Page 41 - European Energy Innovation - winter 2017 publication
P. 41
Winter 2017 European Energy Innovation 41
ELECTRICITY MARKET INNOVATION
It can help reduce Europe’s They should also accelerate Digitalisation, distributed generation
dependency on imported fuels, clean electrification through smart and and technological progress are
the air of cities and bring customers better regulation, and promote the changing the fundamentals of the
new comfort through digital energy take-up of clean heating and business and showing unanticipated
services and zero-emission transport. cooling in residential and industrial interactions. To retain its pivotal role
In order to reap the benefits of buildings, clean electric mobility and maximise its value, the electricity
electricity’s in a cost-efficient and more efficient industrial industry needs to discover innovative
manner, policymakers need to processes. ways to create value with a fresh
recognise the key role of increasing approach.
clean and climate-friendly MAKING THE RIGHT
electricity in achieving Europe’s INVESTMENTS AND PUTTING Key to this will be to put the customer
climate and energy commitments CUSTOMERS FIRST at the heart of the industry’s activities
under the Paris Agreement. They The Vision statement also comes with and develop new offerings like
should actively support measures a strong commitment to invest in aggregation, demand response, peer-
that accelerate the shift towards innovation, to build new cross-sector to-peer energy transactions and new
competitively priced electricity for business models, to make sure the services. These new building blocks,
European consumers. electricity industry can keep creating connected by smart distribution
value in the coming decades. networks, will provide Europe with a
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu resilient, flexible and highly efficient
electricity system.
The electricity sector commits to
invest in finding sustainable solutions
to transform societies into carbon-
free ones, and to ensure building
win-win initiatives that are inclusive
and address the rights and duties of
all stakeholders including investors,
workers and local communities.
THE NEED FOR A FAIR TRANSITION
The ambition of this statement is
significant, especially for regions
which depend on high carbon value
chains. This is why the electricity
industry calls on policymakers to
do their utmost to ensure a fair
energy transition, both socially and
geographically.
This must include the provision of
the necessary support and funding
to address socio-economic impacts.
During this transition, policymakers
must ensure fair effort sharing and
guard data protection, privacy and
freedom of choice for customers.
Following the adoption of this
vision statement, the European
electricity sector will engage with
stakeholders and launch several
projects in the coming years aimed
at identifying the challenges and
opportunities of an accelerated clean
energy transition. l
