Bram Claeys
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bramclaeys.bsky.social
Bram Claeys
@bramclaeys.bsky.social
2.7K followers 870 following 1.1K posts
Renewables, efficiency & politics. Belgian dad riding a bike in the apocalypse. Senior on energy markets and grids at Regulatory Assistance Project.
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bramclaeys.bsky.social
Requiring datacenters to be flexible is a fix being deployed already in US states. FERC subsequently translating it to flexible connection agreements, an instrument available for use in EU already today. Interesting.
Screenshot of article excerpt saying: "For data centers, this flexibility doesn’t have to be a burden — it can be the fastest path to connect to the grid. Some are beginning to use batteries and varied schedules to come online years faster than if they waited for utilities to upgrade the grid to accommodate them. Google has signed contracts in Indiana, Tennessee and Arkansas that commit its data centers to reducing grid demand when supplies run tight, while Iron Mountain Data Centers is deploying batteries in New Jersey that can temporarily power its facility independently from the grid. And in states like Texas, regulators are beginning to require large users to be the first to cut their power use during emergencies, helping spare households from outages."
November 6, 2025 at 8:32 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Biking through the Flemish fields.
Picture of field full of yellow sunflowers and blue phacelia
October 10, 2025 at 11:54 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Belgisch nucleair was stabiel hoor doorheen het weekend. Uiteraard na de stop van Tihange 1 die je op 1 oktober ziet.
energy-charts.info/charts/price...
October 7, 2025 at 6:39 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
We even had 3 hours on Saturday when Belgian consumption was entirely covered by renewables.

Great thread by @jolaveyne.bsky.social
screenshot of week 40 electricity production in Belgium from energy-charts.info
October 7, 2025 at 6:36 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Indeed, important data gaps still.

This might be interesting - in the next and final report...
The Expert Panel will also assess – to the maximum extent possible – whether the most relevant requirements for this incident arising from European and/or national regulations and contracts – such as those in the SO GL, the Connection Network Codes (e.g. RfG and DCC), the Emergency and Restoration Network Code (ER NC), Synchronous Area Framework Agreement (SAFA), national regulations (e.g. voltage control and voltage operational limits) or the TSO-DSO protocol on voltage control – were fulfilled, or whether any failures contributed to the incident possibly meaning that any future processes might require adjustment.
October 3, 2025 at 11:16 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
We tried to be systematic, yet pragmatic.

We also of course recognise the importance of energy efficiency and social protection measures such as social tariffs.

Is this the final list? By no means. What would you add?

3/3
Schematic to first reduce system cost, then policy cost and finally optimise taxation.
September 30, 2025 at 7:48 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Make Electricity Cheaper 🔌💡

Or...

Kill (the Power) Bill, right?

Reducing electricity costs because we can, and have to, for affordability and decarbonisation. A new @regassistproj.bsky.social series launched yesterday.

1/3
yellow and black movie poster for Kill Bill, with red splash and in handwriting "the power" added between "kill" and "bill" Behind the scenes picture of the movie Kill Bill Vol. 2, director Quentin Tarrantino supposedly explaining cost reductions actions to Uma Thurman as the Bride, sitting across from David Carradine as Bill. Drawing of stylised sitting kung fu master Pai Mei surrounded by 8 hand gestures, each associated with an action to reduce power bills
September 30, 2025 at 7:48 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
"Costs don't magically disappear." 🔌💡

About "tripartite contracts", on the agenda of the informal energy council in Copenhagen.

Right?

www.ft.com/content/cfc3... @alicehancock.bsky.social
Screenshot of text, saying “Costs don’t magically disappear,” Claeys said. “Governments can decide to give energy-intensive industry, or other actors, a benefit by reducing their contribution to grid costs or by reducing the risk of their investments. This can be effective support for sectors we want to keep or bring back. But it does shift that cost to consumers or taxpayers that don’t get that support. Grids still have to be paid for, or risks still have to be borne by someone. So, it’s important to have transparency, a democratic decision process and fairness.”
September 3, 2025 at 7:30 PM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Greetings from Chicago
Picture of light tower at beach
August 10, 2025 at 6:56 PM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Good morning, from Lake Ossipee
Sunrise over lake
July 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Yep, contributed to @jolaveyne.bsky.social "Loch Ness curve" yesterday.
Screenshot of electricity use throughout day. Green injection between 7am and 7pm, offtake until midnight
July 2, 2025 at 8:21 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
This was fun. Volunteering at the Wattmobiel to help a class of 6th graders discover renewables: wind, solar PV and thermal, hydro, heat pump, mechanical (bike - this was the most popular)...

