From 30 November to 12 December 2023 the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change come together for this year’s COP28 in Dubai. On this occasion, FSR Climate, together with the International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP) and the Centre for Climate and Energy Analyses (CAKE) in the Polish National Centre for Emission Management (KOBiZE) will host a panel discussion to focus on carbon markets as a global climate policy tool.

The event taking place on Saturday 9 December from 17:00 – 18:00 GST (local time) offers an opportunity to discuss the role of Emission Trading Schemes (ETSs) in the green transition. Through expert insights, discussions, and analysis, this event aims to provide a comprehensive view of how ETSs and associated mechanisms may contribute to achieving the net-zero goal by 2050 in the industrial sector. It also seeks to inform future climate policies with recent and cutting-edge scientific results.

Programme

Chair:

• Zhibin Chen, International Carbon Action Partnership (ICAP)

Speakers:

• • Simone Borghesi, European University Institute
  • James Corbett, World Shipping Council
  • Qian Guoqiang, SinoCarbon Innovation & Investment
  • Robert Jeszke, CAKE/KOBiZE
  • Eve Tamme, Climate Principles
  • Beatriz Yordi, DG Climate Action, European Commission
  • Gerassimos Thomas, DG TAXUD, European Commission

Participation

Registered COP28 participants can join the discussion live in Dubai. The event will also be streamed online via the European Union side events platform.

FSR Regulatory Policy Workshop Series 2023-2024

The Workshop will aim at discussing which improvements in the governance of the energy sector are necessary effectively to support the energy transition towards the ambitious energy and climate goals set by the EU for 2030 and beyond.

For this purpose, the Workshop will be structured in three sessions:

• Session I will focus on energy infrastructure planning and development and the most appropriate governance to support energy system integration and the implementation and more efficient solutions to system needs;
• Session II will consider to what extent the electricity market design emerging from the EMD reform will still be based on markets and market mechanisms and what role administrative intervention will or should play;
• Session III will take a broader perspective, assessing which aspects of the Governance Regulation might be worth enhancing in the context of its forthcoming review.

This workshop is by invitation only

Sustainability assessment

The FSR assesses the sustainability and carbon footprint of all its Workshops of the Regulatory Policy Workshop Series. This Workshop is run mainly ‘in presence’, with some exceptions for participation through internet-based remote connection. It is expected that most participants will join the Workshop in Florence to take advantage of the opportunity for more effective interaction and discussion. Those participants joining the event in Florence will be encouraged to offset any carbon emissions related to their air travel. It is considered that, in this way, a suitable balance is achieved between the effectiveness of the policy dialogue and the net carbon footprint of the event.

The Open Evening aims at presenting the FSR and its activities to prospective donors, i.e. companies and organisations that have expressed an interest in joining the FSR Community as Donors and would like to learn first-hand about the FSR activities.

Find out more information on how to become an FSR Donor

If you are interested in attending the Open Evening, please contact Christine Lyon, Donor relations at christine.lyon@eui.eu

The Policy Advisory Council discusses the most topical regulatory and policy issues and debates and the relevance and robustness of the latest FSR research findings. The meeting gathers experts from the European Commission, the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER), the FSR Energy Star and Major Donors and invited renowned academics.

Draft Programme

4 December

Session 1 – Electricity: modernising capacity remuneration mechanisms

Session 2 – Energy Markets Integrity and Transparency: the emerging REMIT case law

5 December

Session 3 – Gas: Hydrogen pipelines vs. shipping

Session 4 – Climate: carbon markets and competitiveness

From 30 November to 12 December 2023 the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change will come together for this year’s COP28 in Dubai. On this occasion, the EUI, together with the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA) and the EKI Energy Services Ltd (EKI) will host a panel discussion to focus on the Voluntary Carbon Market (VCM) – a key aspect of international cooperation on climate change.

The event taking place on Sunday 3 December from 11:30 to 13:00 GST (local time) offers an opportunity to discuss the contrasting trends of increasing transparency and innovation in the realm of carbon credits. The VCM has grown dramatically in recent years, but the quality of some carbon credits has been questioned. While harmonized standards and close supervision increase market transparency, they may restrict innovation. How can we reconcile innovation, transparency and integrity through voluntary and regulatory interventions?  

Livestreaming:

Chair:  

• Simone Borghesi, EUI and University of Siena 

 Panellists: 

• Andrea Bonzanni, International Emissions Trading Association 
• Pankaj Pandey, EKI Energy Services Ltd
• Amy Merrill, Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets 
• Bianca Gichangi, Climate Envoy Office in Kenya 
• Pedro Barata, Environmental Defense Fund

Registration:

The event will take place at the UNFCCC pavilion in SE Room 4. No prior registration is necessary. Information for online participation will be available via this page closer to the date.

The Florence School of Regulation (FSR) is conducting a public consultation on behalf of ACER, on a possible scheme for incentive-based regulation of networks to promote efficiency and innovation in addressing electricity system needs.

