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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 in these markets are equitable and ensure participation across society?}}

The committee Committee on regional 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_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 little few investments are in place to fund distributed systems. Many citizens seem to be "energy illiterate". Moreover, the data recorded through power grids raises questions concerning '''data storage ''' and '''protection. Finally, ''' 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 ==

* While energy production reliant on coal and other fossil fuels decreased 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 start and the EU's amount of energy production is decreasing as a whole.<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/2014_energy_market_en.pdf</ref> Especially in times where demand and consumption are still steadily increasing, this become more and more of a problem.<br />[[File:Traditional Power Grid.JPG|thumb|The traditional power grid]]* production Energy distribution systems are traditionally centralised and one- transmission 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.<ref>http://www.edsoforsmartgrids.eu/home/why- distribution smart- consumergrids/</ref>* Electricity takes Nowadays electricity also tends to take over other forms of energy (as well, as shown by the rising popularity of electric cars etc.)* RussiaThis may accelerate the ever-EU relations etcgrowing demand for energy even further. increase uncertainty* Current European Energy facilities will have to On the infrastructural side of things, the ageing energy infrastructure of most Member States should also be modernised soon* Energy 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 taking oversystems.* More and more people are installing solar panels on their own<br />

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 EU gain relevance. == The FuturePresent: Smart grids - an outlook Obstacles to what is possible be addressed ==

=== The economic dimension ===

* more efficiency through As of now, almost all of the energy distribution is done within centralised systems. Investments into the technology of smart gridshave 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 Operator|Transmission System Operators (TSOs)]] would change fundamentally.<br /> * flexibility through information of residential Energy markets are often unpredictable and uncontrollable, which is why the question whether affordable energy useprices for consumers can be assured has been raised. Apart from that, only large infrastructure programmes have been funded.* intelligent and flexible grids instead of linear distribution

=== 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. As it is uncertain whether benefits would outweigh the costs for consumers and the liberalisation of the energy market is still ongoing. On the question whether a possible 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 literacy" goes up, how the required knowledge about grid possibilities is spread as well as how the public can become involved in large-scale projects.* decentralisation through empowerment of citizens

=== The technological dimension ===

* both electricity Data protection is a hot topic when talking about the possibilities and information are exchanged* ensuring interoperability in opportunities of smart power grids* reporting energy usage to increase efficiency=== . The environmental dimension ===* pushing decarbonisation* Consumers more likely to install renewable sources recording of consumers' energy (eusage data creates a new data risk and opens the door for exploitation if no preemptive measures are taken.gCyber attacks disabling the grid could have dramatic consequences, questioning its reliability. solar panels)* consumers have a greater influence on With the amount introduction of renewable energy used in Europesmart grids, huge amounts of data would need to be stored.

== The PresentFuture: Obstacles Smart grids - an outlook to be addressed what is possible ==

=== The economic dimension ===

* most systems still centralised* little investments into In theory, the efficiency of energy usage would heavily increase in a smart grid projects* -based system, as energy would be used more efficiently and energy market rules need to overflow could be avoided. The flexibility of the power grid would therefore be newly definedincreased, as information on the energy use of residentials enables its efficiency.<br />* The EU's smart grid task force presented a possible model for the various actors, their relations and tasks. In its opinion, there should be information and data exchange between the roles of Distribution System Operators (suppliers and aggregators as well as DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) need . The generated energy would get to be alternated the supplying and defined* aggregating parties through a balance responsible party through some sort of financial adjustment mechanism. Consumers could that way get access to the energy markets are often unpredictable* how can affordable as well as obtain grid access. The aforementioned balance responsible parties would serve as the interface with the power exchange market.<ref>http://ec.europa.eu/energy prices for consumers be ensured?/sites/ener/files/documents/EG3%20Final%20-%20January%202015.pdf</ref>* only large infrastructure programmes are funded at [[File:Possible tasks and relatons in a smart grid system.JPG|thumb|Possible tasks and relations in a smart grid system according to the momentEuropean Commission's Task Force on Smart Grids.]] 

