EUROPEAN PHOTOVOLTAIC
INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION
EU Energy Policy – where do we go from here?
Frauke Thies, Policy Director
EEB Annual Conference
Brussels, 18 October 2013
Strange things are happening...
EC 2050 Energy Roadmap Dec 2011: No-regrets options:
Energy Efficiency, Renewables, Smarter Infrastructure
EC on 2050 Roadmap in Sep 2013: No-regrets options:
Energy Efficiency, Smarter Infrastructure, Gas
Page 2
Renewables opposition raising its voice
Page 3
Renewables uptake means changing business
Jon Wellinghoff, chairman of the US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC):
“Solar is growing so fast it is going to overtake everything,”
“Our markets were made up for a very centralised system, very large
plants and plants that were distant from loads. We’re moving to a much
more distributed system that also has consumers participating as
resources with their load.”
Stephen Chu, former US Energy Secretary:
“Now, if you’re a utility company, you’re going to be very worried about
that. (…) So I’ve been telling them there’s another business model.”
Source: REneweconomy
Page 4
No doubt that renewables will break through in the end
Declining
costs
Modular
character
People
want it!
BUT:
PV Parity project : 2012
Without the right regulatory framework and without early
technical adaptations of the power system, it will be hard
... and too late for the climate
Page 5
Making it happen smoothly and fast
Active adaption instead of scaremongering and delay
Re-thinking Europe’s energy system
1. A flexible power mix and transmission
2. An active distribution system,
energy services & aggregation
3. Service provision by renewables
4. Different market products and rules
Page 6
What does it mean for policy?
Set a strong and binding renewable energy target
An „ETS-only“ approach cannot be enough to drive the structural change!
Re-think market rules and regulations to accomodate renewables
Refrain from narrowly-focussed capacity mechanisms for fossil fuels
Drive flexibilisation of the power system and mix
• Network codes, power plant requirements
New focus on distribution level:
• Energy services and aggregation
• New metering and communication strategies
Communitybuilders.net
Page 7
THANK YOUR FOR
YOUR ATTENTION
This document was presented by Frauke Thies
f.thies@epia.org
European Photovoltaic Industry Association
Renewable Energy House
Rue d’Arlon 63-67, 1040 Brussels - Belgium
T +32 (0)2 465 38 84 - F +32 (0)2 400 10 10
info@epia.org - www.epia.org
www.epia.org