2012: International Year of Sustainable Energy for All (United Nations)

As mentionned in an earlier post (to read HERE), 2012 will be the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All, and will be sponsored by the United Nations Foundation, the inter-agency UN-Energy, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, and other public and private organisations. Its aim is twofold: increase awareness and find solutions on access to energy (with the objective of universal access by 2030) that is, in addition, affordable, clean and safe. It has as starting point the adoption in December 2010 of a UN General Assembly resolution endorsing the topic of this international year (GA/11040, 66th GA, 69th meeting, 20 December 2010; and Resolution 65/151 adopted by the GA on 16 February 2011), and its confirmation by its Secretary General in February 2011.

The initiative takes as starting point that "more than 1.4 billion people worldwide have no access to electricity, and 1 billion more only have intermittent access. Some 2.5 billion people – almost half of humanity – rely on traditional biomass for cooking and heating." Energy is crucial to human development, abatement of poverty and, in doing so, peace. On that point, see the statement from the Vienna Energy Forum participants on "Universal energy access can secure growth and freedom" dated 21 June 2011. In the same time, most part of the challenge is to support access to energy in a sustainable manner, i.e. that will benefit people's economic and social development while respecting the environment. This requires both knowledge sharing and technology sharing. This is also why energy efficiency must be promoted simultaneously.

One of the tools established as part of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative is a global Energy Access Practioner Network, which gathers practionners from the private sector and civil society. (More on the Network here). The Network members are organised in working groups ranged by topics: mini-grids, finance and investment, mapping, standards, energy and agriculture, supply chains and entrepreneurship, and energy and health.

As described on the Sustainable Energy for All website:

"This initiative will call for private sector and national commitments and attract global attention to the importance of energy for development and poverty alleviation. The goal is to meet three objectives by 2030:

• Ensuring universal access to modern energy services.
• Doubling the rate of improvement in energy efficiency.
• Doubling the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.

In recognition of the importance of energy access for sustainable economic development and supporting achievement of the Millennium Development Goals, the United Nations General Assembly has designated 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy for All."

EU-Regler om Tildeling av Klimakvoter Gjelder for Alle Virksomheter i perioden 2013-2020, også Petroleumsindustrien

Pressemelding fra Olje- og Energidepartement, publisert i dag 22. desember 2011:

"Felles EU-regler for tildeling av kvoter

Etter forhandlinger med EU legger Regjeringen opp til at de felles EU-reglene for tildeling av klimakvoter skal gjelde alle norske bedrifter. Det innebærer at også petroleumsvirksomheten i perioden 2013-2020 vil få tildelt klimakvoter etter de samme reglene som tilsvarende bedrifter i EU.



Tildelingen av kvoter vil ikke ha direkte virkning for CO2-prisen petroleumssektoren står overfor. Regjeringen legger imidlertid til grunn at petroleumsvirksomheten ikke skal få økonomiske lettelser som følge av kvotene, og vil komme tilbake med forslag for å ivareta dette.


I perioden 2008-2012 har petroleumsvirksomheten i Norge måttet kjøpe alle kvotene i det europeiske kvotemarkedet.


Regjeringen er fortsatt i forhandlinger med EU-kommisjonen om tilpasninger til det reviderte kvotedirektivet for perioden 2013-2020. For framdriften i arbeidet med å innføre det reviderte kvotedirektivet i Norge er det viktig at vi snarlig kan legge fram en fullstendig oversikt over tildeling av gratiskvoter. Klima- og forurensningsdirektoratet er sammen med norske bedrifter godt i gang med å utarbeide en slik oversikt. Regjeringen vil oppfordre alle norske bedrifter til å komme med innspill slik at den foreløpige tildelingen av kvoter blir så riktig som mulig.


Det tas sikte på offentlig høring i januar 2012 av forslag til nødvendige endringer i klimakvoteloven med tilhørende forskrifter."

RES Directive 2009/28/EC Is now Incorporated into the EEA Agreement and in Force

The EEA Joint Committee backed yesterday, 19 December 2011, the incorporation of Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources into the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement. Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein (under specific conditions for the latter) are now committed to implement the directive as negotiated. The directive enters into force in Norway today, 20 December 2011.

Hereafter copy of the press release from the Norwegian Ministry for Petroleum and Energy:

"Hensikten med fornybardirektivet er å sikre et langsiktig samarbeid i Europa for å fremme produksjon og bruk av fornybar energi. Direktivet etablerer et felles rammeverk og setter bindende nasjonale mål. Målet er at i 2020 skal EU ha en andel fornybar energi som er 20 prosent av totalt energibruk. Dette er en betydelig økning fra 2005 hvor andelen fornybar energi i EU var på rundt 8,5 prosent. I tillegg skal alle medlemslandene og Norge ha en andel på 10 prosent fornybar energi i transportsektoren i 2020.

