In June, CEER was actively engaged in fostering discussions and knowledge sharing at various stakeholder events, including the EU Sustainable Energy Week 2023 and the 38th Florence Forum. Our efforts this month were also directed towards the organisation of the annual EU4Energy conference, this year with the theme of “Creating an Energy Market in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood” in Vienna. This by-invitation event brought together high-level participants from the EU and Eastern Partnership countries to discuss opportunities and challenges in the creation of a regional energy market in the South Caucasus. Finally, we are happy to announce the release of our new publication on the Ownership of Storage Facilities in the Electrical Distribution System, as well as the awareness-raising comic book "Glass Globe".
Features
CEER showcases work and expertise at EUSEW 2023
From 20-22 June CEER was actively involved in this year’s European Sustainable Energy week. First, we welcomed participants at our Energy Fair stand "Engaging Youth in the Clean Energy Transition – Ozzy the Hamster for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies.” Our team presented the EU4Energy campaigns raising awareness on energy efficiency and renewable energies among the younger generation. Visitors could pick up copies of our recently published comic book “Glass Globe”, the second series of the book featuring Ozzy the Hamster. They could also find out more about other EU4Energy activities and CEER more generally.
On 21 June, three CEER speakers participated in the following sessions:
Jan Willem Tempelaar, member of the CEER Customers and Retail Markets Working Group, discussed affordability and inclusion at the session “A new decade for self-consumption: the age of maturity”.
Irama Zamora, Working Group Coordinator for Customers and Retail Markets at CEER, spoke about “Stepping up: gender and intersectional perspectives towards a socially fair Just Transition”.
Jana Haasová, CEER Vice-President and Co-Chair of the Customers and Retail Markets Working Group, moderated the session on “Empowering and protecting energy consumers in and beyond the crisis”.
EU4Energy Conference builds dialogue to foster regional market approach with EaP countries
On 19 June, CEER organised the regional conference on “Creating an Energy Market in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood” in Vienna as part of the EU4Energy Phase II Programme with the aim to facilitate experience-sharing among ministries and energy regulators both from the EU and from Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. The conference saw the participation of high-level representatives, including CEER Vice Presidents Wolfgang Urbantschitsch and Alda Ozola, whose speeches introduced discussions that revolved around the creation of a regional energy market and addressing the challenges and prospects in the South Caucasus.
CEER was well represented at the 38th meeting of the European Electricity Regulatory “Florence” Forum from 8-9 June in Rome. Future Policy Workstream Chair Sven Kaiser presented on the European Market Design, noting that "ACER-CEER acknowledge that power purchase agreements (PPAs) can contribute to the market though they do not require mandated state support. Contracts for Difference (CfDs) can prove useful but should be made smarter with more efficient dispatch and investment signals."
CEER Distribution Systems Working Group Chair Veli-Pekka Saajo presented on the role of Alternative Connection Agreements as a key element of DSOs’ access to flexibility, building on CEER’s 30 May 2023 paper on the topic. He highlighted that “There is a great degree of diversity in how Alternative Connection Agreements are used in different Member States so the key factors that impact their regulatory application also vary greatly. This creates a challenge for considering European approaches.”
CEER Secretary General Charles Esser spoke in the session on protecting and empowering consumers in the energy transition. Charles emphasised that “We should place appropriate hedging strategies at national level, according to contract type and based on an NRA evaluation. Other supplier risk management tools are also important. Monitoring of hedging requirements by NRAs means that they need to be resourced appropriately to do this.” Mr Saajo also represented CEER at the 9th meeting of the European Energy Infrastructure “Copenhagen” Forum, 12-13 June.
Fréderic-Michael Foeteler @ DECIDE
On 19 June, Fréderic-Michael Foeteler, from the Institut Luxembourgeois de Régulation (ILR) and member of the CEER Distributions Systems Working Group, spoke at the DECIDE Final Conference "Ways forward for Collective Energy Actions - How everyone can be part of the energy transition”.
Andrea Lenauer nominated Chair at ICER Women in Energy
Andrea Lenauer (E-Control, Austria) has become the Initiative Chair at ICER Women in Energy. Ms Lenauer will continue her work in advancing women in the energy sector and increasing their visibility.
This short paper provides regulators’ views on the processes to assess DSO ownership, development, management and operation of electricity storage facilities, given the relevant EU directive. The paper also provides a stepwise guide on the tendering procedure and the derogation granting process.
The eighth edition of WFER will be held at the International Convention Center of Lima, under the overarching theme “The Energy Transformation Challenge: competitiveness and sustainability of energy markets, opportunities and achievements”. More information here
Webinar on the 7th Benchmarking Report on Quality of Supply Online, date TBC
CEER and the Energy Community Regulatory Board will be holding their second webinar in July to gather feedback from energy stakeholders on the 7th Benchmarking Report on Quality of Electricity and Gas Supply, released in December 2022. The date is still to be confirmed. Stay tuned!
CEER in the News
Europe Still Learning Lessons From Gas Crisis, Energy Intelligence 20 June 2023
“The European gas market has undergone a radical transformation, but we are now better prepared to handle future challenges than we were last year.” Tom Maes, Vice Chair of the CEER Gas Working Group, was interviewed for a special issue marking the first anniversary of the EC’s REPowerEU initiative. Read the article here(registration required)
EU4Energy
EU4Energy launches second Ozzy the Hamster comic book
On 5 June, CEER published the "Glass Globe" comic book, the second series of the comic book series featuring Ozzy the Hamster. This book focuses on increasing awareness among the younger generations on renewable energy sources. A Do-It-Yourself kit helps young readers acquire better practical knowledge based on the tips.
Advancing Azerbaijan's heating sector From 12-16 June, CEER experts met with representatives of the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the district heating company "Azəristiliktəchizat" ASC. The work meeting aimed to strengthen Azerbaijan’s heating sector by aligning it with EU energy efficiency standards and incorporating best practices. Read more
Building capacity on market monitoring in Armenia On 29 June, CEER experts concluded a two-day meeting with representatives of Armenia’s Public Services Regulatory Commission (PSRC). The meeting aimed to provide support and advice in further developing its electricity market monitoring and ensuring its compliance with EU requirements. Read more
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