Nieuwkapelle (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Sportvisserij Vlaanderen launches a petition opposing plans to install solar panels on Put Lake, citing environmental and recreational concerns.
The proposed installation of about 10,000 solar panels will be situated at the famous Put Lake. Nearly half of the water’s surface would be covered by these. Anglers and nature enthusiasts worry about how solar panels may affect marine life and waterfowl.
The Put in Nieuwkapelle, Belgium, is the subject of ambitious plans by De Watergroep. In order to achieve total energy neutrality in five years, they intend to erect 9,756 solar panels on the water’s surface.
“The goal is to generate as much power as we consume at all our sites,” explains
Tine Vandermeersch.
“We’ve already installed a considerable number of solar panels on our buildings in recent years. But to achieve our goals, we need to step up our efforts. There’s still plenty of space on our water reservoirs. Solar panels on water also work better than on roofs and ground. That’s why we’ve chosen the Put as a pilot project for a floating solar panel farm. A permit has now been applied for.”
According to De Watergroep, the large solar panel surface should have minimal impact on the flora and fauna in and around the pond.
“We commissioned two years of research into this from the Institute for Nature and Forest Research,”
Vandermeersch continues.
The ecological value of the Put is already low. The fish population is not very diverse, and the water has high levels of nitrogen and phosphorus. After the solar panels are placed, we intend to continue working to eliminate blue-green algae, enhance water quality, and support the growth of more plant and animal species.
For now, the promises haven’t provided much reassurance for anglers.
“I can easily believe that the ecological value of the Put isn’t that phenomenal,”
says Rik Cappoen of Westhoek Roofvissers.
“No fish have been stocked for years. But for us, it’s about more than just the plans for the Put. More and more fishing spots are being lost, and they also want to install solar panels on the banks of the Albert Canal. If that becomes a trend, we’ll have nowhere left to go. It’s a threat to our hobby.”
“It also seems unlikely to me that those panels won’t have any impact on nature,”
says Cappoen.
“If you shield a large portion of the water from sunlight, that will undoubtedly impact the oxygen balance and the plants, fish, and amphibians living in and around the pond. And what about the waterfowl? Besides that, there’s also the disruption to the landscape. Two hectares of mirrors on the well—that’s bound to have a major impact on the view.”
Comments
9 responses to “Anglers Resist Solar Project at Put Lake Nieuwkapelle”
Just what we need, a solar buffet for the local fish! 🍽️ Who knew that covering half a lake in panels would be the latest recipe for ecological disaster? 😂
Looks like we’ve found the perfect solution to make our beloved Put Lake even less inviting—nothing says “nature retreat” like a floating solar panel farm! 🌞💦 I can just picture the ducks now, gloriously reflecting on their new metallic neighbors.
Looks like the anglers are just thrilled about a solar panel farm ruining their fishing spot. Nothing says “eco-friendly” quite like a lake turned into a giant mirror, eh? 🌞🎣
Bloomin’ marvellous, isn’t it? Nothing like turning a lovely fishing hole into a solar farm to keep both anglers and nature on their toes! 😏
Typical, isn’t it? Just when you thought fishing was the only thing to worry about, here come the solar panels taking over the lake—because who needs aquatic life when you can have a shiny, reflective surface instead? 😂💦
Seems like a brilliant idea to cover half a lake with solar panels! What could possibly go wrong? Just a minor detail—fish might not appreciate their new mirror-filled home. 😆
Oh sure, let’s slap a bunch of solar panels on our beloved Put Lake and call it “progress.” Because nothing says “environmentally friendly” like blocking out the sun for our fishy friends! 🐟💡
Honestly, who wouldn’t want to replace a lovely fishing spot with a dazzling array of solar panels? Because nothing screams “nature conservation” quite like covering half a lake with shiny mirrors! 😏💼
Seems like a genius idea to cover half a lake with solar panels—nothing says “environmentally friendly” quite like drowning the local fish in shadows. 🌊😏
Last News
US President Claims Tariffs Are Restoring America’s Greatness and Wealth
Washington (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – United States President Donald Trump said Thursday that comprehensive tariffs he has imposed on countries around the world were making the nation “great & rich again”.
