Regulatory Gaps For a Future Proof Interaction of Electricity and Gas Networks

21 November 2017

FSR Regulatory & Policy Workshop

The pace of change in European energy markets has increased tremendously in recent months. Not only the Paris Agreement stimulus, but also the ever increasing competitiveness of power from renewable energy sources and the desire for further electrification have changed the challenges faced by the entire energy industry. The rapid shift from fossil fuels to intermittent renewable energy sources is only one of the challenges for the capabilities of existing networks. Buzzwords such as flexibility, smart grids, digitalisation, zero emission, grid expansion, storage, blockchain, full electrification, Dunkelflaute, Power-to-X, sector coupling and “Clean Energy for all” are everywhere, however, so far the discussion seems to have neglected Europe’s rich experience in co-operation within the energy sector and the established institutional and regulatory framework.

This workshop brings together representatives from the electricity and gas sectors, together with regulatory bodies to address the challenges ahead for the electricity and gas networks and to assess, whether an interaction between the two sectors and their (currently) separated networks is needed for the future European energy system, as well as whether existing regulatory gaps hamper such a development.