- Norges mål i fornybardirektivet er en andel på 67,5 prosent fornybar energi i 2020. Dette er det klart høyeste målet i Europa. Jeg er glad for at fornybardirektivet nå er en del av EØS-avtalen og at hele grunnlaget for elsertifikatmarkedet nå er på plass. Elsertifikatmarkedet er et viktig virkemiddel for å nå det ambisiøse målet om økt fornybarandel i 2020, sier olje- og energiminister Ola Borten Moe.

Under elsertifikatordningen skal det bygges ut til sammen 26,4 TWh ny fornybar elektrisitetsproduksjon i Norge og Sverige sett under ett innen 2020. 26,4 TWh tilsvarer om lag 1/5 av dagens årsproduksjon i Norge.

I tillegg til elsertifikatmarkedet, vil videreføring av Enovas virkemiddelbruk innen energieffektivisering og energiomlegging bidra til å nå fornybarmålet.

Med innlemmelsen av fornybardirektivet i EØS-avtalen kan avtalen mellom Norge og Sverige om et felles elsertifikatmarked settes i kraft som planlagt den 1. januar 2012."

Nordic Energy Regulators (NordREG) Recommend Mandatory Combined Billing for End-Users

On 15 December 2011, the Nordic Energy Regulations (NordREG) adopted a recommendation (available here) that requires the provision of one single bill for final electricity customers, putting together electricity supply costs and grid costs. According to the chairman of NordREG Board, Finn Dehlbæk, "One bill instead of two will make life easier for many electricity customers. It also increases the potential for electricity suppliers to compete on equal terms."

One could actually see this development as a step back, as the supplier would be able to offer a single product, and obviously much will depend on the strict observance of the tariffs regulation for network costs, and unbundling rules for not resulting in anti-competitive behaviours.

In its press release, NordREG is convinced that a single bill can only reinforce competition in the end-user market. This is also though as an additional tool that contributes to the objective pursued by Nordic Energy Regulators to establish a common Nordic end-user market for electricity by 2015.

Hereafter follows an abstract from the NordREG press release:

"The recommendation from NordREG will mean that the invoice from the supplier in the future must include both the cost of electricity (the energy consumed) and the cost of the electricity grid. It also means that for electricity customers in most cases it will be enough to have contact only with the supplier.

With this recommendation, the playing field between electricity suppliers will be more equal. Electricity suppliers will only compete on its own merits and should no longer have the opportunity to take advantage of a close link to a monopoly in order to market themselves in the competitive market.

Today, the electricity customers who do not switch suppliers in most cases receive a combined bill that includes both the cost of electricity and the network tariff. While, customers who are active and switch supplier in most cases receive two bills. In general most customers have a negative perception of receiving two bills and therefore choose not to switch suppliers.

NordREG recognises that the successful implementation of a mandatory combined billing regime requires development of efficient methods for information exchange, payment systems, tax collection and risk management schemes. These and many other issues will be analysed further by NordREG."

Energy Efficiency: European Parliament to Discuss Draft Report on Proposal for a Directive

The ENVI Committee of the European Parliament will discuss Monday 19 December 2011 the draft report on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on energy efficiency and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC presented by MEP Claude Turmes on 4 October 2011. The Sustainable Energy Law Notebook will follow-up this important legislative initiative that will constitute a key priority of the Danish Presidency, first semester 2012. 

Adoption of Regulations Implementing the Green Certificates Act in Norway (Forskrift til lov om elsertifikater)

The Norwegian Ministry for Petroleum and Energy (OED) has adopted today, 16 December 2011, the last main piece of legislation that enables the effective start of the green certificates market (elsertifikater) on 1 January 2012. OED adopted the regulations (forskrift til lov om elsertifikater) implementing the green certificates act (lov om elsertifikater). The text of the regulations is available here (in Norwegian).

One Step Closer for the Norwegian-Swedish Joint Green Certificates Market: Formal Adoption by the Norwegian Council of State

Today, 16 December 2011, the Norwegian Council of State (Statsråd) gave its official assent to the bitaleral agreement for the establishment of a joint green certificates market between Norway and Sweden as well as the incorporation of Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources into the EEA Agreement. The last procedural details as to the incorporation are expected to be dealt with on Monday 19 December. The very last details before the start of the market on 1 January 2012 will be the adoption the implementation regulations of the green certificates act and the amendments to the metering regulations.

Hereafter a copy of the press release published today by the TSO Statnett which will be responsible for the green certificates registry:

"Statnett i rute med elsertifikatregister(16.12.2011)

I dag har traktaten med Sverige om et felles elsertifikatmarked mellom Norge og Sverige, forskrift om elsertifikater og fornybardirektivet gått i Kongen i statsråd. Den skriftlige prosedyren med EU angående fornybardirektivet, skal i følge Olje- og energidepartementet gjennomføres kommende mandag.


