11,000 panels make Brussels Expo biggest solar park in region

The Brussels Expo centre is now sporting 11,000 solar panels, making it the largest solar park in the Brussels region.

The combined buildings that make up the Expo complex now have a collective 4.7 MWp (megawatt peak) of solar panels.

Through a cooperation with EnergyVision, the installation of the solar panels was done in record time. It took less than four weeks for all solar panels to be installed and connected, despite the very complex roof structures involved and the changing temperatures over the past month.

“At a time when ecological transition is essential, solutions exist to reduce the impact of our activities on the environment,” said Denis Delforge, chief executive of Brussels Expo.

“Our partnership with EnergyVision is an additional opportunity to contribute to the ecological transition of our activities. By making the best use of existing roofs, Brussels Expo has opted for frugality while highlighting the architectural richness of our infrastructures.”

Before these 11,000 solar panels made the roofs of Brussels Expo the largest solar factory in the Brussels region, the Gare Maritime and its surrounding buildings held the honour.

The generated energy not used by Brussels Expo will be redirected to charging stations in the surrounding area.

“These 11,000 solar panels will allow the City of Brussels to implement its climate plan in a very concrete way,” said Brussels alderman for climate Benoît Hellings.

“Thanks to this ambitious initiative on the roofs of Brussels Expo, we are working towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030 and the carbon neutrality of municipal buildings by 2040.”