![Belgian Coal Mine Repurposed as Solar Park Amidst EU's Renewable Energy Surge](/img/article-image-placeholder.webp)
it.euronews.com
Belgian Coal Mine Repurposed as Solar Park Amidst EU's Renewable Energy Surge
The former Heusden-Zolder coal mine in Belgium has been transformed into a 25,000-panel solar park, reflecting Europe's broader shift toward renewable energy where solar power surpassed coal in the electricity mix for the first time in 2024, reaching 11 percent of the EU's energy production.
- What is the significance of the Heusden-Zolder solar park in the context of Europe's energy transition?
- The Heusden-Zolder coal mine, the last in the Benelux, has been repurposed. Its former waste dump now hosts a 25,000-panel solar park, generating 5 gigawatt-hours of green electricity annually since its 2008 construction. This exemplifies the EU's energy transition, where solar power surpassed coal in the electricity mix for the first time in 2024.
- How did the EU's energy mix change in 2024 regarding renewables and fossil fuels, and which countries remain heavily reliant on coal?
- Renewables comprised 47 percent of Europe's electricity in 2024, up from 34 percent in 2019, with solar contributing 11 percent. While nuclear remains dominant, coal's share dropped to nearly 10 percent, largely due to most EU countries reducing coal's role to under 5 percent. Germany and Poland are exceptions, still heavily reliant on coal.
- What challenges does Europe face in securing its solar energy future, considering both supply chain dependencies and the intermittent nature of solar power?
- Europe's solar energy growth is uneven, with Hungary leading at 25 percent solar-generated electricity, followed by Greece and Spain. However, dependence on Chinese solar panels, heavily subsidized by Beijing, presents a challenge, prompting calls for European production diversification and improved energy storage to address solar power's intermittency.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the shift from coal to solar energy very positively, highlighting the environmental benefits and cost savings. The headline (if there was one, which is missing from the provided text) likely emphasized the success of solar energy. The use of phrases like "green electricity" and "more convenient energy" reinforces this positive framing, potentially downplaying potential challenges.
Language Bias
The article uses positive language when discussing solar energy, terms like "green electricity" and "convenient energy." While these are not inherently biased, they are subtly promotional. In contrast, "coal" is presented negatively through implicit comparison. More neutral language could include describing solar energy as 'renewable energy' instead of 'green electricity', and using more balanced comparisons between energy sources rather than direct contrasts.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the success of solar power in Europe, particularly in replacing coal, but omits discussion of the environmental impact of solar panel production and disposal. It also doesn't address the potential job losses in the coal industry and the need for retraining programs. Furthermore, the article's positive portrayal of solar energy might overshadow potential drawbacks, such as land use requirements and intermittency issues.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a somewhat simplistic eitheor narrative: coal versus solar. While it acknowledges other energy sources like nuclear and wind, the focus remains predominantly on the shift from coal to solar, neglecting the complexities and nuances of a diversified energy mix and the role of other renewable sources.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights the successful transformation of a former coal mine site into a solar park, showcasing a shift towards renewable energy sources. This directly contributes to increasing the share of renewable energy in the European energy mix, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and promoting sustainable energy production. The expansion of solar energy is explicitly linked to decreasing reliance on coal, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. The quote "Today the park produces five gigawatt/hour of green electricity every year" exemplifies this positive impact.