EU Energy Law, Volume III: Renewable Energy in the Member States of the EU

Renewable energy has become a game changer in Europe and on the national energy markets. It started in the last decade with low participation in the market—driven primarily by traditional hydro with some use of biomass—to becoming the big winner in new capacity across Europe and the world. More recently, access to renewables in the market is being organized differently in the EU 28 Member State, with some established patterns—such as priority grid access, and a majority of countries utilising various feed-in mechanisms— steered by the Directorate General for Competition of the EU Commission towards auctioning systems. We have seen progress and roll-back, legal and investor certainty and the exact opposite. It is no longer so much about market access of renewables but about a new market design. Incumbent energy production becomes the obstacle for system change. The coming decade will have further barriers but the pathway towards sustainabil- ity is set, with different speed restrictions in the various member states; a look across the pond to the United States provides further insight.

This new book, Volume III - Renewable Energy in the Member States of the EU, covers a broad overview of the latest developments in the EU member states in the renewable energy sector, as well as on energy efficiency. The book describes energy market legislation with a special focus on market design and system integration, including support mechanisms, grid access, licensing, planning, auto production, interconnection, network planning, and security of supply. It also elaborates on structural fund use within this sector.