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Verteilnetzausbau für die Energiewende – Elektromobilität im Fokus

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Im Rahmen der Energiewende verändern sich die Anforderungen an Stromverteilnetze: Die Einspeisung von Strom aus Photovoltaik- und Windkraftanlagen nimmt zu. Die Zahl von elektrischen Wärmepumpen steigt an. Und es entstehen immer mehr öffentliche und private Ladepunkte für eine wachsende Zahl von Elektrofahrzeugen. Alle drei sind Treiber für den Ausbau der Stromverteilnetze.

Wie viel muss in die Stromverteilnetze in Deutschland investiert werden, um die Strom-, Wärme- und Verkehrswende zu ermöglichen? Wie sehr senkt gesteuertes Laden von Elektrofahrzeugen den Ausbaubedarf? Welche Auswirkungen hat eine Veränderung des Verkehrssystems hin zu weniger Autos, mehr Bussen im öffentlichen Personennahverkehr und geteilter Mobilität? Wie sollte der regulative Rahmen für das Laden von Elektrofahrzeugen aussehen?

Mit der Beantwortung dieser und weiterer Fragen haben Agora Verkehrswende, Agora Energiewende und The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) die Navigant Energy Germany GmbH mit ihren Unterauftragnehmern Kompetenzzentrum Elektromobilität, Infrastruktur und Netze sowie RE-xpertise beauftragt. Die daraus entstandene Studie möchten wir Ihnen vorstellen und im Anschluss mit Ihnen und Expertinnen und Experten für Stromnetze, Elektroautos und Regulierung darüber diskutieren, wie die Integration von Elektromobilität in Stromnetze zum Erfolg wird.

Das Programm zur Veranstaltung finden Sie hier.

Improving livelihoods through alternative pathways and governance structures in the food-water-energy sector

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During this one-day exploratory dialogue with research organizations, advocacy organizations, field practitioners and start-ups, RAP and partner Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, shared experiences and analysis on the challenges faced by rural farmers and residents. RAP’s Mahesh Patankar shared early analysis of emerging models of cooperatives such as water users associations (WUAs) to manage water budgeting and farmer producer organisations (FPOs) to link farmers directly to markets. Drawing on successful cooperative models in the United States, Dr. Patankar presented alternative business models for water, energy and produce aggregation that could strengthen rural livelihoods.

Visit the workshop website to download all presentations.

Book Launch: “Mapping Power: The Political Economy of Electricity in India’s States”

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RAP and the Centre for Policy Research (CPR) formally released our edited volume on the political economy of India’s state power sectors, Mapping Power, on 17 September 2018. This book is the culmination of a two-year effort researching the power sectors in 15 Indian states.

Electricity is critical to enabling India’s economic growth and providing a better future for its citizens. In spite of several decades of reform, the Indian electricity sector is unable to provide high-quality and affordable service for all, and grapples with the challenge of poor financial and operational performance.

To understand why, Mapping Power provides the most comprehensive analysis of the political economy of electricity in India’s states. It suggests that a historically grounded political economy analysis helps understand the past and devise reforms to simultaneously improve sectoral outcomes and generate political rewards. These arguments have implications for the challenges facing India’s electricity future, including providing electricity to all, implementing government reform schemes, and successfully managing the rise of renewable energy.

Book Launch and Discussion

  • Suresh Prabhu, union minister of commerce and industry and civil aviation and former minister of power (by video)
  • Jairam Ramesh, member of Parliament and former union minister
  • Narendra Taneja, national spokesperson, BJP
  • Pramod Deo, former chairman, Central Electricity Regulatory Commission

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Panel Discussion

  • D.V. Ramana, director, Institute of Management Technology Hyderabad
  • Shantanu Dixit, group coordinator, Prayas (Energy Group)
  • Aditi Phadnis, political editor, Business Standard

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Will the Winter Package Deliver on “Efficiency First?” Solutions Workshop and Panel Debate

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In November 2016, the European Commission released the Clean Energy for All Europeans package (aka the “Winter Package”). The Winter Package is an ambitious proposal for an energy policy framework to effect change by 2030. The legislation recognizes, among other things, that energy efficiency is the foundation for the energy transition and that “Efficiency First” must be a guiding policy principle in energy policymaking.

The Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP) and Energy Efficiency Watch are hosting a solutions workshop on the role of energy efficiency in the Winter Package and the key issues and challenges around these new proposals.

Efficiency can play a powerful role in delivering the goals of the Energy Union, but only if the legislation and regulations get each part of the Winter Package right. We need:

  • A well-designed Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) as a driver for energy efficiency improvements across the economy;
  • An ambitious Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) to deliver efficient and “smarter” building retrofits and to avoid lock-in of inefficient new buildings;
  • An Internal Energy Market that puts demand-side resources on an equal footing with the supply side; and
  • A robust monitoring, reporting, and course-correction regime under the Governance Regulation.

RAP and the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) have carried out a detailed assessment of the Winter Package, including these key elements. In some cases, the current proposals are adequate but in other cases they will not deliver on the promise of Efficiency First. Our findings will be presented by Richard Cowart, Edith Bayer, and Dr. Jan Rosenow at this workshop.

Energy Efficiency Watch (EEW) has analysed the efforts of EU-28 Member States under the National Energy Efficiency Action Plans (NEEAPs) through document analysis, a survey with 1,100 experts on the state of implementation, and dedicated workshops on the business perspective. Key policy conclusions will be presented by Daniel Becker, followed by a debate on the guiding question as to which underlying “narratives” reinforce implementation of good practice policy instruments.

The two presentations will be followed by a discussion and debate with expert panellists:

  • Diana Barglazan and Paolo Tosoratti (European Commission)
  • Alex Chambris (Danfoss)
  • Mariangiola Fabbri (Buildings Performance Institute Europe)
  • Dominique Osso (EDF)
  • Dora Petroula (Climate Action Network)

The debate will cover key questions including:

  • How do we ensure that energy efficiency is taken fully into account in policy planning?
  • Is the Winter Package getting the balance right between energy efficiency and renewables?
  • How do we make sure energy efficiency is considered seriously before we lock in new energy supply infrastructure?
  • Which role does (and should) energy efficiency play in energy market design and energy regulation?
  • Are the levels of ambition for end-use savings set by the EED and EPBD sufficient?
  • How do we ensure that we stay on track?

Was steckt hinter „Efficiency First?“

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Das deutsche Bundeswirtschaftsministerium hat den Begriff „Efficiency First“ im Grünbuch Energieeffizienz aufgegriffen und mit guten Inhalten für die nationale Debatte gefüllt. Da die nationale Debatte zu der Motivation, den Inhalten und Notwendigkeiten sehr vielfältig ist, hat RAP in Form von Workshops die Diskussion mit den Stakeholdern gesucht, um die Idee zu erläutern und das unterschiedliche Verständnis zu eruieren. Dabei wurde die Notwendigkeit eines übergeordneten Effizienz-Rahmens von Agora Energiewende, die Entscheidungsprinzipien und die europäischen Beispiele (auf Englisch) von RAP in die Diskussion eingebracht. Die grundsätzliche Erkenntnis war, dass alle Beteiligten die Notwendigkeit sahen, dass Effizienz ein elementarer Baustein der Energiewende ist, und entsprechend von der nächsten Regierung für eine Minimierung der Transformationskosten systematisch berücksichtigt werden muss.

Energy Efficiency and Regulation

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Energy Efficiency and Regulation Workshop

At this two-day training event on energy efficiency policy and regulation hosted by the Energy Regulators Regional Association (ERRA) in Budapest, Hungary, Dr. Jan Rosenow of RAP and Zsuzsanna Pató of the Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research discussed regulatory issues surrounding end-use energy efficiency programs, including metering and energy efficiency obligation schemes. Also on day two of the workshop, Richard Cowart shared European and U.S. experiences with demand response programs.