Background

The energy transition challenges existing electricity networks. Operators need to expand rapidly the capacity of their networks to integrate increasing amounts of renewable energy sources and new uses on the demand side, while preserving cost-effectiveness and avoiding an escalation in revenue requirements that would penalize network users. Innovation is essential in ensuring that these two goals are achieved together. However, given the regulated nature of the business of network operators, an evolution of the regulatory framework may be needed. In particular, regulation should provide network operators with adequate incentives to respond to the challenges posed by the energy transition.

A scheme for incentive-based regulation to promote energy efficiency and innovation

This scheme, which was presented first at the June 2023 Copenhagen Forum and later detailed in a report produced for ACER, will be illustrated during this consultation webinar open to all stakeholders. After the presentation of the scheme by the FSR team, stakeholders will have the opportunity to raise questions and express their views with regard to the proposed scheme.

More details about the consultation, including the reference to the presentation in Copenhagen and a summary of the report prepared for ACER, can be found here.

Send your input!

Those interested in answering the consultation are invited to fill out the form. The consultation closes at 11:59 p.m. CET on 1 December 2023.

If you have any further comments or questions regarding this consultation, please contact Nicolo Rossetto.

In this edition of #FSRDebates, the discussion will focus on the gender dimension of workplace equality and inclusion policies. While employers acknowledge the significance of these policies and strive to incorporate them into their practices, their effectiveness isn’t always guaranteed and, at times, may even yield less favourable outcomes. For instance, despite the initial adoption of AI by companies with the anticipation of impartial decision-making, current research indicates that AI frequently displays biases learned from human data, consequently reinforcing gender inequalities.

We will be joined by ACER’s Silvia Manessi, Team Leader, Human Resources Management, who will delve into the complexities of defining and implementing effective gender balance and inclusion policies. She will explore these challenges from both theoretical and practical perspectives. Elena Pisanelli, PhD Candidate at the EUI, will present her thesis on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in hiring and their impact on gender inequality in the labour market. The presentations will be followed by a panel discussion.

Draft Programme

14.00 – 14.05 Introduction to the Debate

Ilaria Conti | Florence School of Regulation

14.05 – 14.15  PhD Thesis presentation: AI, gender and work

Elena Pisanelli | SPS, EUI

14.15 – 14.35   Gender mainstreaming in the workplace: where are we now and what’s next?

Silvia Manessi | ACER

14.35 – 15.10 Discussion: Introductory Remarks and Comments

Moderator: Ilaria Conti | Florence School of Regulation

Dr Elizabeth Pollitzer | gEneSys

Andrea Lenauer | WIE

Costanza Hermanin | RSC, EUI

Annika Beintner | Landwärme

15.10 – 15.25 Q&A from the audience

15.25 – 15.30 Concluding remarks

Ilaria Conti | Florence School of Regulation

Watch the recording:

In this joint FSR-NYU episode of #FSRDebates, we delve into two significant legislative initiatives on either side of the Atlantic: the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the European Union’s Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA) and Critical Raw Material Act (CRM Act). These initiatives hold considerable implications for their respective regions and are interconnected on a global scale due to their relevance to securing critical raw materials.

The US’s IRA is aimed at addressing rising inflation concerns and stimulating economic growth within the United States, in part by boosting clean energy and related industries. The EU’s NZIA plays a central role in the EU Green Deal, aiming to transition Europe’s industries to a net-zero carbon emissions model. These legislative actions are pivotal not only within their regions but also on the global stage as they intersect with critical raw materials. Sourcing these materials can create a range of economic, social, and geopolitical concerns, and all countries involved will need to craft policies that avoid unintended consequences. The Commission’s proposal for a CRM Act is a comprehensive response to these challenges.

Our discussion will carefully examine some key provisions, goals, and policy approaches embedded within these acts, shedding light on their potential to drive innovation, mitigate environmental impacts, and reshape industrial landscapes. This comprehensive analysis will also consider how these legislative measures impact critical raw materials, emphasizing their central role in achieving sustainability targets.

Not only does the discussion address the geopolitical equilibrium, exploring how these legislative initiatives may influence global geopolitics, trade dynamics, and international power balances, but also the implications for supply chains, trade relations, and the broader global community’s sustainability efforts, providing valuable insights into the global implications of these significant legislative endeavors.

Programme

Moderators: 

Andris Piebalgs, FSR

Burçin Ünel, NYU

Marzia Sesini, FSR

Christopher Jones, FSR

Keynote Presentations:

Paula Pinho, Director, Directorate-General Energy, European Commission

Robbie Diamond, CEO of SAFE

Elias Zigah, African School of Regulation

Debate:

Melissa Barbanell, WRI

Kristian Ruby, Eurelectric

Jesse Scott, Hertie School

Yusuf Khan, Wall Street Journal

On 15 June 2023, the Florence School of Regulation (FSR) organised the first Policy Advisory Council (PAC) meeting of 2023. The PAC is composed of representatives of Star and Major Donors of the FSR, complemented by invited academics, regulators and policymakers. The PAC meets twice a year, typically in May-June and November-December.

The June PAC meeting this year was aimed at identifying which could be the policy priorities for the next European Commission in a number of areas in and related to the energy sector.

The meeting focused on four areas: energy markets; energy networks; energy and climate policy governance; and strategic autonomy.