How are Trump’s tariffs affecting global trade partners?How does the EU-US trade deal affect exports?
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said:
“Tariffs are making Americ
Eighteen Member States Aim to Secure $127 Billion in Defense Loans
SAFE is part of a significant rearmament initiative announced by the European Commission in March, aiming to generate an additional 800 billion euros for defense over the upcoming years.
With this new program, the Commission intends to borrow up to 150 billion euros to finance member states looking to collaboratively invest in the defense sector and rectify shortcomings in European defense capabi
Mit Johann Wadephul auf Spaziergang
Außenminister Johann Wadephul sprach mit Gordon Repinski im Spaziergang-Interview über seine bevorstehende Reise nach Israel, die roten Linien gegenüber der Netanjahu-Regierung, die Lage in Gaza und die Hoffnung auf eine Waffenruhe. Zudem diskutierte Wadephul die Zusammenarbeit mit US-Außenminister Marco Rubio, das Interesse von Ländern wie Island und Norwegen an der EU-Mitgliedschaft und die Atom
Horse Injured in Lubbeek Following Fireworks Incident
Lubbeek (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A horse was injured in central Lubbeek after being startled by unexpected fireworks, raising renewed concerns about animal safety during local celebrations.
The veterinarian had to suture the horse after it crashed into the fence.“We take precautions at New Year’s and put the horses inside. But now you don’t expect fireworks, and that’s how things go wron
Key Commercial Strategies to Eliminate Plastic Pollution
The United Nations Trade and Development body, UNCTAD, issued an update on Thursday ahead of the latest round of negotiations to create a legally binding international agreement to tackle plastic pollution. Despite plastics being a direct contributor to pollution, biodiversity loss, and climate change, no comprehensive treaty currently governs their entire lifecycle.
In 2023, global plastic produ
EU Recovery Plan: Commission Approves €1.6 Billion for Austria
Brussels – The EU Commission has approved Austria’s second request for grants totaling 1.6 billion euros from the NextGenerationEU recovery plan. Austria has successfully met the 67 milestones and targets necessary for the disbursement of the second and third tranches. These accomplishments are centered around reforms intended to enhance investment in digitalization, health, pensions, taxat
Rentrée littéraire : ce qui vous attend au rayon politique (et au-delà)
Selon la commission d’enquête sénatoriale, la rationalisation de ce millier d’organismes publics ne produirait qu’un demi-milliard d’euros d’économies, bien loin des chiffres avancés par certains parlementaires et ministres.
Hasselt Chase: 19-Year-Old on Parole Hits 200 km/h, Liège Investigation
Hasselt (Brusselos Morning Newspaper) – Police chased a car in Hasselt after spotting stolen plates. The 19‑year‑old driver, already on parole, hit 200 km/h before arrest. Liège prosecutors continue to investigate with possible additional charges.
According to VRT Nieuws, police chased a pursuing vehicle in Hasselt on Tuesday morning, July 29, 2025, after officers saw stolen license plates. When
UN Urges Restraint, Investigations into Deaths Amid Angola Protests
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on Thursday called on Angolan authorities to swiftly conduct thorough and independent investigations into the deaths and the reported excessive force used during protests.
“Unverified footage suggests security forces used live ammunition and tear gas to disperse protesters, indicating unnecessary and disproportionate force,” OHCHR spok
EU Commission to Suspend Support for Israeli Entrepreneurs
The EU Commission has proposed a partial suspension of Israel’s participation in the Horizon Europe program, which funds research initiatives. This specifically pertains to the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator program, designed to assist new and smaller enterprises in promoting innovative technologies.
The proposal follows calls from several EU member states for increased pressu
Leave a Reply