Difference between revisions of "Category:Heidelberg:REGI"

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{{cquote|Energy as a commons? With paradigms new markets and opportunities arising with digitalising in the energy sector and democratising means of production and distribution, how can regulation be designed in such a way that energy systems these markets are equitable and ensure participation across society?}}
 
{{cquote|Energy as a commons? With paradigms new markets and opportunities arising with digitalising in the energy sector and democratising means of production and distribution, how can regulation be designed in such a way that energy systems these markets are equitable and ensure participation across society?}}
  
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The Committee on Regional development in Heidelberg will focus on the power shift from centralised to decentralised distribution systems. With EU citizens' growing awareness of environmental issues, new technological developments and smart power grids on the horizon, a shift towards a distributed system that includes consumers and turns them into co-producers is a possible future for Europe's energy union. There are many challenges that have to be met before such a transfer can take place: The liberalisation of the energy market is still not fully implemented and few investments are in place to fund distributed systems. Moreover, the data recorded through power grids raises questions concerning data storage and protection and there is currently no strategy on who would regulate a European-wide power grid and how. Finally, many citizens seem to be “energy illiterate”, lacking the necessary knowledge to participate in a new decentralised system. To overcome these obstacles and ensure a bright future for distributed systems in the energy union is what REGI will cover in committee work and resolution.<br />
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The Committee on Regional development in Heidelberg will focus on the power shift from '''centralised to decentralised''' distribution systems. With EU citizens' growing awareness of '''environmental issues''', new '''technological developments''' and '''smart power grids''' on the horizon, a shift towards a distributed system that includes consumers and turns them into co-producers is a possible future for Europe's energy union. There are many challenges that have to be met before such a transfer can take place: The '''liberalisation''' of the energy market is still not fully implemented and few investments are in place to fund distributed systems. Moreover, the data recorded through power grids raises questions concerning '''data storage''' and '''protection''' and there is currently no strategy on who would regulate a European-wide power grid and how. Finally, many citizens seem to be “energy illiterate”, lacking the necessary knowledge to participate in a new decentralised system. To overcome these obstacles and ensure a bright future for distributed systems in the energy union is what REGI will cover in committee work and resolution.<br />
  
 
== The Past: Distributing energy the traditional way ==
 
== The Past: Distributing energy the traditional way ==
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== The Present: Obstacles to be addressed ==
 
== The Present: Obstacles to be addressed ==
 
=== The economic dimension ===
 
=== The economic dimension ===
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As of now, almost all of the energy distribution is done withing centralised systems. Investments into the technology of smart grids have been relatively low and are coming from governmental resources only. Furthermore, the energy market rules would have to be newly defined and the roles of Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators would change fundamentally.<br />
+
As of now, almost all of the energy distribution is done withing centralised systems. Investments into the technology of smart grids have been relatively low and are coming from governmental resources only. Furthermore, the energy market rules would have to be newly defined and the roles of [[Distribution System Operators (DSOs)]] and [[Transmission System Operators (TSOs)]] would change fundamentally.<br />
  
 
Energy markets are often unpredictable and uncontrollable, which is why the question whether affordable energy prices for consumers can be assured has been raised. Apart from that, only large infrastructure programmes have been funded at the moment.
 
Energy markets are often unpredictable and uncontrollable, which is why the question whether affordable energy prices for consumers can be assured has been raised. Apart from that, only large infrastructure programmes have been funded at the moment.
  
 
=== The societal dimension ===
 
=== The societal dimension ===
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* Energy illiteracy: In the current system, the user is a passive consumer, always dependent on utility companies, ignorant of how the energy system works
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In the current system, the user is a passive consumer, always dependent on utility companies and ignorant of how the energy system works. Costs ultimately outweigh the benefits as of now and the liberalisation of the energy market is still ongoing. On the question whether a European-wide power grid should also be regulated on a European level, opinions are divided. On top of that, it is still uncertain how consumers are going to be motivated to become co-producers of energy, how the required knowledge about grid possibilities is spread as well as how the public can become involved in large-scale projects.
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* currently costs outweigh benefits
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* liberalisation of the energy market still ongoing
 
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* will things be regulated on a national or transnational (European) level? (see energy meters)
 
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* how are consumers motivated to become co-producers of energy?
 
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* how is knowledge about grid possibilities spread to citizens?
 
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* how can the public be involved in large-scale projects?
 
 
=== The technological dimension ===
 
=== The technological dimension ===
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* data protection: new risks for consumers as energy usage data is recorded
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Data protection is a hot topic when talking about the possibilities and opportunities of smart grids. The recording of consumers' energy usage data creates a new data risk and opens the door for exploitation if no preemptive measures are taken. Cyber attacks disabling the grid could have dramatic consequences, questioning the reliability of the grid. With the introduction of smart grids huge sums of data would need to be stored.
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* security: grid system open to cyber attacks that could disable areas of the grid?
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* reliability: is the grid going to be reliable at all times?
 
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* data storage: huge sums of data will be recorded
 
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* are microgrids a possibility?
 
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=== The environmental dimension ===
 
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* do renewable means of energy really push smart grids?
 
