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Energy efficiency moves forward on both sides of the Channel
14/7/2026
News
As a new energy recovery plant is launched in Belgium, the UK government has clarified its plans for energy efficiency requirements of commercial buildings.
First, E.ON and Imerys have inaugurated a 29MW energy recovery plant at Imerys’ production site in Willebroek, Belgium, marking the start of commercial operations.
The facility converts industrial off-gas into electricity for onsite use and export to the grid. Built, owned and operated by E.ON Power Plants Belgium, the facility captures energy from syngas generated during carbon black production and converts it into electricity via a high-efficiency steam turbine.
The plant will supply the entire Imerys site while exporting surplus power equivalent to the annual consumption of around 40,000 households to the Belgian grid.
Carbon black is a key conductive material used in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The installation enables full recovery of syngas that was previously flared, improving overall energy efficiency at the site.
The project also incorporates flue gas treatment systems, including DeNOx and DeSOx technologies, aimed at reducing nitrogen oxide and sulphur oxide emissions in line with EU environmental standards.
E.ON Power Plants Belgium operates similar industrial energy installations across the region, including sites in Ertvelde, Tisselt and Terneuzen.
UK sets out plans to tighten energy standards for larger non-domestic buildings
Meanwhile, the UK government has set out plans to strengthen Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) for non-domestic buildings, including a proposed requirement for larger rented properties to reach an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of B by 2031.
EPC ratings measure a building’s energy efficiency on a scale from A (most efficient) to G (least efficient).
The update is an interim response to consultations held in 2019 and 2021 on improving the energy performance of non-domestic rented buildings in England and Wales and signals a more targeted approach focused on larger premises.
Under the proposals, all private rented buildings over 1,000m2 would be required to meet an EPC B rating by 2031, where cost-effective. Smaller buildings would remain subject to the current minimum standard of EPC E.
The government confirmed that it has dropped the previously proposed interim milestone of EPC C by 2027, giving landlords and tenants more flexibility to plan upgrades around lease cycles and building requirements.
Existing mechanisms, including the seven-year payback test and exemptions, will remain in place to ensure that only practical and cost-effective measures are required.
The changes are expected to reduce energy use and costs significantly, with estimated bill savings for tenants in larger non-domestic buildings of up to £360mn/y by 2031.
Publication of further details as well as launch of enabling secondary legislation is planned.
