Renewables
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
The importance of trading to smart energy business models
Expertise in energy trading is vital to the success of smart energy business models, which rely on integrating decentralised generation assets with the wholesale energy market. That presents an opportunity for firms with the right skills, argue Jim…
Europe's carbon market begins long road to recovery
A critical July 3 vote in the European Parliament has brought the world's largest carbon market back from the brink of collapse. But participants say structural reform remains necessary to secure its future – and this is a long way off. Mark Nicholls…
Turning points: Torsten Amelung, Statkraft
As the proportion of power generated from renewables goes up, the business model of traditional utilities is increasingly under threat, says Torsten Amelung, Statkraft’s senior vice-president of trading, origination and business development. He speaks to…
Renewables push proves challenging for Germany
An abundance of renewables capacity in Germany has caused extreme price movements, pushing volatility and trading activity increasingly towards short-term markets – forcing physical and financial market players to rethink their approach to electricity…
Renewable PPAs find favour among corporates
A small but growing number of companies are using renewable energy power purchase agreements to lock in cheap forward electricity prices. But it may take some time before going green becomes a sound risk management strategy for all firms, writes…
Q&A: Gary Demasi, director of global infrastructure, Google
As Google seeks to satisfy its enormous power needs from renewable sources, it has been on a shopping spree to buy green energy in the wholesale market. Gary Demasi, who oversees the firm's energy procurement, speaks to Alexander Osipovich about the deals
Lack of critical mass in biomass
Growth in the use of biomass has led clearing houses to list derivatives referencing the organic fuel source, while some experimentation has also taken place within the over-the-counter markets. But these efforts are yet to yield substantial success. Jay…
Is risk modelling keeping up with the energy market?
Lean times in energy and commodity derivatives trading have caused a cutback in the amount of time and resources spent on energy risk modelling – a worrying trend that could leave firms unprepared for future market challenges, argue some experts. Mark…
Cutting edge: Marketing of renewable energy in the German market
Power generated from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar has considerable influence on power markets in Western Europe. Björn Naundorf and Peter Stagge present a study in which they investigate the impact of renewable generation on intraday…
Some clarity on UK’s EMR but questions remain
UK energy companies have received clarity on some sections of the government's Electricity Market Reform but questions remain for other areas.