European Union claims to have a three pillars energy policy: “single competitive market, security of supply, and sustainability”. It did start implementing that program under “Barroso I” Commission and will have to push it forward under Barroso II. It has already said that “the EU needs to begin preparing its energy future in the longer term” and that “the Commission will therefore propose to renew the Energy Policy for Europe in 2010 with a view to charting a policy agenda for 2030 and a vision for 2050, to be supported by a new Action Plan”.
Three pillars, three objectives within one or three separate action lines? Balancing the three objectives in a European integrated approach is challenging and difficult while strongly needed. How to combine the competitive market approach with the other two “packages”? How to go very deep into climate change mitigation while rethinking the market designs for gas and electricity? Are the expected investments in new pipes & wires for securing our energy supplies getting the right signals and incentives under the prevailing regulatory framework? Are Member States to cooperate enough to make the 20-20-20 objectives reachable? Are TSOs and regulators going to adapt their work plan at the level required by this demanding EU common policy?
In the Loyola de Palacio Chair program for 2010, we want to contribute to this debate. We will address the needs of transmission and distribution networks for a new regulation supporting the EU climate change policy. We will look at the following key issues in our 2010 workshops:
the storage of electricity in response to RES intermittency and CO2 reduction at generation peak hours;
the implementation of massive offshore wind connexions through meshed DC networks;
a review of demand-side management experiments as of energy efficiency programmes, etc...
The Loyola de Palacio Chair at the European University Institute will cooperate with the research group on “Network Economics and Engineering” at the SUPELEC engineering school to organise a four workshops programme. They will discuss how to upgrade the European network regulation to address the climate change challenges.
The four workshops will host academics, as stakeholders (energy ministries, regulators and the industry). The programme will deliver a set of conclusions and recommendations on the needed adaptation of network regulation to the EU climate change objectives.
