In the most recent Belmap release, the number of buildings with solar panels increased by 20%. This increase is significantly larger than during other annual updates. This strong growth is the result of energy prices peaking in September 2022 and making more people choose this source of renewable energy.

Installations from 2022 and 2023:  

The annually available orthophotos of Flanders and Wallonia are the main source for Belmap for solar panels. Using AI computer vision techniques we detect all solar panels. The used orthophotos were flown province by province between February 2023 and September 2023 and then were finally made available as open data in March 2024.  

The newly added solar panels thus concern installations that are visible for a first time in these orthophotos and not yet in the images from a year before. So, they are installations from the second part of 2022 and the first part of 2023. This period follows just after the peak of energy prices in September 2022. These high prices clearly prompted many people to install solar panels. 

Key Points of the Update: 

▪ Massive Increase in Solar Panel Installations:

The update reflects an increase of 203,789 buildings in Belgium equipped with solar panels, illustrating the rapid adoption of solar energy solutions. 

The total now exceeds 1 million buildings equipped with solar panels in Belgium

▪ Improved Data Accuracy: 

The 2024.06 release incorporates the most recent and precise data available, enhancing Belmap's reliability for all users.
Additionally, Belmap uses information from all previous years in its solar panel data modules. This continuous improvement leads to better predictions and significantly reduces false positives and negatives, ensuring excellent quality. 

Ready to leverage the latest solar panel data? 
Contact us today to discover how Belmap can enhance your sustainability and address management strategies!