Close to Brussels? Check here: www.klimaatpunt.be/scholen/watt...
picture of kids around a truck with wind turbine on roof and solar panels in the grass - cloudy sky
June 26, 2025 at 11:35 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Keep-the-house-cool-inside tip: very happy with these Suncooler tarps for our skylights. Practical and way cheaper than the Velux brand solution, plus probably more effective, since sitting on the outside of the glass. 🔌💡
picture of 2 skylights on a flat roof covered by a white tarp
June 20, 2025 at 8:42 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Zeer lezenswaardig opiniestuk van @hendrikvos.bsky.social, over hoe de 5% nergens op slaat, noch een garantie op veiligheid vormt.
www.standaard.be/opinies/een-...
Screenshot of text: Intussen stevenen we af op een spectaculaire ontwrichting van de overheidsuitgaven. 5 procent van het bbp staat voor ongeveer 10 procent van onze totale overheidsuitgaven. Als we de werkloosheidsuitkeringen integraal schrappen, dan rijden we nog geen fractie van dat gat dicht. Alle pensioenen halveren helpt om in de buurt te komen. Over die omvang hebben we het. Van dit roekeloze avontuur moeten we één ding onthouden: wie pleit voor investeringen in het onderwijs, de zorgsector of de sociale woningbouw, mag zich nooit meer laten afschepen met het argument dat het helaas onbetaalbaar is.
June 17, 2025 at 9:33 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
🍉My boy's first demo was a big one: drawing the red line for peace in Gaza.
75-100k people on the streets of Brussels.
Picture of man waving big Palestinian flag against cloudy sky Picture of boy in red shirt sitting on shoulders of his dad. Crowd of protesters around them.
June 15, 2025 at 5:12 PM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Amai. @ec.europa.eu over Belgisch beleid, incl. energie.
Je zult maar energieminister zijn en dit in je mailbox krijgen.

commission.europa.eu/document/dow...
Tekst Tekst Tekst
June 4, 2025 at 7:22 PM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Quiet electric ferry in Ostend. 🔌💡
June 1, 2025 at 9:55 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Sunrise in Bouillon, sunset in Oostende.
Cloudy sunset over beach Sunrise over valley in clouds
May 31, 2025 at 8:16 PM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Oh, en:

Automatisering, risicodekking en gebruiksgemak zijn voorwaarden voor ontsluiten decentrale flexibiliteit, en daarmee aanpakken negatieve prijzen, bij huishoudens en andere consumenten die niet elke dag wakker liggen van de fascinerende wereld van de elektriciteits- en gasmarkt. Duh.

4/4
Picture of happy customer
May 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Obscure formules in leveringscontracten die laten betalen voor product dat eigenlijk geld waard is, kan alleen in slecht werkende leveringsmarkt. Te weinig transparantie, leveranciers die daar mee weg komen. Aan regulatoren om consumenten te beschermen en wapenen. Dat de goeie mogen winnen.

3/4
Steekspel van ridders
May 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Vraag en aanbod op elektriciteitsmarkt werkt als bij wortels: bij teveel aanbod, en te weinig vraag, zakt de prijs en kan het zijn dat je moet betalen om er vanaf te raken. Logisch gevolg van snelle groei zonnepanelen, terwijl elektrificering transport en verwarming pas begint. Komt wel goed.

2/4
Picture of carrots
May 24, 2025 at 7:54 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
10 points for whoever at the Red Cross thought of this motivational text message campaign. Straight to the heart ❤️

"Thanks for your donation, your blood is on its way to a patient"
Text message screenshot saying "Bedankt voor jouw donatie! Jouw bloed is onderweg naar een patient."
May 24, 2025 at 7:24 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
"I wish I was a gas power plant" quote of the morning at SmartEn conference by Sandra Trittin.

Talking about removing barriers to demand-side flex, leveling the playing field with traditional generation. 🔌💡

@nicogcasares.bsky.social
Picture of 4 men panel moderated by woman, Sandra Trittin, climate tech entrepreneur
May 20, 2025 at 8:30 AM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Sending off an e-mail about the Iberian blackout, to then have lunch in a local restaurant that just lost power. Not because of renewables or left wing politics. Just because of works in the street 🔌💡😜
picture of restaurant with kitchen staff working in the dark
May 9, 2025 at 1:01 PM
bramclaeys.bsky.social
Brighton, UK. EV-charger on light pole: clever! 🔌💡
Rampion offshore wind farm on horizon: cool 😎
Picture of urban street looking out on sea with blue sky and white clouds. EV charger on light pole. Small white wind turbines on horizon.
May 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM