In this FSR Podcast, Research Associate James Kneebone is joined by Johanna Schiele of DG CLIMA to discuss the recently launched ‘European Hydrogen Bank’ auction and the European Commission’s approach to hydrogen financing moving forwards.
Johanna is an auction design expert, and was instrumental in designing and implementing the European Hydrogen Bank, the first EU-wide auctions for renewable hydrogen production, financed via the Innovation Fund. Previous to joining the Commission, Johanna worked in the power sector and as a researcher on auctions and clean tech funding. She holds a BA from Oxford University and an MPA from Harvard University.

Learn more about the European Hydrogen Bank
https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_5982

Submit a bid for the auction
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/programmes/innovfund

Tune in to our latest podcast episode featuring Marzia Sesini, a Senior Research Associate at the Florence School of Regulation, as she discusses her recent article, “A Bumpy Road to Solidarity: Existing and New Complexities.”

In this insightful interview, led by Andris Piebalgs, they delve into the vital role of solidarity within the energy sector. They reflect on the challenges posed by an unparalleled energy crisis and examine the necessary adjustments to fortify EU solidarity arrangements.

In this FSR Podcast, research associate James Kneebone is joined by Ronnie Belmans for a deep dive on some of the nuanced issues surrounding the integration of ‘clean molecules’ into the EU’s energy system.

Ronnie has more than 40 years of experience in the energy sector, including as a professor at KU Leuven, co-founder and former CEO of EnergyVille as well as advisor here to the Florence School of Regulation. He was also chair of the board for Elia and the Flemish energy regulator. Ronnie’s work focuses on techno-economical aspects of power systems, electrical energy and regulatory affairs, as well as smart grids, and security of energy supply.

In this wide-ranging conversation, James and Ronnie discuss everything from the difference between renewable hydrogen as an end in itself and the finished products we need it to produce, to the relationship between electrification and bioenergy. Ronnie also reflects on the tension between the economic and industrial imperative to push for the scale-up of a clean tech sector and the implications for the cost and sustainability of our energy system. Finally, the pair look at some of the social and planning implications of the build-out of large-scale clean molecule value chains, including the issue of ‘NIMBY’ and even ‘NUMBYism’, as well as the potential health and safety risks associated with storing and handling millions of tonnes of often poisonous and volatile products.”

If you want to learn more about the “clean molecules” visit: https://fsr.eui.eu/course/clean-molecules-for-the-energy-transition/

In this short interview, James Kneebone of the Florence School of Regulation is joined by ENTSOG’s Regulatory Affairs Manager Patricia Orglerova to discuss the new ‘Hydrogen Infrastructure Map’.
➡️ ➡️ ➡️ www.h2inframap.eu/

Patricia gives an overview on the functionalities of the interactive map, the objectives behind its delivery, and the processes for collecting data. The pair reflect on the general progress and bottlenecks for the build of the sector towards 2030, 2040, and 2050, as well as Patricia’s experience working on this project as part of an all-female team.

The map represents a joint effort between ENTSOG, GIE, Eurogas, CEDEC, GD4S, and GEODE, in cooperation with European Hydrogen Backbone (EHB) Initiative, as mandated by the European Commission at the 36th Madrid Forum. The first iteration of the map builds on work done under the EHB, hydrogen transmission projects collected under the biennial Ten Year Network Development Plan (TYNDP) 2022, as well as projects submitted by stakeholders who are part of this initiative.

Date of recording 15.12.2022

Laima Eicke is an Associate and former Research Fellow at Harvard’s Belfer Center. Her research focuses on the decarbonisation pathways of countries worldwide, value chains of renewable energy technologies, and how both affect geopolitics. At the Belfer Center, Laima specifically focuses on green hydrogen. Laima is also a Research Associate at the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS) in Potsdam. She also gained work experience at the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ), the Germany Ministry for International Affairs, two NGOs and in consultancy. Laima is a passionate observer and youth advocate in international climate negotiations

In this short interview, James Kneebone of the Florence School of Regulation is joined by co-founder of Bioflux, Paul Préaux, to discuss innovation in the drive to decarbonise the EU energy and waste systems. Paul gives an overview of his work with biomass pyrolysis and how this technology is being applied to valorise waste streams for the production of energy, heat, and useful biochar. The pair explore some of the challenges for innovation in this space, where best-practices are already being shared, and how the prevailing energy trilemma (security, sustainability, and price) has created a fresh imperative for policy to be more dynamic and to move quickly.

