|
“The year of the DSO“ – this
impression pops into one’s mind when taking the energy agenda of Brussels
based institutions into account! In a rapidly changing energy landscape the role of DSOs’
has to be redefined and GEODE therefore is intensifying the dialogue with
the Commission and CEER as well as other stakeholders. Therefore special
attention is drawn to the retail energy market: The Commission will
publish a Communication in Summer this year while GEODE is taking again
the lead and dedicate this year’s Spring Seminar to “The role of the DSOs
in the Retail Energy Market” which takes place on 13 May in Brussels! We
hope to see you all at this occasion. Please read below for further
information!
Carmen
Gimeno, GEODE Secretary General
|
|
|
European Energy Council, 20-21 March 2014
After a two-day summit the European Energy Council ended
in Brussels with EU leaders tasking the European Commission to come up
with a plan for decreasing energy dependence, primarily from Russia. The
Council also focused on the “regular" energy agenda topics, such as:
- The EU target for 2030
for greenhouse gas emission reductions will be fully in line with
the agreed ambitious EU objective for 2050. Such an agreed EU policy
framework should be based on the following principles: improve
coherence between greenhouse gas emissions reduction, energy
efficiency and the use of renewables and deliver the objectives for
2030 in a cost-effective manner; supportive EU framework for
advancing renewable energies and ensure international
competitiveness; flexibility for the Member States as to how they
deliver their commitments;
- The European Council
invites the Council and the Commission to elaborate mechanisms which
will result in an overall fair effort sharing and foster the
modernisation of the energy sector and to review the Energy
Efficiency Directive in a timely manner and develop an energy
efficiency framework.
- The objectives of
completing the internal energy market by 2014 and developing
interconnections so as to put an end to any isolation of Member
States from European gas and electricity networks by 2015 remain a
priority. Therefore a speedy implementation of all the measures to
meet the target of achieving interconnection of at least 10 % of
their installed electricity production capacity for all Member States
is needed, as well as an effective and consistent implementation of
the Third Energy Package by all players in the European energy
market while applying and enforcing the EU rules regarding market
integration and energy efficiency.
- Europe's high gas energy
dependency rates should be reduced, especially for the most
dependent Member States. Moderating energy demand through enhanced
energy efficiency should be the first which will also contribute to
other energy and climate objectives. The European Council calls on
the Commission to conduct an in-depth study of EU energy security
and to present by June 2014 a comprehensive plan for the reduction
of EU energy dependence
The European Council calls for sustained efforts to
moderate the energy costs borne by energy end-users, in particular
through:
- a progressive evolution
of support mechanisms for renewables to a more cost-effective and
market-based system and more convergence of national support schemes
beyond 2020;
- sustained investment in
energy efficiency and demand-side management all along the value
chain and at the R&D stage;
- fuller use of the
electricity generation capacity available on the internal market
rather than relying on national capacities alone;
- promotion of domestic
resources and of competition on gas supply markets and addressing
the issue of the contractual linkage of gas and oil prices.
In addition, the European Council calls on the Member
States to further examine their different national practices on energy
policy levies, tax components of prices and network costs, with the
objective of minimising negative consequences for energy prices. Please
go here for the full Council conclusions!
|
|
European Commission Berlin Energy Forum
The first Berlin Energy Forum, hosted by the German
Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology and chaired by Mr Dominique
Ristori, Director-General for Energy, was held on 10 and 11 February 2014
in Berlin. The high-level EC event aimed to encompass a debate on some
main issues of cross cutting interest, including the 2030 energy and
climate framework, understanding of the role of the different energy
sources in Europe’s energy mix, security of supply and the energy costs
and prices. The Berlin Forum was considered an excellent example of the
cooperation and dialogue across sectors. The key conclusions of the
Berlin Energy Forum included:
- The need for close
relations between national and European Energy policies.
- Broad support for the
architecture of the EC 2030 framework and the three key objectives
of energy policy: competitiveness, sustainability and security of
supply for 2030.
- The 40% Greenhouse Gas
reduction target was advocated as well as discussion on proposed
binding target at EU level for Renewable Energies of at least 27%
for 2030.
- Agreed on the importance
of energy efficiency to achieve the objectives of energy policy for
which urgent actions are needed.
- Recognized that the
completion of the Internal Energy Market is the key precondition for
the cost effective achievement of the energy policy objectives to be
met.
- The biggest challenges
towards the completion of the internal energy market include the
coherent application of rules, the integration of renewables and
capacity mechanisms that need to be designed in conformity with the
internal market.
- Full support for energy
prices and cost development, however more actions and monitoring are
requested.
- The following actions at
EU and national level were considered essential to assure security
of supply and to keep costs and prices in check: Providing stable
investment conditions, diversifying energy resources, investing in
technology and innovation.
- Agreed that
all sources of energy are needed to make the transition towards a
competitive low carbon economy, only achieved by mutual trust and
confidence.
All
presentations given at the forum are available here!
|
|
2020 Horizon Info Day “Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy
– 2014: Distribution and Retail Market.”
On 12 February 2014 DG
CONNECT, European Commission, held an Info Day on “Secure, Clean and
Efficient Energy – 2014: Distribution and Retail Market chaired by
representatives of DG CONNECT. The attendees were informed on calls put out within the
framework of the Commission’s work programme 2014-15 of the Horizon 2020
on “Secure, clean and efficient energy” divided into 4 chapters: Energy
Efficiency, Competitive Low-Carbon Energy, Smart Cities and Communities,
SMEs and Fast Track for Innovation for Energy. Calls for “Distribution
grid and retail market” were incorporate under those of “Competitive
Low-Carbon Energy” (LCE7).
- DG Connect outlined that
ICT is the key to “smarten up the electricity grid’ and highlighted
the need for investments. The following challenges need to be
considered:
- The integration and
validation of ICT solutions to grid challenges concentrating on
demonstrations in real user environments of system integration and
market deployment.
- Required support for
Smart Grids and smart metering by an ICT infrastructure with
stringent requirements on e.g. availability and low latency.
- The main challenge is
cost effectiveness.
- Implications of standards
and regulatory framework
Further issues identified in the view of the main scope:
- Validation of smart grid
services provided in an open and competitive market including
services for distributed renewable energy production and
consumption, and demand response systems.
- Demonstration of
innovative services to improve medium and low voltage network
monitoring and control, for local dispatching of distributed
generation, for grid asset maintenance and management combined with
new business models for demand response.
- Deployment of a flexible
architecture for smart metering systems decoupling metrology from
user functionalities and allowing for smart grid functionalities to
be added during system exploitation in a plug and play way by taking
into account connection to BMS, intelligent appliances, local
generation and storage.
The 3 points mentioned above regarded as ‘ Innovation
Actions’ identified the need for new policies, market rules, legislation,
incentives, tariffs as well as societal research addressing e.g. data
security, public acceptance, citizens’ benefits.
Further actions should be taken such as coordination and
support actions that fall under the scope of cost benefit analysis of
deployment options for smart grids ICT infrastructure with a special
focus on the costs (capital and operational), business models and
benefits for different actors, an analysis that has to be done in the
context of the present regulatory frameworks (both for energy and
telecommunications) and further examination of the possible distortions
in current compensations and incentives towards the different options. For more information please go here!
|
|
|
GEODE Report
“Gas works. The Future of Gas Distribution Networks”
DSOs are key to Europe meeting the energy challenges of
the future. GEODE has produced a new report” Gas works. The Future Role
of Gas Distribution Networks. Delivering Gas to Consumers” to
demonstrate the central role the gas Distribution System Operators have
to play in the design of the energy market of the future. GEODE’s
report shows how the traditional role of the gas DSO is changing as
DSOs move from being only gas transporters distributing gas efficiently
and safely to the consumers to providing innovative services to
consumers and enabling interoperable solutions to market participants.
The DSO has a key role to play through its operational activities to
ensure it meets the needs of gas suppliers and their customers. GEODE’s
report makes key recommendations for the European Commission and
regulatory bodies to support gas networks and to allow them to play a
key role in the design of the energy market of the future.
|
|
|
|
Largest Solar Power Plant in the Nordic Countries!
Together with a local entrepreneur Mälarenergi has been
making the so far largest solar power plant in the Nordic countries a
reality, with > 1 MW installed peak production. Mälarenergi will
also participate in an interesting project together with the local
educational institute Mälardalens Högskola to measure impacts to the
local grid.
Facts about the plant
- 91 Photovoltaics,
double axis mounted, following the sun, each 72m2
- Cover an area of 40000
square meters
- Expected yearly production of
1.200 kWh
|
|
|
Göteborg
Energi’s biogas venture makes transportation greener!
By gasifying forestry residues, Göteborg Energi takes
biogas production to a whole new level. Wednesday, March 12, GoBiGas, a
demonstration plant for the large scale production of biogas, was
inaugurated. The gasification technology in GoBiGas makes
it possible to produce biofuel that will annually supply 15,000 cars or
400 buses. Please go her to see
the press release!
|
|
|
GEODE Spring Seminar, Brussels, 13 May 2014
“The future role
of the DSOs in the Energy Retail Market”
|
|
Please see the
event’s agenda and registration form!
|
|
|
|
EDITORIAL
EUROPE
• European Energy Council
• EC Berlin Energy Forum
• 2020 Horizon Info Day “Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy – 2014: Distribution and Retail Market.”
GEODE
PUBLICATION
• Report “Gas works. The Future of Gas Distribution Networks”
GEODE
MEMBERS – UPDATE
• Mälarenergi’s new solar power plant
• Göteborg Energi’s new biogas plant
GEODE
EVENTS
• GEODE Spring Seminar, Brussels, 13 May 2014 - “The future role of the
DSOs in the Energy Retail Market”
|
|
GEODE
Launch Event of Report "Gas works. The Future of Gas Distribution
Networks"
Brussels, 1 April 2014
GEODE
WG Smart Grids
Berlin, 24 April 2014
GEODE
Launch of Svensk Energi Report “Our Electricity – what really lies
ahead?”
Brussels, 28 April 2014
EC
Regulatory Gas Forum
Madrid, 6 & 7 May 2014
GEODE
Launch Event of Report “Flexibility in Tomorrow’s Energy Systems – the
DSOs’s approach”
Brussels, 12 May 2014
GEODE
Spring Seminar
Brussels, 13 May 2014
EC
Regulatory Electricity Forum
Florence, 20 & 21 May 2014
|
|
EC Public
Consultation on Retail Energy Market
22.1.-17.4.14
EC Public
Consultation on Progress towards the 2020 energy efficiency objective and
a 2030 energy efficiency policy framework
3.2.-28.4.14
EC Public
Consultation on the Establishment of the annual priority lists for the
development of network codes and guidelines for 2015 and beyond
26.2.-9.5.14
EC Publication
“The European Files: Energy & Climate - What Strategies for
Europe"
25.3.14
CEER Assessment
of electricity generation adequacy in European countries
3.3.14
CEER Memo on
regulatory aspects of energy investment conditions in European countries
7.3.14
CEER Position on
the European Commission's Policy Framework for Climate and Energy 2020-2030
13.3.14
CEER Public
Consultation Data Management for Better Retail Market Functioning
5 November 2013
ENTSOG Annual
Report 2013
19.3.14
ACER Negative
Opinion on the Network Code on Electricity Balancing
21.3.14
|
|
|