On 5th May 2015 we held the 1st Symposium of our 2015 series of events dedicated to the European Energy Transition. Together with around 100 representatives from EU institutions, the economic sector, member states and other key stakeholders, we discussed the need of securing Europe’s electricity supply while making the switch towards an integrated and long-term new power system.

Most speakers agreed that great progress has been achieved over the past years. Nevertheless, the barriers threatening the completion of the internal electricity market are numerous, complex and heterogeneous. These barriers include: the slow integration of the massive deployment of decentralised and variable renewables into the grid, the insufficient development and expansion of electricity grids and interconnections within the EU, the key issue of generation adequacy, the lack of demand-side mechanisms and storage facilities to increase flexibility, the uncoordinated development of national support policies, the lack of investments in certain segments of power production, and the volatility of the regulatory frameworks at national and EU levels, combined with a complex and uncertain global and regional energy context.

The main answer to this complex equation so far has been the adoption of national capacity remuneration mechanisms and national ancillary services in order to maintain the electricity systems balanced. Consequently, the security of electricity supply is currently more driven by national policies than by an integrated and cost-effective European approach. This lack of coordination and cooperation between member states might dangerously throw energy policy back into national policies, threatening the completion of the European internal electricity market.

The increasing share of decentralized and variable renewable generation requires new ways of operating the whole electricity system. But we are transiting from an old system to a new one without knowing yet if the “learning by doing” process will work. As rightly said by one of the speakers, it is not easy to change the wheel of a bike which must keep running.  However, everybody agreed on the fact that operating this new electricity system requires four main things: upgrading and building new transmission lines across borders in order to integrate this increasing share of decentralised renewable energy; harmonising the rules and regulations between the different national power systems; designing the plans of this new power system that must encompass flexibility (including on the demand-side) and reflect all system costs; deciding the governance of this new power system between the national, regional and European levels.

All the answers to these new challenges will require technology developments, political will and coordinated action by Member States, the TSOs, the regulators and all energy stakeholders. Each actor will have to accept to drop some of its individual decision-making powers in favour of a common approach, which is not only more cost-efficient but also more secure.

Please find here the detailed report of the event.

Click here to have a look at the pictures of the event.

SPEAKERS’ MATERIALS and AGENDA (click here for the agenda)

09:00 – 09:15 Welcome address

Claudia HERING, Head of Public Affairs, Development Group and
Clémentine d’OULTREMONT, Senior Research Fellow, Egmont Institute

09:15 – 09:30 Keynote address

Florian ERMACORA, Head of Unit Internal Energy Market II: Wholesale markets; electricity & gas, DG Energy, European Commission

09:30 – 11:00 1^st Session: What are the main barriers to the completion of the EU internal electricity market?

Speakers:

• Michel MATHEU, Head of EU Strategy in the Public Affairs Division, Electricité de France (EDF)
• Olivier FEIX, Head of Communications & Public Affairs, Elia Group and Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Renewables Grid Initiative
• Wolfram VOGEL, Director Public Affairs & Communications, European Power Exchange – EPEX SPOT SE

Discussant: Jonathan GANVENTA, Associate Director, E3G

Moderator: Clémentine d’OULTREMONT, Senior Research Fellow, Egmont Institute

11:00 – 11:30 Coffee break

11:30 – 13:00 Session 2: What are the next steps towards an integrated and long-term electricity market?

Speakers:

• Holger GASSNER, Head of Strategy & Regulatory Affairs, RWE Innogy
• Harry VERHAAR, Head of Global Public & Government Affairs, Philips Lighting
• John SINNER, Senior Energy Economist, European Investment Bank

Discussant: Stephen WOODHOUSE, Director and Head of Market Design Group, Pöyry Management Consulting

Moderator: Mark Johnston, Senior Policy Adviser, European Policy Center

13:00 – 14:00 Lunch

MANY THANKS TO OUR

Key Sponsor of the 2015 series of events

Sponsors of the 1st Symposium

Silver Sponsors of the 1st Symposium

Bronze Sponsor of the 1st Symposium