=== The societal dimension ===

* Energy illiteracy: In Through the current systemintroduction of smart grids, the user is a passive consumer, always dependent on utility companies, ignorant consumers turn into co-producers of how energy as they actively participate in the energy system works* currently costs outweigh benefits* liberalisation of grid. As outlined in the section above, this is only possible through an increase in energy market still ongoing* will things be regulated on a national or transnational (European) level? (see energy meters)* how are consumers motivated literacy of citizens connected to become co-producers the smart power grid. Subsequently, the decentralisation of energy?* how through the means of smart power grids is knowledge about grid possibilities spread only possible through the empowerment of the citizens connected to citizens?it.* how can the public be involved in large-scale projects?

=== The technological dimension ===

* data protection: new risks for consumers as 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 is recorded* security: in a smart grid system open . This includes delegating the responsibility of market facilitation to cyber attacks that could disable areas of DSOs, introducing third party market facilitators and an independent central hub as well as solving the grid?problem through [[Data Access Point Managers]].<br />* reliability[[File: is Smart grids data managment models.JPG|thumb|Three different possible data management models proposed by the European Commission.]] Furthermore, the technology [[microgrids]] should be kept in mind, as they could counteract possible security risks for the grids and manage the power grid going to be reliable at all times?a regional and local level.<br />* One suggestion for an open model for the consumption data flow allows energy service companies to have dynamic data storage: huge sums access to both production and consumption of energy in a household. The supplier would also get access to the energy used by a household, enabling a dynamic flow of energy. An interface would record said data, making a note of the amount of energy, gas and hot water being used. Additionally to the dynamic data will access, historical data access would be recordedsaved through secure data transmission to then be forwarded to suppliers and energy service companies.* are microgrids a possibility?

=== The environmental dimension ===

* do As consumers would be more likely to install renewable means sources of energy really push (e.g. solar panels) in a smart grids?grid system, democratising energy distribution pushes decarbonisation even further. Additionally, consumers have a greater, more active influence on the amount of renewable energy in Europe's energy mix.

== The Actors: Who is involved ==

*EU '''European Commission & DG Directorate General on Energy'''The European Commission is the main initiator of European law drafted. Its staff works in a wide variety of different fields and is divided by topics, the so-called Directorates Generals. The Directorate General on Energy deals with all matters related to energy, including the future of smart power grids. It reports to the Commissioner on Energy Miguel Arias Cañete as well as Vice-President of the Commission Maroš Šefčovič who is focussed on the establishment of the Energy Union. The Directorate General is divided into several Directorates. The task force on smart grids works within the framework of the Directorate General on Energyand is lead by Manuel Sánchez-Jiménez. It is noteworthy that the field of energy falls under the group of shared competences for the EU.<br /> *'''Member States’ energy ministries and distribution systems'''The national and regional execution of smart grids and similar technologies still lies in the hands of the Member States and their ministries responsible for energy of course. On the technical side, the various different distribution systems should be taken into account, since one of the reports of the European Commission found that using existing infrastructure is one of the key lessons learned.<br />*Connecting Europe Facility*'''EU citizens as “prosumers”'''The EU citizens have the ground-breaking opportunity to turn from consumers in the old-fashioned power grid system into contributing prosumers in an advanced smart grid system, thus boosting energy efficiency as well as decarbonisation. *'''DSOs and TSOs'''The roles and responsibilities DSOs and TSOs would have will change fundamentally when applying the smart grid idea and should therefore be taken into account. *'''Energy service companies'''With smart grids revolutionizing the energy market as we know it, the future of energy service companies is equally uncertain. What role they will play and especially what the regulatory framework around them should look like is to be defined.

