About: electricity market
Greek power utility forges ahead with corporate green financing
Greece's Public Power Corp. (PPC), the country's biggest energy company, has surpassed expectations with its first-ever green bond. The energy utility also broke new ground at EU level by committing to pay investors a higher fee if it misses its climate goals, EURACTIV.gr reports.
Unlocking electrification through rebalancing levies and taxes
The EU needs to look at rebalancing taxes and levies on electricity to match falls in its carbon intensity and incentivise people to transition to more environmentally friendly energy, writes Jan Rosenow.
Texas power outage: lessons from the EU regulators’ perspective
The devastating events in Texas show the potential energy security risks of extreme weather, but also the benefit of the interconnected European energy grid, writes Christian Zinglersen.
Energy: A critical raw material in its own right?
Access to affordable energy is a key factor underpinning the competitiveness of European industries. But as the green transition gains momentum, pressure is building to put a higher price signal on energy and CO2 emissions, leaving regulators in a quandary.
RWE-E.ON deal will run smaller firms out of the market, green power boss claims
The European Commission’s decision to approve an agreement between Germany’s big power firms risks distorting energy market competition, according to the head of another company, who explained to EURACTIV Germany why he has started legal action.
France calls for carbon price floor to counter oil crash
The COVID-19 crisis should strengthen Europe’s resolve to achieve the climate objectives of the Paris Agreement by triggering policies that maintain fossil fuel prices above a minimum level, French authorities have said.
Germany’s transition to renewable power
Can renewable energies be used to keep the power grids running smoothly when the sun is not shining and the wind not blowing? Former Green Bundestag member, Hans-Josef Fell says they can and presents a proposal to change the German electrical grid. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Electric shock: Could Brexit scar Britain’s energy landscape?
Britain's exit from the EU, which will finally happen on Friday (31 January), has sparked fears of disruption to its electricity market, from higher bills to supply issues and stalled de-carbonisation efforts.
Selling electricity to neighbours: Technically feasible, but not in practice
An EU-funded Interreg project promoting microgrids technology has managed to help consumers produce renewable electricity on their own. But the ultimate objective to enable reselling the power to their neighbour has been hindered by regulatory obstacles.
Researcher: Lowering electricity taxes is cheapest way of meeting EU climate goals
The energy transition will hit the poor hardest unless it's balanced by a shift in taxation, says Christian Egenhofer. The EU needs to acknowledge this and get started by lowering taxes on electricity to achieve the EU’s carbon reduction goals at least cost, he argues.
Walking the walk on capacity mechanisms
The European Commission’s review of Britain’s capacity market for electricity will reveal whether the EU executive really believes the recast regulation on the internal electricity market is ever likely to be fully enforced, write Philip Baker and Michael Hogan.
An Energy Union 2.0?
Four years into the Energy Union project, it is worth taking stock of one of the flagship policies of the Juncker Commission and look into future challenges, writes Piotr Arak.
EY consultant: Europe is lagging behind in power grid digitalisation
The volume of solar panels and electric cars connected to the grid is still manageable for now. But massive new load expected from electric vehicles in the coming years will require stepping up network digitalisation, warns Serge Colle.
Smart meter woes hold back digitalisation of EU power sector
Electric cars and rooftop solar panels are expected to hit mass markets in the coming years, all requiring smart meters installed in people’s homes. But EU countries are slow at deploying them, and industry voices are now calling on EU regulators to step in.
Solar households to be paid for excess power after UK government U-turn
The UK government has made a U-turn on its decision to end the solar "export tariff", confirming that households which install solar panels in the future will be paid for excess power they generate and send to the grid. EURACTIV's media partner edie.net reports.
Greece gives investors another week for coal plant bids
Greece has given investors another week to 15 January to submit binding bids for three coal-fired power plants and a licence to build another one, a senior energy ministry official told Reuters on Monday (7 January).
EU to scrutinise Warsaw over law curbing energy price rises
The European Commission expects Poland to submit its new law cutting tax on electricity for scrutiny to see if it complies with EU laws prohibiting illegal state aid to companies, a Commission spokeswoman said on Thursday (3 January).
‘Yellow vests’ killed EU bid to phase out regulated electricity prices
A European Commission proposal to phase-out regulated prices of electricity looked set to win approval from EU member states until the 'yellow vest' movement swept across France and nipped it in the bud.
EU forges deal on coal phase-out, with special Polish clause
European Union legislators reached agreement in the early hours of Wednesday (19 December) over a proposed reform of electricity market rules that includes a 2025 cut-off date for coal subsidies, and a special clause for Poland.
Energy markets will deliver the flexible, decarbonised power system needed, not capacity markets
Energy only markets will enable the integration of the European electricity market and development of the flexible resources needed to support a decarbonised future. Philip Baker and Michael Hogan offer a critique to RTE’s Impact Assessment of the French Capacity Market.
EU weighs ‘derogation’ for Poland in bid to phase out coal
Greens have lashed out at the European Commission for trying to pass an exemption from draft electricity market rules that would allow poorer countries like Poland to continue subsidising coal because their GDP is lower than the EU’s average.
Polish coal aid sinks EU power market reform bid
Poland’s determination to continue providing financial assistance to coal power plants beyond 2030 has sunk an attempt to reform Europe’s electricity market, negotiators have said.
Making electricity rules fit for the integrated energy system of the future
When adopting new rules for Europe’s electricity market, EU policymakers shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture which involves an increasingly integrated energy system with multiple links between electricity, heat and gas, writes Hans Korteweg.