Status Review of Renewable and Energy Efficiency Support Schemes in the EU Ref. C08-SDE-05-03, 10 December 2008
This status report examines the support schemes in place across Europe. It found that fiscal incentives such as tax reductions or exemptions are often used to complement the main support schemes which are feed-in tariffs or (to a lesser extent) quotas with tradeable certificates. The report identifies barriers to the further deployment of renewables and assesses the extent to which renewables have been successful in replacing conventional generation in the fuel mix. It also finds that countries have adopted various support schemes for energy efficiency and concludes that the main barrier to energy efficiency is consumers' lack of information regarding potential cost savings from undertaking energy efficiency measures.
Firmness of nominated transmission capacity Ref. E08-EFG-29-05, 15 July 2008
Firmness of transmission capacity rights is important for cross-border trading, market integration and competition development. Given differing approaches to this issue, the European Commission requested ERGEG's advice on finding a solution on firmness of transmission capacity after nomination that could be applied across the EU.
Strategic Guidelines and Codes: Example related to Congestion Management in Electricity Ref. C08-GA-40-08, 10 April 2008
This is one of the ERGEG examples of their suggested alternative approach to the process for adoption of EU codes and rules as foreseen in the 3rd energy liberalisation package.
ERGEG Status Review on Building and Construction Authorisation and Permit Process- Case Examples Ref. E08-EFG-27-04, 6 February 2008
Following a request from the European Commission, ERGEG prepared a brief Status Review on Building and Construction Authorisation and Permission (BCAP) Processes, using case examples from the electricity sector for interconnections between Spain and Portugal; Romania and Hungary; Italy and Switzerland and Finland and Estonia. These examples serve to illustrate some typical timescales and requirements for new build in the electricity sector and also illustrate that it is possible to build cross-border lines within five to six years.
EFET Proposal on Regional Independent System Operators (R_ISO) - CEER Response Ref. C08-GWG-42-03, 6 February 2008
EFET has proposed an approach where Transmission System Operators (TSOs) in a given gas regional market bring together cross-border network related activities into a Regional Independent System Operator (R_ISO).
The paper "EFET Proposal on Regional Independent System Operator (R_ISO) - A CEER Response Paper" [C08-GWG-42-03] is in line with the position adopted in the CEER Response to a Regional Independent Operator (RIO) proposal by EURELECTRIC [C07-GA-34-08]. CEER shares EFET’s consideration that the R_ISO model could be an important step to regional market integration; however it notes that:
The R_ISO model is an additional remedy rather than a replacement to effective unbundling
Effective unbundling is a precondition for R_ISO’s acceptability
The R_ISO model has not been defined in detail. Particularly with regard to legal/ jurisdictional issues, including cross border definition and identification of decision making authorities
EFET's proposal is largely concerned with institutional issues, whereas changes to underlying market rules will also be an important part towards fulfilling the proposal’s stated objectives