Energy


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The CEPS Carbon Market Forum Task Force on New Market Mechanisms under the AWG-LCA of the COP is the first initiative of the newly launched CEPS Carbon Market Forum, a three-year umbrella programme for carbon market-related activities, which will provide a neutral space where policy-makers and regulators can meet carbon market stakeholders to discuss carbon market regulation, and general policy issues.

16 January 2012

Electricity trading can bring down the costs of the EU’s transition to a competitive low-carbon economy, in particular by facilitating the integration of renewable energy from variable sources. This CEPS Special Report finds, however, that insufficient grid infrastructure and regulatory obstacles prevent the trading potential from being fully realised in northern Europe. While acknowledging that many interconnector projects are under development, it identifies various barriers that are precluding the grid rollout from taking place on time.



The aim of the APRAISE project (FP7) is to improve the decision basis for EU and national policy makers for selecting an efficient environmental policy mix leading to the transition towards a sustainable European society. APRAISE aims to provide policy makers with an improved understanding of the efficiency, effectiveness and efficacy of existing and potential environmental policies impacts and their interactions at both the European and Member State level.

 



The study assessed the status quo of the opening and completion of the internal energy market in gas and electricity for the use of the European Parliament ITRE Committee. The current status of implementation and transposition of the 2nd energy package was assessed and furthermore the 3rd energy package was discussed at length. Topical questions such as market concentration, price regulation, interconnectedness, investment in network infrastructure and powers of the regulators were discussed. The study gives an assessment of the road ahead and recommends needed policy steps.



As part of a framework contract to provide external expertise on energy and climate change policy, this study provided background information and advice for the European Parliament ITRE Committee on measures and actions to be undertaken in the field of new renewable technologies. It assessed the ripeness of new renewable technologies and their deployment potentials, moreover markets and industry structures as well as barriers were analysed.



 CEPS and the College of Europe are working together to conduct a survey to measure the uptake of GPP in each of the 27 Member States. The survey results will be analysed to highlight any differences in the number and volume of contracts between Member States, the levels of government, produce and service groups, and the different stages of procurement in which environmental criteria were used.



This project has three main objectives: 1. Analyse EU and US energy technology road maps, the potential for synergies and opportunities for harmonisation, with the focus on energy R&D aimed at enhanced energy efficiency; 2. Identify joint EU‐US approaches to supporting emerging economies’ own efforts to embrace energy efficient and low carbon technologies; 3. Set the above in the context of the current global economic climate, and the respective EU, US and emerging countries’ actions for economic revival.



A new initiative by the “Institute of Sustainable Development and International Relations” (IDDRI), the Centre for European and Policy Studies (CEPS) and the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM) will take up the challenge to discuss with key policymakers and selected stakeholders the costs and benefits of pursuing the EU ‘climate leadership’ with a particular view to designing both politically and economically viable mid- and long-term strategies.



This study analysed the governance mechanisms for the new instruments blending EU grants for development aid to loans by the EIB and other European Development Finance Institutions.

 



This study aims to assess the societal value of carbon-free power generated in the Nordic market and to compare this value with the hypothetical value of new generation investment. It will then analyse possible ways of enhancing grid investment

 



 The specific objective of this project is to create and facilitate the operation of an EU–GCC clean energy network. The network is to be set up to act as a catalyst and element of coordination for development of cooperation on clean energy, including the related policy and technology aspects among various stakeholders in the EU and GCC countries.



MEDPRO is a network of 17 research institutes (100 researchers) from both shores of the Mediterranean funded under the FP7, of which CEPS is the leader. The project aims to undertake a deep foresight analysis of the development issues in eleven countries in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean participating in the Barcelona process and in the Union for the Mediterranean.



Before joining CEPS’ energy and climate change unit, Jonas Teusch gained first practical experience in energy issues at the Economic and Scientific Policy Department of the European Parliament (Robert Schuman Fellow), the Renewable Energy Unit of the German-Italian Chamber of Commerce (Erasmus Fellow), and the Institut für Europäische Politik. He also interned at Simon-Kucher & Partners in Milan (Automotive & Engineering Division).

17 June 2011

This paper looks at restrictions of passage, accidents and oil transportation norms as causes of interruption in oil supplies. The key ‘chokepoints’ are discussed in detail: the Straits of Hormuz, Malacca, Bab el-Mandeb, the Canals of Suez and Panama, the Turkish Straits and the entrance to the Baltic Sea. It is concluded that in most cases the danger of closure can only be temporary; nevertheless, investment in bypasses and alternatives is highly desirable, and in the case of the Turkish Straits, has not been forthcoming.

