Renewables
Power capacity conundrum has potential to turn sour
Differences between the EC and member states on capacity markets illustrate the struggle to co-ordinate EU energy policy and may point towards future battles
EC's Ristori takes on Ukraine, subsidies and EU integration
Dominique Ristori was appointed as EC director-general for energy earlier this year. In an exclusive interview, he speaks to Mark Pengelly about energy security in the wake of Ukraine, European integration, energy subsidies and the development of shale…
EU consultation provokes debate on future of energy market
On June 16, the Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators closed a consultation on the future of the EU energy market. The document’s wide-ranging proposals have been met with a mixed reaction from regulators and market participants. Gillian Carr…
UK Electricity Market Reform welcomed by energy chiefs
Energy executives welcome the UK government's Electricity Market Reform at a conference in London, despite some differences between speakers on the finer details and likely future of the legislation
UK competition probe will 'rebuild trust' says EDF Energy chief
Vincent de Rivaz, the chief executive of supplier EDF Energy, says he supports a proposal by Ofgem to refer the UK energy market to the Competition and Markets Authority
Emissions House of the Year: Element Markets
Element Markets is seeking to provide clients with help navigating the dense thicket of North American environmental commodity markets
Electricity House of the Year: Citi
Despite cutbacks and withdrawals among banks and large utilities, Citi has seen its commitment to the power market matched by strong revenue growth in the past 18 months
Credit fears hold back US solar securitisation deals
In a major breakthrough for renewable energy finance, California-based SolarCity has issued the first securities backed by distributed solar assets. But many hurdles remain before solar securitisation can truly take off, Alexander Osipovich finds
Quant energy models need greater emphasis on fundamentals
Boom in shale oil and gas extraction, and growth in renewables underline importance of reflecting fundamental factors in quant models, argue experts
Renewables need stronger EU co-ordination, says regulator
Senior Italian regulator says transition towards greater use of renewables requires a “co-ordinated European approach”, including harmonised market rules
Renewables risk derailing benefits of EU power integration
Renewable subsidies and capacity payments threaten to quell advantages brought about by European electricity market coupling, complain industry participants
Renewables subsidy shift brings opportunity for energy firms
Germany began encouraging renewable generators to directly market their own production in 2012, reflecting a trend of giving renewables greater exposure to wholesale markets across Europe. That could spell an opportunity for more well-established energy…
Renewables and power markets must be brought together
Fixed feed-in tariffs have produced heavy increases in the volume of electricity generated via renewables, but their continued existence diminishes the strength of price signals in European power markets. Steffen Köhler puts forward a different approach
A can-do attitude
Axpo Trading & Sales aims to optimise the production of Switzerland-based utility Axpo, but is increasingly offering the same service to external clients, including renewable generators. Energy Risk talks to Domenico De Luca, head of international…
Europe should unite or die, says Lowe
NWE market coupling delays highlight need for robust EU energy regulator, says former EC director general
EMR may rescue UK renewable PPA market
UK Electricity Market Reform expected to give boost to flagging power purchase agreement market for renewable generators
Concerns remain on plans to bolster UK renewables via CFDs
The UK government hopes to deliver a healthy boost to low-carbon generation through a market for contracts-for-difference. While electricity market participants are upbeat about the proposals, there are lingering concerns about how effective it will be…
Stadtwerke München grapples with regulation and risk management
At Stadtwerke München, one of Germany’s largest municipal utilities, many of the issues facing risk management are different from those affecting big commercial energy firms. But concerns about the impact of financial regulation run just as high. Mark…
Energy Risk Europe: Good times over for Europe's traders, says RWE's Krebber
Strain caused by regulation and renewables means European energy traders must adapt to survive, says RWE Supply & Trading CFO
Danske Commodities chief reflects on altered energy landscape
While Europe’s traditional energy firms have been suffering, Danske Commodities saw a 75% leap in profits for 2012. Chief executive Torben Nordal Clausen speaks to Gillian Carr
Renewables expected to drive demand for weather derivatives
Weather risk management firms predict renewables and thinner energy market liquidity will drive growth
European power traders look to different sources of data
With renewables accounting for a significant and growing proportion of Europe's electricity production, energy traders are increasingly turning to different sources of data to help them gauge the impact. Gillian Carr reports
Real to set sights on renewables after acquisition by Munich Re
Purchase of RenRe Energy Advisors could lead to new weather hedging tools for renewable energy
Room for improvement in Remit reporting, say power traders
Lack of renewables data means an increasingly vital part of the market is being excluded, say traders