Fluxys Belgium presented its half-year results on September 24, which show that the system operator is increasingly positioning itself as a crucial hub for the transition to renewable energy and materials in Northwest Europe. Besides the growth in gas transport and the development of hydrogen and CO2 infrastructure, the rapid developments in biomethane and BioLNG, which have a direct impact on the valorization of biomass and bio-based feedstocks, are particularly noteworthy.
The figures for the first half of 2025 show a turnover of €329,3 million, an increase of €32,6 million. Although net profit decreased slightly to €32,3 million due to higher costs and investments in new activities, total investments increased significantly by €88,7 million. €4,5 million went to storage, and significant amounts went to hydrogen (€25,7 million) and CO2 (€8,1 million), infrastructure essential to the broader bioeconomy.
BioLNG: A game changer for liquid biofuels
One of the most striking developments is the explosive growth of BioLNG. Four new loading stations for LNG containers and trailers were commissioned at the Zeebrugge terminal on January 1st, resulting in a 22 percent increase in truck utilization. The BioLNG market is picking up significantly: in the first six months of 2025, 1069 gigawatt-hours of capacity were booked, a sharp increase compared to the 614 gigawatt-hours in the same period last year. A monthly record of 290 gigawatt-hours in June underscores the increasing demand. Fluxys reports that BioLNG volumes in 2024 were already nine times higher than in 2023, driven by the German transport sector, and this trend is expected to continue unabated in 2025.
This rapid scaling up of BioLNG is crucial for the biomass sector. It offers a concrete and immediately applicable route for heavy road transport and maritime applications, which increasingly require biogenic fuels to reduce their environmental footprint. For producers of biomethane (from, for example, manure digestion or the digestion of organic waste streams), this opens up a significant market in liquid form. Fluxys is facilitating this by launching a consultation on adding 'equivalence liquefaction' to biomethane liquefaction and adjusting contract terms, which should make the conversion of biomethane to BioLNG more flexible and accessible.
New infrastructure with a focus on the bioeconomy
Fluxys is also investing in new pipelines on the Zeebrugge-Brussels axis to support the transition. This infrastructure will be prepared for hydrogen as soon as the market is ready. This future-proofing is important for bio-based feedstocks, because green hydrogen can eventually be produced from biomass (via gasification) or can serve as an energy carrier in combination with bioenergy production.
Furthermore, the construction of the first hydrogen pipelines in Antwerp and Ghent, and the CO2 pipelines in the Antwerp port area, is crucial. The appointment of Fluxys as CO2 grid operator in Wallonia and the application for Flanders, along with the letter of intent for cross-border CO2 infrastructure with Germany and Equinor, create a network for Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). This is relevant for the bioeconomy, as this network can also support the rise of biogenic CCS (Bio-CCS). Bio-CCS, which captures and stores CO2 from biogenic sources, plays a key role in achieving negative emissions and closing carbon loops.
Impact on the Netherlands and the broader bioeconomy
The increasing flows via Fluxys to the Netherlands underscore the interconnectedness of the networks. If the Belgian infrastructure offers more flexibility for hydrogen and CO2, a regional system will emerge in which renewable molecules and biogenic emissions can be moved across borders. This will facilitate the linking of Dutch industrial investments in, for example, Zeeland, North Brabant, and Limburg, to the Belgian infrastructure.
Fluxys's half-year figures clearly demonstrate that the company is going beyond simply managing gas. It is actively building transport and terminal capacity for new energy flows. For the bioeconomy, this means a more robust market for biomethane and BioLNG in the short term, and a facilitating CO2 network in the longer term that can support the growth of biogenic CCS and circular carbon chains. Fluxys's figures demonstrate that infrastructure and the market for bio-based feedstocks and renewable molecules are rapidly converging.
Source: Fluxys