As a result of the discussion in the meeting, a Policy Brief will be published in September and will be presented at the Workshop. Following the structure of the Policy Brief, the Workshop will be organised in four sessions:

• Session I: Make Member States more accountable to live up to their national investment potential for energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Session II: Promote multilateral cooperation and solidarity among Member States for network infrastructure, resource adequacy and flexibility
• Session III: Strengthen the management of our global dependencies
• Session IV: Reinforce the EU institutional setup

Each session will be opened by a presentation by a member of the FSR faculty, followed by a roundtable of representatives of FSR Donors. Each Donor will be invited to participate in up to two roundtables.

The feedback received during the Workshop will be used further to elaborate the content of the Policy Brief in the four areas listed above and, possibly, in other areas.

Please note that this event is by invitation only.

Sustainability assessment

The FSR assesses the sustainability and carbon footprint of all its Workshops of the Regulatory Policy Workshop Series. This Workshop is run according to a hybrid format, allowing participants to join it in presence in Florence or through internet-based remote connection. It is expected that most participants will participate in the Workshop through remote connection, while a few of them, who particularly value personal interaction, will join the Workshop in Florence. Therefore, there will be limited travel involved compared to a fully presential event. Those participants joining the event in Florence will be encouraged to offset any carbon emissions related to their air travel. It is considered that, in this way, a suitable balance is achieved between the effectiveness of the policy dialogue and the net carbon footprint of the event.

Our next FSR Insights will be dedicated to launch the forthcoming edited book entitled Law in the EU’s Circular Energy System: biofuel, biowaste and biogas (Edward Elgar, Dec. 2023), edited by Lucila de Almeida and Josephine van Zeben.

Watch the recording

Adopting a holistic and multidisciplinary approach, this book comprehensively maps out the complex multi-jurisdictional legal landscape pertaining to the EU’s circular energy system concerning the production and consumption of biogas and biofuel produced from biowaste.
In three thematic sections, the expert contributors first examine the interactions between EU law and policy for waste, agriculture, food, and forestry. Focus is drawn to how, when, and by whom the energy sources created from biowaste can become part of the EU’s energy mix. A range of legal instruments that impact the financing of the circular energy system through taxation, EU financing, and state aid are also considered. The book concludes by reflecting on inefficiencies and ineffectiveness caused by these interactions of legal and policy areas related to the circular energy system.

The FSR insights will gather editors and some contributors to share the insights of the edited volume with the audience.

Host & Speaker:

Lucila de Almeida (FSR & NOVA School of Law)

Speakers:

Josephine van Zeben (Wageningen University & Research)

Lin Batten (University of Strathclyde)

Elisa Cavallin (University of Gent & University of Hasselt)

Discussants:

Sofia Nicolai (FSR)

Ginevra Le Moli (FSR)

Between decentralised renewables and demande response

This episode of FSR Debates will provide an opportunity to take stock of the progress achieved so far and the next steps to achieve a seamless operation of the electricity system in the Net-Zero scenario.

Watch:

The ambitious energy and climate targets to which the EU has committed require a massive deployment of renewable-based generation, much of which will be decentralised and connected to the distribution grid. Beyond being decentralised, the output profile of much of this generation will be variable, unpredictable, and unreliable, requiring a more flexible energy system to accommodate it.
Fortunately, advances in technology and digitalisation over the last ten years provide the possibility of harnessing more flexible resources, including those which will be developed for the main purpose of providing flexibility to the system (e.g. demand response and storage). Most of these resources will also be connected at distribution level.
Therefore, the traditional role of the distribution systems and their operators – to deliver to connected consumers the electricity produced by large generating units connected at transmission level – is being complemented by a new task, of managing the flexibility provided and required by resources connected at distribution level. This task is a key one for the energy transition and, in this regards, will make the functions of the distribution system operators more similar to the role of transmission system operators. For sure, the need for cooperation and coordination between transmission system operators and distribution system operators will increase.
This transformation, which already started a few years ago, led to new EU rules regarding the functions of the distribution system operators and their cooperation with the transmission system operators. But the challenge is not yet won.

Programme

14.00 – 14.05    Introduction to the Debate
Alberto Pototschnig | Florence School of Regulation

14.05 – 14.15    The new role of electricity Distribution System Operators
Ellen Beckstedde | Loyola de Palacio Chair Resercaher, EUI

14.15 – 14.25    The cooperation between Transmission and Distribution System Operators
Fabio Genoese | Co-convener, TSO-DSO development team on Demand Response, ENTSO-E

Moderator:       Ilaria Conti | Florence School of Regulation
14.25 – 14.50    Introductory remarks from the panellists
Gert De Block | Secretary General, CEDEC 
Carmen Gimeno | Secretary General, GEODE
Louise Rullaud | Head of Distribution & Market Facilitation, Eurelectric 
Roberto Zangrandi | Secretary General, E.DSO

14.50 – 14.55    Polls

14.55 – 15.20    Comments on the polls outcome and Q&A from the audience
Panellists

15.20 – 15.30    Concluding remarks
Ilaria Conti | Florence School of Regulation
Alberto Pototschnig | Florence School of Regulation