For Energy Assistance, it’s important that the sun shines for everyone.

🇧🇪 Active for 25 years on every continent, Energy Assistance is also committed to Belgium, notably with this new project in collaboration with the Salvation Army.

Over 2 weekends, under the technical direction of Jacques H., some thirty volunteers joined forces to install 168 photovoltaic panels on the roof of this downtown building.

And to underline the importance of this commitment, Vincent Verbeke, CEO of ENGIE Belgium, came to kick off the work

It’s not always possible for a volunteer to make a long-term commitment or to travel to faraway places. This type of project in Belgium therefore offers many new volunteers the opportunity to discover and take part in a practical work site, whatever their profile – electrician or not.
And as with every mission, this project combined the expertise of our highly qualified volunteer-experts with the energy of new volunteers.

And neither the sunshine on the first Saturday nor the rain on the second dampened their spirits: in just 2 days, all the structures, all the concrete blocks to secure them and all the 168 panels had been placed and wired.

Reducing energy footprint, supporting social action

This 168-panel, 30-kw installation now produces part of the Salvation Army’s annual electricity consumption: a significant gain that helps reduce energy bills by making the Salvation Army’s homes and aid services more sustainable and self-sufficient.

A real boost, this energy transition enables the association to continue to meet the growing needs of vulnerable groups.  Every day, the Salvation Army welcomes :

• 70 people in social housing,
• 80 asylum seekers,
• 400 recipients of meals and food aid,
• as well as a large number of visitors to its second-hand solidarity store.

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Beyond the technical aspect, this worksite embodies the values of solidarity and ecological responsibility shared by Energy Assistance and the Salvation Army.

By taking part in this project, Energy Assistance is showing that, in addition to being attentive to all the energy needs of this changing world, it is also an association of solidarity in its own country.

🙏 Thanks to Jacques H., Jacques T., Jacques T. and Rufine F. who prepared this project and THANK YOU to all our volunteers for their time and incredible energy that made this beautiful achievement possible.
Thank you to the Salvation Army for their trust and warm welcome!

With the support of Fondation Engie

The first major project in Belgium was a great success I

This mission to electrify the AMAH center in Mesnil-St-Blaise was carried out by over 20 volunteers in the field, including 7 new ones!
A wide variety of entities (ENGIE, ELECTRABEL, ORES, EQUANS, LABORELEC), with a strong representation of their retired employees.

The 144 panels (410Wp) and 3 x 10 kVA SMA three-pole inverters were installed over two long weekend days, involving more than 220 hours of on-site work. The installation of the panel installation structures and cabling had been carried out beforehand. A total of 300 hours were spent on the installation.

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With this project, all the EA structures were put into action, including volunteer recruitment with the help of Gilles, administrative follow-up by Tony and Sabine, and communication with Sylvia.

We also took the opportunity to improve our safety procedures for working at height and wearing personal safety equipment.

After two weeks in service, the system has already produced almost 3,000 kW/h. The savings generated will enable us to maintain our support measures for the home’s residents, as well as investing in building improvements with a view to further energy savings.

Thanks to l’Avenir for the nice article: https://www.lavenir.net/regions/namur/houyet/2023/08/20/mesnil-saint-blaise-144-panneaux-photovoltaiques-un-cadeau-venu-du-ciel-pour-laide-mesniloise-aux-handicapes-42633OC3EBGJFA42LHR3JBN2Y4/

As travel are limited by the Covid-19 crisis, Energy Assistance carried out a new mission in Brussels.

The house Reine Marie-Henriette, in Brussels, also known as “La Flèche”, welcomes and helps children from families in great difficulties.

A team of 4 volunteers, assisted by our General Manager, realized a secure lighting in the outside areas such as the playgrounds, the garden, the patio, etc. The system implemented allows lighting to vary according to the presence or absence of children, thus reducing light pollution and saving energy.

This transition from shadow to light took place under a beautiful November sky, surrounded by children playing on bicycles and roller skates – always at a good distance.

Thanks to our volunteers Steve B., Xavier S., Arno V. and Haithem M. and our general manager Tony M. (from ENGIE Benelux, ENGIE Solutions, and Nuyts).

In 2016, we made our first project in Belgium in favor of a home for children of the judge located a few hundred meters away from the ENGIE Tower in Brussels.
A mission of consultancy service for the renewal of the high-voltage cabin of La Fleche, Queen Marie – Henriette children’s home in Brussels led to an economy of several dozen thousands Euros.
On the other hand, the installation of an IT-cabled network the last two Saturdays of August by the volunteers’ team allows a secure management of critical data on children.
The first one but unfortunately probably not the last project in our own country where the access to the energy can raise a problem.

Volunteers : Jacques Tilquin, Nicolas Coppée, Steve Begasse, Olivier De Ridder(ENGIE Cofely Services), Olivier Debaets (Sibelga), José Béroudia (ORES)
Project Leader : Jacques Tilquin