10 June 2011

Holding strategic oil stocks is at first sight an obvious tool to address potential disturbances in supplies. Rationally defining the desirable size of stocks and designing rules for their predictable use is an elusive task, however. A key conceptual difficulty arises in the distinction between commercial and strategic stocks, because a physical shortfall in the oil supply will inevitably lead to an increase in prices. But if strategic stocks are utilised when prices increase they become indistinguishable from commercial stocks.

09 June 2011

The paper offers a systematic analysis of the impact of international or civil wars and violent non-state groups on global oil and gas supplies. Statistical evidence points to the fact that international wars are becoming increasingly rare, while civil wars remain frequent. The paper discusses the cases of the Iraq-Iran war and the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait, showing the limits to the damage that belligerents were able to inflict on oil installations and illustrating how the world was able to compensate for this damage.

31 May 2011

The paper discusses the link between security of oil supplies and the functioning of international oil markets. It is argued that wide and frequent variations in price are in themselves a source of insecurity for individual consumers and national economies alike. Furthermore, the impossibility of predicting future prices discourages investment and increases the fragility of the system. The paper puts forward several policy proposals to reduce excessive price fluctuations and improve security of supply at reliable prices.

30 May 2011

This paper looks at resource nationalism and political instability as potential causes of disruption to global oil supplies. It points to depletion preferences and strategies as one form of resource nationalism. In most cases, resource nationalism appears to be motivated by rent maximisation. Hence, we see the adoption of more restrictive policies when prices rise. Conversely, when oil prices are low, increasing export volumes becomes more important. Restrictions on exports are common, especially for natural gas, which is sometimes reserved for national consumption.



NEUJOBS is a research project financed by the European Commission under the 7th Framework Programme. The project consists of 29 partners and 23 WPs. NEUJOBS objective is to analyse likely future developments in the European labour market(s), in view of four major transitions that will impact employment and European societies in general. What are these transitions?

16 May 2011

Climate change tends to negatively affect the power sector, inter alia, by causing cooling problems in power plants and impairing the water supply required for hydro-power generation. In future, when global warming is expected to increase, autonomous adaptation to climate change via international electricity markets inducing reallocations of power generation may not be sufficient to prevent supply disruptions.

09 May 2011

Achieving the EU’s dual objectives of combating climate change by 2020 and beyond and implementing its ambitious Europe 2020 economic growth agenda will require the development, demonstration and in particular the deployment of new low-carbon technologies at a faster rate than is currently taking place. EU policies to make this happen have been or are being put in place.



Participation in CEPS meetings is a benefit of membership. Non-member may be admitted for Euro 50, paid in cash at registration. A sandwich lunch (Euro 6) will be served before the meeting, from 12.30 onwards.



 Workshop

"Comparing Life Cycle Analysis of Crude Oil"

21 March 2011

 



Webpages covering specific topics:

19 January 2011

This Commentary presents preliminary key messages and recommendations of the CEPS Task Force on “The Strategic Energy Technology Plan: From Concept to Practice”, Taking the form of an ‘open letter”, it aims to express the views of the Task Force members in the run-up to the meeting of the Energy and Innovation European Council on 4 February 2011. It argues that a successful innovation policy needs an efficient Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan.

29 November 2010

This study investigates consumer valuation of the security of various types of energy supply, namely electricity, natural gas and transport fuels (oil). Research for the paper was carried out in the context of the SECURE project (Security of Energy Considering its Uncertainties, Risks and Economic Implications), funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme.

29 November 2010

Acknowledging that efficient development of electricity transmission infrastructure is crucial to achieving EU targets for a secure, competitive and sustainable electricity supply, this paper explores ways of strengthening the supply chain. Research for the paper was carried out in the context of the SECURE project (Security of Energy Considering its Uncertainties, Risks and Economic Implications), funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme.

29 November 2010

This paper examines the obstacles to transforming the ‘dirtiest’ of all fossil fuels (coal) into a ‘clean’ one in the EU, via new carbon capture, transport and storage (CCTS) technology. Research for this paper was carried out in the context of the SECURE project (Security of Energy Considering its Uncertainties, Risks and Economic Implications), funded by the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme.