Changes

{{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?}}

While energy production reliant on coal and other fossil fuels got less 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 arrive 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.

On the infrastructure infrastructural 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 EU gain relevance.

As of now, almost all of the energy distribution is done withing within 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 Operator|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.

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 As it is uncertain whether benefits would outweigh the benefits as of now 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, how the required knowledge about grid possibilities is spread as well as how the public can become involved in large-scale projects.

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 its reliability of the grid. With the introduction of smart grids , huge sums amounts of data would need to be stored.

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.<br /> One suggestion for an open model for the consumption data flow allows energy service companies to have dynamic data 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 access, historical data access would be saved through secure data transmission to then be forwarded to suppliers and energy service companies.

*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.

 === Clean The Energy Package ===* http://europaUnion has become more and more important in the recent years.eu/rapid/pressIts goal is it to ensure secure, affordable and climate-release_MEMO-16-3986_enfriendly energy across the EU.htm* http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-3961_en.htm* <ref>https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/energy-union-and-climate_en</ref>

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 standers 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?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 />

The [[SET-Plan|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.<br />

Third Energy Package == 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.

* 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 />