. Also, the upgrade extends maintenance intervals to 40,000 equivalent operating hours and minimizes scheduled or unscheduled plant downtime.

Biomethane in Belgium

ENGIE, to increase its biomethane production capacity in Europe, acquired a new biomethane production unit in Belgium. Following recent acquisitions in England and the Netherlands, this purchase from the Schelfhout family aligns with ENGIE’s objective of establishing a European production platform to accelerate development in the biomethane sector. The production plant is located in Bree—Belgium’s Flemish region—and has been operational since 2013 in cogeneration; specifically, the production of heat and electricity from biogas.