Hasselt (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – A pilot study in Godsheide, Hasselt plans solar panels on the Albert Canal by 2026. Sportvisserij Vlaanderen warns that fences could block anglers and harm nature, while Liliane Stinissen urges calm.
As VRT News reported, a test plan was shared this month in Godsheide, Hasselt, to look at placing solar panels on the sloped banks of the Albert Canal. They mentioned that the right side of the canal gets sunlight all day, which makes it a good spot to make green power.
Researchers said that the panels could make a lot of clean energy and help with climate goals. They mentioned that, but it will not be easy to do. The panels need to be very strong to handle wind, rain, and long use.
They would also have to be built into the concrete slopes instead of being placed on top of them. The study is only just starting, but the plan is already causing debate, as some people worry about what it could mean for others who use the canal.
“Recreational anglers are completely chased away from public waterways.”
Dirk Van Milo, director of Sport Fishing Flanders
What will solar panels on Hasselt’s Albert Canal mean for fishermen?
The plan is supported by Sportvisserij Vlaanderen, especially the local group Sportvissert Visanderen, which speaks for many hobby fishers in the area. Chairman Frans Weemses and member Dirk Van Mirlo say the solar panels will almost certainly need fences to stop theft or damage, and those fences would block fishers from reaching the water. They point out that this part of the canal is one of the last places where anglers can still drive their cars right up to the edge.
In Flanders, they already have to walk or bike in, which has turned many fishing spots into no-go areas for people with lots of equipment. Weemses says this project could wipe out one of the final easy-access fishing areas left and asks if green energy plans should take away a much-loved local pastime.
Weemses says,
“The Flemish Waterway applies these regulations, but there is an urgent need for more political attention to this issue. Recreational anglers are being completely driven away from public waterways.”
Fishermen say they worry not only about losing their fishing spots but also about how the solar panels could harm nature along the Albert Canal. They explain that Godsheide has a nature reserve where many kinds of water birds live and raise their chicks. These birds use the dikes to leave the water, rest, and build nests.
“They sometimes hang mirrors in forests to deter wildlife with the reflections. Those solar panels will probably have the same effect here. So I wonder about the ecological consequences,”
Says Frans.
Liliane Stinissen from De Vlaamse Waterweg says the solar panel idea is only at the start. She explained they just got money to study the plan, and nothing is fixed yet about where or how the panels will go. She said they will ask everyone for input so ships can still stop, the banks can still be cared for, and fishing can go on.
She also said the whole canal will not be covered, only some places might work. People with worries can contact the agency, and their comments will be added to the study. The research should end in 2026, but Stinissen says panels will not go up right after that. A test model still has to be made and agreed on with the government. For now, she says there is no reason to panic because it is only an idea.
Sarhan Basem is Brussels Morning’s Senior Correspondent to the European Parliament. With a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature, Sarhan brings a unique blend of linguistic finesse and analytical prowess to his reporting. Specializing in foreign affairs, human rights, civil liberties, and security issues, he delves deep into the intricacies of global politics to provide insightful commentary and in-depth coverage. Beyond the world of journalism, Sarhan is an avid traveler, exploring new cultures and cuisines, and enjoys unwinding with a good book or indulging in outdoor adventures whenever possible.
Eurotoday is a daily online newspaper based in Belgium. BM publishes unique and independent coverage on international and European affairs. With a Europe-wide perspective, BM covers policies and politics of the EU, significant Member State developments, and looks at the international agenda with a European perspective.
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