Search results for ""Author Leigh Hancher""

Competition policy continues to evolve rapidly in the energy sector, in line with the speed of change in energy markets. As markets decarbonise, new competition challenges develop, as 'traditional' hydrocarbons industries contract and renewables ones explode. Markets are changing, and competition policy with it. The new, 5th, edition reflects these changes. The Commission continued to enforce competition law vigorously in the energy sector. The Gazprom case was brought to an end with the acceptance of commitments aimed to address the Commission’s main concerns, including market segmentation, excessive pricing and potential competitive distortions in the development of gas infrastructure. Other cases were concluded as well, such as the Commission’s investigation into access to key natural gas infrastructure in Bulgaria, leading to fines being imposed on the incumbent gas operator. Further, the Commission launched an investigation into restrictions to the free flow of gas sold by Qatar Petroleum in Europe. On the mergers side, the acquisition of Uniper by Fortum, two important electricity suppliers in the Nordic region was cleared unconditionally, not least because of the high level of interconnectivity between different countries in the Nordic area, indicating a step-change in market definition. RWE's acquisition of E.ON electricity generation assets was also approved. An in-depth review of E.ON's proposed acquisition of RWE’s Innogy is now ongoing. Finally, we saw a remarkable amount of activity in the field of State Aid. The Commission finalised its sector inquiry on capacity mechanisms, looking at 35 existing or planned mechanisms in 11 Member States. The final report was published at the end of 2016, together with legislative proposals on the 'Clean Energy for All' package. Renewable energy schemes continued to throw up new challenges. Specific capacity mechanisms were approved in several Member States over this period. Transparent, balanced, market-oriented enforcement of State Aid rules will be key in pursuing the transition to a decarbonised energy model, so this important area will continue to attract attention over the coming years. This new edition is an essential reference work for all practitioners and academics in the area. It has established itself as the leading work on competition and energy.

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This comprehensive book on the European energy transition has been written by more than 40 European leading energy- and climate experts. It reflects on the latest policy developments, as such as the Clean Energy for All Europeans Package, the Green Deal and the Climate Law. The energy transition is Europe’s flagship projects. It needs to provide sound answers to the climate and sustainability-, security of supply- and competitiveness imperatives. The energy transition corresponds to a large scale economic and cultural change. It encompasses sector coupling- linking up sectors that have ignored each other previously, like mobility and power. What is the meaning of digitalization, and how to face cyber-security risks? Can Europe deliver a 50-55% decrease in Greenhouse Gas Emissions, as is the agenda of the new von der Leyen Commission? This 2nd edition is not only updated, but also augmented with three new chapters : the first focusses on a European cross border carbon adjustment proposal (by Genevieve Pons, Pascal Lamy and Pierre Leturcq). This mechanism is a center piece in the European Green Deal and as such debated intensively. Two other chapters present the value-add and next steps for European network codes and guidelines (Alexander Dusolt, Leonardo Meeus). The book analyses the factors driving change: where are we on climate and sustainability, competitiveness and market, and security of supply? It presents the actors: what genesis of and what contemporary institutions for European energy policy, how is energy addressed by the national and by the European; what about the active customer paradigm and the many startups and business models changing, as well as NGOs? It investigates sectors: power, gas, mobility and the powerful push from digitalization.

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Navigating the challenges of a low carbon Europe: energy market regulation, the future of RES, and ensuring security of supply. This book provides an insight into some of the most significant issues presented at the Florence School of Regulation and Hellenic Energy Regulation Institute’s joint conference on European energy law and policy, which took place in September 2016 in Athens, Greece. The purpose of the conference was to provide a comprehensive analysis of the current status of the European and Greek energy sector, and the issues it faces, from both a legal and economic perspective. The discussions included an assessment of the low carbon challenges for Europe, examining the future of renewable energy systems and support mechanisms, electricity market design, and the current regulatory framework of the gas and electricity markets in Greece. Finally, the discussions turned to the future role of distribution system operators, both in their function as independent supervisors of the electricity market and their evolving relationship with the transmission system operators. Highlights: Provides comprehensive analysis of the current European and Greek energy sector. Includes assessment of the low carbon challenges. Future role of DSO’s. Evaluates the prospects if future energy law developments.

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This revised and updated Research Handbook on European State Aid Law brings together established academics and practitioners to provide a wide-ranging coverage of the field. Incorporating political science, economics and the law in its analysis, it provides a strong overview of the salient issues in State aid law and policy.Chapters address the significance of State aid to various aspects of the political and legal systems of the Member States, including taxation, the financial sector, and the interplay between EU rules on State aid, free movement and public procurement. The Research Handbook further examines the application of the State aid rules to major sectors of the EU economy and introduces brand new themes for State aid analysis, such as arbitration, social services and the impact of Brexit.Featuring theoretical explorations and empirical studies, this Research Handbook will be crucial reading for scholars and researchers of EU State aid law, especially those searching for new avenues of research. It will also be a useful reference point for officials in national governments and the European Commission who are engaged in the State aid approval process. Judges hoping to expand their knowledge of EU State aid law and policy will also benefit from this insightful Research Handbook.

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