About: Smart meters
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.
Energy execs: ‘The market for demand-response is only going to grow’
Demand-response services are still fairly new in the electricity market, but their importance is only expected to grow as power grids come under increasing strain from intermittent renewable energy sources. Andreas Flamm and Frauke Thies explain the “fundamental shift” that needs to happen in the policy landscape.
Analyst: ‘Member states can strong-arm Brussels on energy policy’
From nuclear plants in the UK and Hungary to coal-fired power stations in Germany, member states always manage to forge ahead with their energy projects, according to Georg Zachmann, who calls on EU leaders to sit down and seriously discuss the Energy Union’s governance.
Eurelectric boss: ‘Orchestrated’ power markets must end
If European Union leaders don’t believe markets can work, then there’s no point having a carbon price to encourage renewable energies. And the energy market will always be “orchestrated” by national governments keeping fossil fuels subsidised, says Hans Ten Berge.
Co-op chief: People can produce most of their energy themselves
Half of Europeans could have solar panels on their roofs by 2050. And the trend won’t stop as small-scale energy cooperatives bring in eight times more revenue to local authorities than big utilities, argues Dirk Vansintjan.
Industry: Consumer fears on smart meters are ‘overblown’
Industry is waiting for national energy regulators in each member state to decide how to distribute the costs involved in the roll-out of smart meters, which could fall on consumers, depending on each market's 'peculiarities', John Harris, of smart metering company Landis+Gyr, told EURACTIV.
Industry chief: Energy efficiency bill crucial for demand-response
Jessica Stromback of the Smart Energy Demand Coalition says the Energy Efficiency Directive could create a demand-response energy market, which decentralises consumption and allows end-users to control their energy use at critical or peak times.