EWEA Urges for Power Market Overhaul

The European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and a group of other industry associations from different sectors have called for reforms within European electricity market.

The group of associations is challenging policymakers to adopt a flexible and dynamic energy system, making the best use of innovative and distributed supply and demand options.

The group of associations call for three reforms: providing adequate price signals and further integration of short-markets across borders; ensuring a balanced approach to system adequacy that fully takes into account the contribution from the different energy sources; and implementing a level playing field for all flexibility providers to foster the pan-European trading of electricity and grid support services.

“Europe must rewrite the rules governing electricity markets so they fit the reality of how power is generated, managed and consumed in today’s energy system,” Giles Dickson, CEO of EWEA, said.

Supply is getting more flexible and variable. Storage solutions are developing. And there’s growing scope and interest in making demand more flexible. The energy system is now more complex to plan, control and balance. It needs enhanced flexibility, which requires significant changes in the relevant legislation. The Commission has a golden opportunity with the market design proposals they’ll issue at the end of the year. They must seize it.”

Signatories include renewables industry, the Smart Energy Demand Coalition (SEDC), the European paper and pulp association (CEPI), the EU storage association (EASE), engine manufacturers (EUGINE), gas industry (Gas Naturally) and standardisation experts.