  
 
== The Future: Smart grids - an outlook to what is possible ==
 
== The Future: Smart grids - an outlook to what is possible ==
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* ensuring interoperability in smart power grids
 
* ensuring interoperability in smart power grids
 
* reporting energy usage to increase efficiency
 
* reporting energy usage to increase efficiency
 +
* are microgrids a possibility?
 
=== The environmental dimension ===
 
=== The environmental dimension ===
 
* pushing decarbonisation
 
* pushing decarbonisation

Revision as of 16:08, 5 July 2017

“ Energy as a commons? With paradigms new markets and opportunities arising with digitalising in the energy sector and democratising means of production and distribution, how can regulation be designed in such a way that energy systems these markets are equitable and ensure participation across society? ”

The Committee on Regional development in Heidelberg will focus on the power shift from centralised to decentralised distribution systems. With EU citizens' growing awareness of environmental issues, new technological developments and smart power grids on the horizon, a shift towards a distributed system that includes consumers and turns them into co-producers is a possible future for Europe's energy union. There are many challenges that have to be met before such a transfer can take place: The liberalisation of the energy market is still not fully implemented and few investments are in place to fund distributed systems. Moreover, the data recorded through power grids raises questions concerning data storage and protection and there is currently no strategy on who would regulate a European-wide power grid and how. Finally, many citizens seem to be “energy illiterate”, lacking the necessary knowledge to participate in a new decentralised system. To overcome these obstacles and ensure a bright future for distributed systems in the energy union is what REGI will cover in committee work and resolution.

The Past: Distributing energy the traditional way

While energy production reliant on coal and other fossil fuels got less over the last 20 years and the percentage of renewables in the EU's energy mix is steadily increasing, the long-awaited energy revolution has yet to arrive and the EU's amount of energy production is decreasing as a whole.[1]

Energy distribution systems are traditionally centralised and one-directional: A power plant of any kind generates the energy that is then transmitted. Distribution systems then proceed to, as their name would suggest, distribute the energy to the consumers.[2] Nowadays electricity also tends to take over other forms of energy as well, as shown by the rising popularity of electric cars. This may accelerate the ever-growing demand for energy even further. On the infrastructure side of things, the ageing energy infrastructure of most Member States should also be taken into consideration. This stands in stark contrast with many modern energy-related technologies such as smart grids, renewable energy sources as well as energy trading systems.

With decreasing EU energy production but increasing demand and consumption, geopolitical issues such as the EU-Russia tensions that have significant influence on fossil fuel imports into the European Union gain relevance.

The Present: Obstacles to be addressed

The economic dimension

As of now, almost all of the energy distribution is done withing centralised systems. Investments into the technology of smart grids have been relatively low and are coming from governmental resources only. Furthermore, the energy market rules would have to be newly defined and the roles of Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) would change fundamentally.

Energy markets are often unpredictable and uncontrollable, which is why the question whether affordable energy prices for consumers can be assured has been raised. Apart from that, only large infrastructure programmes have been funded at the moment.

The societal dimension

In the current system, the user is a passive consumer, always dependent on utility companies and ignorant of how the energy system works. Costs ultimately outweigh the benefits as of now and the liberalisation of the energy market is still ongoing. On the question whether a European-wide power grid should also be regulated on a European level, opinions are divided. On top of that, it is still uncertain how consumers are going to be motivated to become co-producers of energy, how the required knowledge about grid possibilities is spread as well as how the public can become involved in large-scale projects.

The technological dimension

Data protection is a hot topic when talking about the possibilities and opportunities of smart grids. The recording of consumers' energy usage data creates a new data risk and opens the door for exploitation if no preemptive measures are taken. Cyber attacks disabling the grid could have dramatic consequences, questioning the reliability of the grid. With the introduction of smart grids huge sums of data would need to be stored.


The Future: Smart grids - an outlook to what is possible

The economic dimension

  • more efficiency through smart grids
  • flexibility through information of residential energy use
  • intelligent and flexible grids instead of linear distribution

The societal dimension

  • consumers become co-producers
  • "energy literacy" goes up
  • decentralisation through empowerment of citizens

The technological dimension

  • both electricity and information are exchanged
  • ensuring interoperability in smart power grids
  • reporting energy usage to increase efficiency
  • are microgrids a possibility?

The environmental dimension

  • pushing decarbonisation
  • Consumers more likely to install renewable sources of energy (e.g. solar panels)
  • consumers have a greater influence on the amount of renewable energy used in Europe

The Actors: Who is involved

  • EU Commission & DG on Energy
  • Member States’ energy ministries and distribution systems
  • Connecting Europe Facility
  • EU citizens as “prosumers”

Measures in Place: What has been done

Questions to be answered: What are sources of knowledge EU citizens to look into at the moment? What are microgrids and how do they work?

Clean Energy Package

SET-Plan

The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) aims to accelerate the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies. It seeks to improve new technologies and bring down costs by coordinating national research efforts and helping to finance projects.

TEN-E

The Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) – are programmes set up by the EU for the implementation of the European Single Market. The Trans-European Networks aim at "linking island, landlocked and peripheral regions with the central regions of the community”.

A final outlook

Links for further Research

References

  1. ↑ http://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/2014_energy_market_en.pdf
  2. ↑ http://www.edsoforsmartgrids.eu/home/why-smart-grids/

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