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A longstanding goal of the European Union (EU) is to promote efficient trading between price zones via electricity interconnection to achieve a single electricity market between the EU countries. This paper uses a power system model (PLEXOS-EU) to simulate one vision of the 2030 EU electricity market based on European Commission studies to determine the effects of a new interconnector between France and the Single Electricity Market of Ireland and Northern Ireland (SEM). We use the same tool to understand the effects of investment in storage, and the effects of the interaction between storage and additional interconnection. Our results show that both investments in interconnection and storage reduce wholesale electricity prices in France and Ireland as well as reduce net revenues of thermal generators in most scenarios in both countries. However, France is only marginally affected by the new interconnector. Renewable generators see a modest increase in net revenues. The project has the potential for a positive impact on welfare in Ireland if costs are shared between countries and remain below 45 million €/year for the scenarios examined. The owners of the new interconnector between France and SEM see increased net revenues in the scenarios without storage. When storage is included in the system, the new interconnector becomes less profitable.

This paper examines the effect on Ireland's Single Electricity Market (SEM) of the UK's unilateral policy to implement a carbon price floor for electricity generation based on fossil-fuel. We simulate electricity markets and find that, subject to efficient use of the interconnectors between the two markets, a carbon price floor will lead to carbon leakage, with associated emissions in the Republic of Ireland increasing by 8% and SEM's electricity prices increasing by 2.4%. As the carbon price floor does not affect the number of ETS allowances no change is anticipated in aggregate European emissions. We also find that the EU's proposal to postpone ETS allowance auctions will reduce Irish emissions somewhat but that the trade opportunities associated with the UK carbon price floor means that emissions reductions in Ireland will be lower than might have been otherwise. A carbon price floor will result in substantial tax revenues and had the carbon price floor been implemented in Northern Ireland the larger share of taxes remitted would be paid by Republic of Ireland customers within the SEM. A carbon price floor in the Republic of Ireland is a potential policy option that would generate revenues in excess of €250 million but associated electricity prices increases in excess of 17% would have significant negative welfare and competitiveness effects.

PUBLISHED ; This paper examines the effect on Ireland?s Single Electricity Market (SEM) of the UK?s unilateral policy to implement a carbon price floor for electricity generation based on fossil-fuel. We simulate electricity markets and find that, subject to efficient use of the interconnectors between the two markets, a carbon price floor will lead to carbon leakage, with associated emissions in the Republic of Ireland increasing by 8% and SEM?s electricity prices increasing by 2.4%. As the carbon price floor does not affect the number of ETS allowances no change is anticipated in aggregate European emissions. We also find that the EU?s proposal to postpone ETS allowance auctions will reduce Irish emissions somewhat but that the trade opportunities associated with the UK carbon price floor means that emissions reductions in Ireland will be lower than might have been otherwise. A carbon price floor will result in substantial tax revenues and had the carbon price floor been implemented in Northern Ireland the larger share of taxes remitted would be paid by Republic of Ireland customers within the SEM. A carbon price floor in the Republic of Ireland is a potential policy option that would generate revenues in excess of ?250 million but associated electricity prices increases in excess of 17% would have significant negative welfare and competitiveness effects.

À la suite de la hausse des prix de l'énergie, des impacts de la récession sur les économies nationales et régionales, et des maisons peu éconergétiques, les États membres sont de plus en plus confrontés à des problèmes de pauvreté énergétique, une situation où les individus ne sont pas en mesure de chauffer correctement leur domicile ou de satisfaire d'autres besoins de services énergétiques à un coût abordable. Cet article examine comment les États membres définissent les notions de pauvreté énergétique et de consommateurs vulnérables, ainsi que les mesures qui ont été mises en œuvre en réponse. Basé sur les travaux entrepris par le consortium INSIGHT_E, il met en évidence les approches bien distinctes dans toute l'Europe, qui résultent de la forte subsidiarité dans ce domaine de l'élaboration des politiques, des perspectives et des niveaux différents de reconnaissance sur la question, ainsi que d'une grande diversité des situations nationales. La réponse fragmentée qui résulte au niveau européen souligne un rôle nécessaire de la Commission européenne et la nécessité des efforts unis pour relever le défi de la vulnérabilité dans les marchés de l'énergie et celui de la pauvreté énergétique. Pour ce faire, la Commission et les États membres devront se pencher sur un déficit de compréhension, définir les enjeux avec plus de vigueur, et regarder au-delà des marchés intérieurs de l'énergie en voyant la problématique de manière plus large. Cet article fait un certain nombre de recommandations qui fournissent une base pour savoir comment ces objectifs pourraient être atteints.

Sustainable and inclusive decarbonisation of European cities is a pre-requisite for achieving carbon neutrality at the EU level. As melting pots and demand hubs, cities are responsible for a majority of greenhouse gas emissions. For a transition towards zero-carbon cities, in the EU as elsewhere, a holistic approach and extensive collaboration is needed that can move city action beyond simply increasing the number of localized low-carbon solutions. This DEEDS Policy Brief outlines key features of EU research and innovation needs and proposes policy measures to promote zero-carbon European cities. ; This Polciy Brief is published as part of the deliverables within the Horizon 2020 DEEDs (Dialogue on European Decarbonisation Pathways) project (GA No. 776646) ; Horizon2020 project DEEDS (Dialogue on European Decarbonisation Pathways) GA No. 776646