Recorded at the seminar “Gas in the European Green Deal”, organised by FSR Energy Union Law and Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners, on Friday 14th February 2020 in Milan.
Sébastien Douguet, Economic Advisor at Deloitte France, spoke in the session “Green Gas?”, focusing on “Low-carbon Hydrogen in the Energy Transition”. In this podcast, Mr Douguet gives a brief overview of the role of Hydrogen(s), highlighting the contribution of Green, as well as Blue Hydrogen, to the Energy Transition.

Brussels, Professor Jonathan Stern, distinguished Research Fellow (Natural Gas Research Programme), from Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, was a moderator of a session “Energy transition: how can LNG contribute?”. In this podcast, Professor Stern discusses LNG as an important asset to reach 2050 decarbonisation targets, as well as potential problems regarding emissions. He points out that in the next few years serious work will have to be devoted to certification of emissions, as to provide a more accurate tracking. According to Professor Stern is emphasising that decarbonisation of LNG and emission reduction, in the next two decades, will depend on CCS, bio-LNG and potentially from other sources.

According to the IEA, an average of 1.7% of total gas production is leaked into the atmosphere before it reaches the consumers. The phenomenon constitutes both a serious climate threat and an economic loss.
In 2016, US EPA adopted new rules aimed at reducing methane emissions in the oil and gas sector. The rules include standards for periodic monitoring of possible leakage. In this podcast, Maria Olczak (FSR) and Robert L. Kleinberg, PhD (Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University and the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Boston University) discuss the consequences of the revision of the 2016 Obama-era methane regulations initiated by President Trump.

Thanks to this podcast, you will learn:

• what is the current state of the US regulations targeting methane leaks
• how the industry responded to the rollback of 2016 regulations
• why restoring 2016 Obama administration rules would be a mistake
• what are the Methane Guiding Principles and OGCI
• how to enable the use of new and emerging technologies to reduce methane leaks
• the main takeaways of the US experience for the EU policy-makers

This podcast was recorded on 10th January 2020 at the Workshop on Methane Emissions Reduction organised by the European Commission in Berlin.

Francesco Ferioli (European Commission, DG Energy) in an interview with Ilaria Conti (FSR) focuses on the question how Power-to-Gas technology could impact the future supply and demand equilibrium in the electricity sector. Mr Ferioli explains that due to its flexibility potential Power-to-Gas could help hedge the risks for renewable electricity producers in a more efficient way than Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and batteries.
The podcast recorded on the margins of training “Power to the molecules (from technology to market uptake)” on 11 and 12 July 2019 in Florence.

Link to training page: https://fsr.eui.eu/training/energy/power-to-the-molecules-from-technology-to-market-uptake/

On the margins of the training “Power to the molecules (from technology to market uptake)” on 11 and 12 July 2019, Ilaria Conti (Head of FSR Gas) interviews Martina Conton (EU Policy manager at The Natural & bio Gas Vehicle Association Europe). Within the framework of the recently published EU long-term strategy, NGVA expects the hydrogen to play a more and more important role in the transport sector, mainly as blended with methane. However, since Power-to-Gas is perceived as not fully mature technology, the feasibility, cost and the sustainability of hydrogen are still to be assessed.

Link to training page: https://fsr.eui.eu/training/energy/power-to-the-molecules-from-technology-to-market-uptake/

On the margins of the 11th edition of the Specialised Training on the Regulation of Gas Markets, Maria Olczak (FSR) and Anne-Sophie Corbeau (Head of Gas Analysis at BP) discuss the 2019 edition of BP Energy Outlook. During the interview, Anne-Sophie presents the key findings of the BP Energy Outlook, specifies the key factors that may influence the forecasted increase in global LNG trade, and concludes with some remarks on the role of gas in the EU energy mix in 2040 perspective.