Winter Package Symposium

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ClientEarth and RAP hosted a symposium designed to assess the key issues and challenges around the “Clean Energy For All Europeans” package of legislative proposals. Experts focused on the impact of the proposals on consumers, efforts to secure resource adequacy, and whether the proposals promote renewable resources and flexible markets. The presentations given at the symposium are available online.

Programme

08.30
 Registration
09.30
 Welcome and Introduction
Morning Session
 Empowering Consumers
 10.00
Analysis of the winter package from the point of view of consumers, Angeliki Malizou, Energy Policy Officer, BEUC
 10.30
Coffee Break
 11.00
Panel Session chaired by Richard Cowart, Principal and European Programme Director, RAP
12.30
 Lunch
Afternoon Session 1
 Securing Resource Adequacy
 13.30
Introduction by Philip Baker, Senior Advisor, RAP
 13:45
Case study: The Polish Capacity Mechanism, Marcin Stoczkiewicz, Senior Lawyer, Head of Central & Eastern Europe, ClientEarth and Jan Rączka, Senior Advisor, RAP
 14.15
Dimensions of market integration, Panel session, chaired by Jonathan Gaventa, Director, E3G
15.30
Coffee Break
Afternoon Session 2
Promoting Renewables and Flexible Markets
16.00
Panel chaired by Matthias Buck, Head of EU Energy Policy, Agora Energiewende
17.30
End of the Conference

Market-based Instruments for Energy Efficiency—Policy Choice and Design for the Energy Transition

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The International Energy Agency (IEA) and RAP are conducting an in-depth analysis for the G7 on the design of market-based instruments (MBIs) for the delivery of energy efficiency. The study examines market mechanisms and economic instruments such as auctions and tendering programmes, utility obligations, and white certificates, analysing the choices that policymakers face and the key factors behind successful programme design and implementation in different contexts. Dr. Jan Rosenow presented initial findings at the workshop, which will form the basis of broader discussions on the place of market-based instruments in the energy efficiency policy mix.  

The morning session focused on global best practices for market-based instruments and the strategic choices around policy instruments in the energy transition, and featured presentations from delegates from across the world, including RAP’s Richard Cowart. The afternoon session led into a more detailed discussion on the issues facing policymakers on obligations, auctions, and monitoring and verification.

The full agenda, including presentations, is available here.

The Future of Capacity Markets

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During this Electricity in Transition discussion organized by the Center for Strategic & International Studies, Michael Hogan discusses the changes needed in wholesale power markets to maintain resource adequacy at least cost. These include administrative interventions targeted at the ancillary and energy services markets with a parallel phasing out of capacity mechanisms.

Other panelists covered the basic theory behind capacity markets, discussed the pathways different jurisdictions have pursued, and highlighted the challenges perceived by states and market participants. Panelists also focused on how resource adequacy mechanisms may need to change to respond to the changing generation mix, the goal of decarbonization, and the integration of distributed energy resources.

Ensuring that there is adequate generation to meet established reliability standards is an imperative task for regulators. In organized wholesale markets, however, how exactly to ensure medium- to long-term resource adequacy continues to be the subject of debate and experimentation. Different jurisdictions have adopted different responses, with several markets mandating the procurement of capacity through organized capacity markets. Although the existence and operation of the capacity markets varies across jurisdictions, persistent concerns remain about the functioning and adequacy of capacity markets to ensure long-term reliability—especially in light of a rapidly changing grid with higher penetration of variable renewables and distributed energy resources.

RAP’s Jahn to Testify on Industrial Demand Response before German Federal Parliament

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As part of Germany’s Energiewende—or shift to sustainable, clean energy resources—the increase in variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar is precipitating a major transformation of the electricity grid and its operation. The value of consumers and distributed energy generators as a transmission and distribution system resource is soaring. The German Federal Parliament’s Committee for Economic Affairs and Energy has invited Andreas Jahn to provide expert testimony at a public hearing to amend the ordinance governing the interruption of industrial energy demand on Wednesday, 22 June 2016, at 11:00 CEST.

The hearing will be broadcast via live stream and the Federal Parliament’s television channel.