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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?}}
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 '''[http://energywiki.eyp.org/view/[Smart_grid| 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 economic dimension ===
In theory, the efficiency of energy usage would heavily increase in a smart grid-based system, as energy would be used more efficiently and energy overflow could be avoided. The flexibility of the power grid would therefore be increased, as information on the energy use of residentials enables its efficiency.<br />
=== The societal dimension ===
* are microgrids a possibility?
In a smart grid system, both electricity and information are exchanged, which is why interoperability within smart power grids has to be ensured. The reporting of energy usage would increase the efficiency of energy distribution. The European Commission has come forward with various possible systems for managing the data recorded in a smart grid. This includes delegating the responsibility of market facilitation to DSOs, introducing third party market facilitators and an independent central hub as well as solving the problem through [[Data Access Point Managers]].<br /> Furthermore, the technology [[microgrids]] should be kept in mind, as they could counteract possible security risks for the grids and manage the power grid at a regional and local level.
=== The environmental dimension ===