- Statnett skal være registeransvarlig for elsertifikatordningen, noe som i korte trekk innebærer å etablere, drifte og vedlikeholde et elektronisk elsertifikatregister, NECS (Norwegian Energy Certificate System), forklarer Bjørn Aage Seem Holmen, prosjektleder for elsertifikater i Statnett.


- Statnett har registeret klart til bruk, og NECS er nå lansert. Når alt det formelle rundt elsertifikatordningen er på plass, kan det søkes om elsertifikatkonto hos oss, sier Seem Holmen.

Statnett vil opplyse om når man kan begynne å søke om konto på NECS sin side og på Statnetts prosjektside for elsertifikater."

The Norwegian Parliament Validates Joint Green Certificates Market with Sweden and Incorporation of RES Directive into EEA Agreement

The Norwegian Parliament (Stortinget) has given today, 12 December 2011, its consent on two acts of importance for the future renewable energy policy of the country:

1. consent on the bitateral agreement between Norway and Sweden on the establishment of a joint market for green certificates to start on 1 January 2012. The details of the legislative procedure are available here (in Norwegian). The Norwegian act on green certificates (so-called elsertifikater) was adopted on 24 June 2011 (Lov om elsertifikater).

"Vedtak i korthet

Stortinget har samtykket til inngåelse av avtale mellom Kongeriket Norges regjering og Kongeriket Sveriges regjering om et felles marked for elsertifikater av 29. juni 2011."

2. consent on the incorporation of Directive 2009/28/EC on the promotion of the use of energy from renewable sources (RES Directive) into the Agreement on the European Economic Area (EEA). The details of the legislative procedure are available here (in Norwegian).

"Vedtak i korthet

Stortinget har samtykket til deltakelse i en beslutning i EØS-komiteen om innlemmelse i EØS-avtalen av direktiv 2009/28/EF om å fremme bruken av energi fra fornybare kilder (fornybardirektivet)."

The last formalities will be the formal approval by the King and the decision by the EEA Committee. The latter decision is expected to take the form of an exchange of letters before the end of next week since the last official meeting of the year has passed.

Norwegian Government Will Publish Atlas of CO2 Storage Sites in the North Sea

On Tuesday, the Norwegian government will release an atlas for CO₂ storage ordered by the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, and prepared by the Norwegian Petroleum Directorate (NPD). The atlas will cover the Norwegian part of the North Sea.

As mentionned by the Directorate:

"The atlas provides an overview over areas where CO₂ can be stored safely in the subsurface for a long time. It also estimates the size of the CO₂ storage capacity in this part of the North Sea."

Summary of UNFCCC COP17/CMP7 Conclusions

The parties to 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), 7th Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COM17/CMP7), which took place in Durban, South Africa (28 November to 9 December 2011), adopted early Sunday morning an agreement. The preliminary version of the texts adopted at Durban is available on the official website of the UNFCCC here. Official version will be published in a couple of days.

I will detail in a separate paper for ASIL the consequences of the agreements for the energy sector next week. As of today, the following can already be said. Parties agreed:

• to discuss legally binding measures on climate change, i.e. a new Treaty or similar legally binding instrument, to be agreed on by 2015 and which will enter into force in 2020 ("Durban Platform for Enhanced Action"); 
• on a prolongation of the Kyoto Protocol first commitment period (first period was 2008-2012; second commitment period will be 2013-end of 2017);
• the principle of the establishment of a Green Climate Fund ($100 billion a year by 2020) in favour of the less developed nations;
• a work programme for 2012. 

In terms of instruments and mechanisms, a few lines should be added. First, transparency in decision making has been inserted as an important principle in the implementation and negociation of UNFCCC-related policies and mechanisms. Second, new market-based mechanisms would be established, the nature of which is not yet decided. This also concerns new mechanisms at the hedge of the Reduced Emissions From Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+). Third, as the EU emissions trading scheme (EU ETS) is continuing to run, there will be a need for coordination of the prolongation of the Kyoto Protocol commitment period with the EU regime.

Several meetings will prepare the next COP/CMP that will take place in Qatar in December 2012.

Integrity and Transparency on Wholesale Energy Markets: REMIT Regulation Published in the EU Official Journal

The EU Regulation No. 1227/2011 of 25 October 2011 on wholesale energy market integrity and transparency, so-called REMIT Regulation, has been published today in the official journal of the EU (OJ L 326, 08.12.2011, p.1). The regulation will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication.

　

See previous posts on the REMIT Regulation on the Sustainable Energy Law Notebook here.

Elsertifikater: Statnett Sender Informasjonsskriv til Produsenter av Fornybar Kraft

Statnett sendte i dag et informasjonsskriv til produsenter av fornybar kraft om den kommende svensk-norsk elsertifikatmarked fra 1. januar 2012. Infoskrivet kan leses her. Den inneholder en generell beskrivelse av ordningen, men ikke enda de siste endringene som skulle komme etter vedtagelse av forskriften om elsertifikater ved NVE.