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RAP experts keep their finger on the pulse of the energy sector and provide timely analysis of topics impacting stakeholders TODAY.
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June 17, 2025
Light industry, an obvious place to reduce gas use
Building on the European Green Deal, the European Commission has adopted a new business plan for Europe – the Clean Industrial Deal. The plan aims to address the “climate crisis and its consequences, competitiveness concerns and economic resilience.” A… View Summary +

May 29, 2025
现货市场是全国统一电力市场的基石
近日,国家发展改革委、国家能源局颁布了《关于全面加快电力现货市场建设工作的通知》(发改办体改〔2025〕394号)为现货市场加速发展制定了时间表,要求2025年底前基本实现电力现货市场全覆盖,全面开展连续结算运行。现货市场的建设实践至关重要,有望显著提升电力系统运行效率,更可有效促进可再生能源消纳。然而,相比全国统一电力市场,以省级电力市场为主导的体系可能会导致更多的备用容量和更多对本地煤电的调度,从而产生更高的成本和排放。因此,还需要推进全国统一的电力现货市场,包括消除省间壁垒、完善顶层设计、细化市场规则,并推动市场与电网的联合运行,从多个方面协同发力,持续发挥低成本、低排放和高可靠性的优势。电力市场的改革过程中经常提到“无现货,不市场”;而电力市场发展到现在的关键节点,应进一步认识到,“不统一,枉现货”。 为全国统一电力现货市场制定清晰的路线图 国内外的建模研究显示,在更大的范围内优化跨区输电能带来巨大的效益,包括降低运行成本、减少排放以及减少可再生能源弃电等。经验表明,跨行政边界、覆盖更大地理范围的电力市场能够更充分地利用跨省跨区输电资源,更高效地应对短期内供应侧、需求侧和其他变化,从而进一步释放灵活性,为电网带来更大的利益。 近几年的电力市场政策文件多次提到多层次现货市场的耦合与衔接。国家发展改革委、国家能源局… View Summary +

March 11, 2025
We’re Opening the AI “Bottle.” So, What Should Regulators Wish For?
Like the all-powerful genies of mythology, artificial intelligence (AI) seems increasingly able to magically answer our questions and potentially grant wishes. Policymakers and regulators are still trying to understand the nuances of this technology and its impacts to energy systems. View Summary +

December 17, 2024
Can we make nodal pricing work? Another conversation with an inner teenage sceptic
On September 17, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen included a remarkable point in her mission letter for the incoming Energy Commissioner — advance the system integration of solar and wind by improving locational price signals. How could that… View Summary +

October 9, 2024
提升电力需求侧弹性以平滑价格波动
近年来,中国风能和太阳能等可再生能源在电力系统中的比例不断提升。随着“双碳”目标的推进,这一趋势将继续深化。为支持新型电力系统的构建,政府部门在规划多项措施,其中包括加快电力现货市场的建设。然而,伴随着多省现货市场进入试运行和正式运行阶段,电力现货市场的价格波动引发了政策制定者、市场参与者和用户的担忧。虽然现货市场价格波动是新型电力系统中传递关键信号的重要机制,但若市场设计不当或监管不力,可能导致无效信号甚至价格飙升。随着可再生能源渗透率的增加,这些问题可能更加显著。本文将重点探讨防范新型电力系统价格过度波动的一个重要手段——持续推进需求侧用电弹性建设,充分发挥需求响应能力。 增加需求侧的用电弹性多年来一直是政策关注的重点。在过去的讨论中,它往往被视为用较低的系统成本增强系统韧性,保障电力安全的妙方。但在诸多讨论中较少提及的是,需求侧用电弹性在平稳电力现货市场价格中扮演着关键角色——它能够帮助降低价格不确定性,确保市场传递理性的价格信号,进而助力新型电力系统高效运作。借鉴国内外的经验,我们认为在碳中和背景下,电力系统的规划与建设应持续重视需求侧弹性的建立,从供给侧与需求侧共同发力,在保证电力供应与价格稳定的前提下,以较低的系统成本实现减排目标。 … View Summary +

July 28, 2024
季节性容量机制调动需求侧资源发展
随着可再生能源大规模发展和并入电力系统,以及碳中和目标下化石能源机组的转型,电力系统对灵活性和可靠性的需求与日俱增。尤其近年来,国内外频现的电力危机、能源危机无不提醒着保障电力安全的现实紧迫性。各个国家和地区的电力市场设立了不同类型的容量回收机制,如容量市场机制、稀缺定价机制及容量补偿机制等。2022年,国家发改委、国家能源局发布的《关于加快建设全国统一电力市场体系的指导意见》(发改体改【2022】118号)发布一年多来,围绕“加快形成统一开放、竞争有序、安全高效、治理完善的电力市场体系”目标,容量成本回收机制建设稳步推进。 去年,国家发改委、国家能源局近期联合印发《关于建立煤电容量电价机制的通知》,容量补偿机制从无到有,现在朝着市场化的方向纵深发展。4月25日,国家发改委发布了《电力市场运行基本规则》( 2024年第20号令),呼吁“逐步推动建立市场化的容量成本回收机制”,由“发电机组、 储能等”资源出力。容量市场应该可以开放给各类资源参与。此前,… View Summary +

June 13, 2024
New Report Shows the Diversity of Clean Energy Siting Policies and Permitting Authorities Across the Country
- Shawn Enterline ,
- Nelson Falkenburg
Across the United States, support for renewable energy is growing. Public opinion surveys regularly show that most Americans see the development of lower-emission energy sources as a priority. The U.S. government is looking to keep up this momentum to… View Summary +

May 19, 2024
欧洲议会微调容量电价机制意味着什么?
引言 欧盟电力市场改革是近几个月的热门话题。此次改革将修订一系列法律法规,包括欧洲内部电力市场法规和指令、能源监管机构法规以及批发能源市场一体化和透明度的法规。修订草案已经于2024年4月11日由欧洲议会全体会议投票通过。下一步,该草案将在未来的几周内经过欧盟理事会的投票后最终生效。虽还须经过欧盟理事会的正式采纳,但预计草案内容不会有太大的变化,我们就此契机介绍和分析欧盟电力市场改革。本轮欧洲电力市场改革内容广泛,本文主要聚焦在对容量补偿机制和与之密切相关的现货市场改革的讨论。… View Summary +

April 15, 2024
Risky Reliability: Will Regulators Address the Price Risk of the Next Generation of Gas Power Plants?
Thanks to an increase in manufacturing development, electricity demand is rising faster than expected in the Southeast. As a result, Duke, Georgia Power and TVA are asking their regulators to approve a series of new gas-fired generators using reliability and… View Summary +

February 29, 2024
Addressing the Problem: Controlling Your Water Heater for Consumer Savings and Load Flexibility
In early January, I sat in my apartment as the winter’s first true cold snap ripped through Montana. It was negative 10 degrees out, with wind chills pushing temperatures even lower. I shivered at the idea of getting my next… View Summary +
