Solar panels in Belgium installation, prices & yield

How to install solar panels in Belgium?

Like in many countries, solar panel regulation is regional. In some cases in Belgium you have to request a permit for the installation of solar panels. In Flanders and Wallonia, solar panels placed on the roof don't require a permit unless the property is protected or historic. In Brussels, additional regulations apply: the solar panels can't be visible from a public space and can't protrude more than 30 cm off the roof.

For the installation of solar panels on the ground, on a protected building or in other regulated cases, you'll have to contact your municipality.

Several companies in Belgium install solar panels. There are no specific conditions for installation, so technically you can install panels yourself. However, it's advisable to have the works carried out by a recognised technician who can also perform the required inspection immediately.

Install a solar panel inverter

Solar panels produce direct current, but the electricity you use at home is alternating current. To convert what the panels generate into usable electricity, an inverter must be installed. At least one inverter is required per installation.

You choose a solar panel inverter based on the capacity of the panels. It's advisable to pick an inverter that can handle 90% to 110% of the installation's capacity.

Inspection of solar panels by a technician

To commission the solar panels, they must be inspected by a recognised technician. The installation is checked against the General Regulations for Electrical Installations (AREI).

This inspection is necessary to connect the installation to the electricity grid, receive the injection fee and claim solar panel premiums.

Solar panel prices in Belgium

The price of solar panels has dropped significantly in recent years. In addition, you can receive a government subsidy for photovoltaic panels. The average solar panel price is around €1.26 per watt peak (Wp), though the exact price depends on several criteria:

• The type of solar panel and installation
• The power of the solar panels (kWp)
• The type of roof
• The accessibility of the roof (height, distance between the roof and the fuse box, etc.)

Subsidies for solar panels in Belgium

Direct solar panel subsidies in Belgium have been gradually phased down since 2024. The headline residential premium in Flanders has now closed for new installations, while support continues through the injection tariff (paid by your supplier for excess electricity fed back to the grid) and a reduced VAT rate on installation works for qualifying homes.

Wallonia and Brussels run their own regional schemes — typically a mix of tax incentives, prosumer rules and green-certificate-style support. Subsidies and tax relief are usually capped at a percentage of the total invoiced investment.

Because the framework changes regularly, always check the latest figures with your regional energy authority (Energiesparen in Flanders, Energie Wallonie in Wallonia, Bruxelles Environnement in Brussels) before signing a quote.

What is the yield of solar panels in Belgium?

The solar panel yield depends on a number of factors, which makes it difficult to give an exact figure. One way suppliers used to indicate efficiency is the unit of watt peak (Wp).

However, this says nothing about the relationship between the yield and the required investment. Over the entire lifespan of solar panels, the efficiency of a properly functioning installation will be above 200%. The payback period is usually six to ten years — and the lifespan of solar panels is about 25 years.

Injection tariff for solar panels in Belgium

It's not always possible to use all the electricity produced by your solar panels directly. In that case you can inject your electricity into the energy grid. If you have a digital energy meter, you receive an injection tariff for each kilowatt-hour injected into the grid.

The injection tariffs can differ per provider, which is why it's worth taking this into account when comparing providers.

Prosumer tariff for solar panels in Belgium

If your home is still equipped with an old, analogue energy meter, you won't be able to receive the injection tariff. Older meters can't differentiate between injected and used electricity — they simply count backwards when electricity is injected, resulting in lower overall consumption on paper.

Because households with this older system pay less in taxes (consumption on paper is lower), they have to pay an additional tax called the Prosumer Tariff. This tariff costs around €50 per kW per year.

If you would like to install a digital energy meter and benefit from the injection tariff, contact your grid operator (Fluvius in Flanders, Sibelga in Brussels).

How do solar panels work?

A solar panel converts sunlight or the sun's heat into electricity, hot water or general heating. It operates using solar energy, one of the most abundant sources of renewable energy. Other renewable sources include wind turbines, hydropower and biomass.

With enough solar panels you'll be significantly less dependent on your energy provider and use entirely green electricity. Solar panels can also help you lower your energy bills.

There are two types of solar panels in Belgium you can install:

1. Solar thermal panels
2. Photovoltaic panels

What are solar thermal panels?

Solar thermal panels capture the sun's heat to produce domestic hot water and heat your home. They are usually combined with a solar water heater.

The solar thermal panel is equipped with a sensor that captures up to 90% of the sun's light rays and instantly transforms them into heat. The heat is transported by a "heat transfer fluid" to the water tank, which serves as storage. The water in the tank is heated, and the fluid flows back to its source to start the cycle again.

In general, if it's overcast or the sun is blocked, the solar thermal panel has a back-up system such as a gas or oil boiler or a heat pump — so you can continue to have hot water all the time.

What are photovoltaic panels?

Photovoltaic panels capture sunlight and transform it into green electricity thanks to photovoltaic solar cells. The main advantage is that as long as there is sunlight, electricity is produced — so you produce electricity constantly, even in winter, and can use it to power anything in your house, not just water heating.

There are two types of photovoltaic panels:

1. Monocrystalline panel: black, most efficient in energy production, but also more expensive
2. Polycrystalline panel: blue, less efficient in energy production, but also less expensive

The choice between the two is based on price, space and aesthetics. Polycrystalline panels are less expensive. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient and therefore require fewer panels — meaning less space. If neither space nor budget is an issue, it comes down to colour: blue or black.

If your aim is to cover all your electricity consumption with solar energy, you'll need to cover around 20–30 m² of your roof with panels. This can be quite costly, which is why many households decide to install only a few panels to offset part of their consumption.