== Measures in Place: What has been done ==

Questions The Energy Union has become more and more important in the recent years. Its goal is it to be answeredensure secure, affordable and climate-friendly energy across the EU.<ref>https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/energy-union-and-climate_en</ref> What are sources of knowledge In its energy and gas directives in 2009<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32009L0072&from=en</ref><ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2009:211:0094:0136:en:PDF</ref>, the EU set fundamental rules for an internal energy market, revising and expanding another directive from 2003.<br />In its energy efficiency directive from 2012<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2012:315:0001:0056:en:PDF</ref> it was decided to shift to a more energy efficient future for the EU citizens 's Energy Union and the directive to look into at deploy infrastructure for alternative fuels was introduced in 2014.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014L0094&from=EN</ref><br /> 2012 was also the year when European Commission prepared for the roll-out of [[smart meters]].<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32012H0148&from=EN</ref> They followed up with a recommendation for the momentdata protection of deployed smart meters as well as smart grids in general.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32014H0724&from=EN</ref><br /> What are microgrids In preparation for the upcoming legal measures regarding smart grids and technology connected to it, the European Commission released a communication document in 2011, presenting various challenges connected to smart grids, such as funding of smart grid projects, technical standards across the continent, data protection, a regulatory framework, a competitive and open retail market and the continued support for technology and systems behind a smart grid system.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2011:0202:FIN:EN:PDF</ref> That was followed up by a similar document in 2012. This time the European Commission outlined the benefits of an open, integrated and flexible energy market and how to get the most out of the internal energy market.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do they work?uri=COM:2012:0663:FIN:EN:PDF</ref> How public intervention could have fundamental influence on the energy market was brought up for the first time in 2013 by the European Commission.<ref>https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/com_2013_public_intervention_en.pdf</ref><ref>https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/com_2013_public_intervention_swd07_en.pdf</ref><br />

=== Clean In the middle of 2014, the Directorate General on Energy Package ===* released a report on benchmarking results of smart metering deployment, naming the usage of available standards and the right set of functionalities to ensure interoperability and guarantee data protection, the need for a specific data privacy and security framework and getting the consumer on board as the key lessons learned from pilot programmes.<ref>http://eur-lex.europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16legal-3986_en.htm* http:content/EN/europa.euTXT/rapidPDF/press-release_MEMO-16-3961_en.htm* https?uri=CELEX:52014DC0356&from=EN</ref><br /ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/energy-union-and-climate_en>

=== SET-Plan ===The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) aims funding of smart grid technologies was up to accelerate the € 3.15 billion in 2013, while 26% was invested in research and development and deployment of low-carbon technologies74% in Demo and Deployment. It seeks to improve new technologies The main investors at the moment are France and bring down costs the United Kingdom, followed by coordinating national research efforts Germany and helping to finance Spain.[[File:Smart grid funding.JPG|thumb|Funding of smart grid projectsin the EU as of 2013.]]

=== TENThe [[SET-Plan|European Strategic Energy Technology Plan]] (SET-Plan) aims to accelerate the development and deployment of low-E ===carbon technologies. It seeks to improve new technologies and bring down costs by coordinating national research efforts and helping to finance projects.<br />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 Conclusion ==Moving on from a past of the traditional power grids is hampered by various present obstacles such as distribution and transmission system operators as well as energy service companies stuck in the past, lacking knowledge of consumers and possible security risks. The rewards for a transfer towards smart power grids include an energy efficient, decentralised system that includes consumers as co-producers and pushed for the systematic decarbonisation of Europe's energy production.

== Links for further Research ==

* An article about energy as a common good: https://blog.p2pfoundation.net/energy-as-a-common-good/2017/02/22<br />* An article about how future energy technologies will change the life of a consumer: http://energyandcarbon.com/digitalisation-energy-implications/<br />*A citizens' Q&A by the Council of European Energy Regulators: http://www.ceer.eu/portal/page/portal/EER_HOME/EER_PUBLICATIONS/CEER_PAPERS/Electricity/Tab3/0C9D9B1CD9645A0EE050A8C03C2F585D<br />*A power point presentation on the historical developments of smart grid regulation and steps ahead: http://iee-empowering.eu/en/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2-Recent-Policy-Initiatives-by-the-European-Commission_M.SANCHEZ.pdf<br />*A report by the Smart Grid Task Force: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/EG3%20Final%20-%20January%202015.pdf<br />

== References ==

[[Category:REGI]]

[[Category:Heidelberg]]

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