‘The new energy market design: Does more regulation mean more competition and security?’

Member of FleishmanHillard’s International Advisory Board, Jean-Arnold Vinois, and director of our Brussels energy team, Matt Hinde, will be speaking in Poland on how the European Commission’s new energy market design proposal means for competition and energy security. The debate will be part of the ‘Energy Lab’ series, a Polish initiatives which was created to exchange ideas and hold open discussions about energy – without prejudices and outside of the political debate. Energy Lab is organised in the form of a cyclical online debate, in which everyone can take part and ask questions.

Issues to be tackled by the Energy Lab: How to deal with low electricity prices? Which energy sources are worth investing in – do they have a chance to win in the future? How to ensure energy security? What is the future of coal and renewable energy? How new technologies will affect energy prices? What is the role of consumers in the future? Is the traditional energy sector a thing of the past; and does the future belongs to decentralised energy sources? What are the new business models in the energy sector?

There is no simple answer to these questions, however it is worth observing what is happening in other countries. The Polish energy sector more than ever needs to open up towards current trends, inspiring people and examples of good practices which would allow it to reform and become a driving force of the Polish economy.

The event will be held on 28 September at 11h00 – 12h30.

Topics of the debate:

1. What will the Commission’s December Energy Market Design Package introduce and change?
2. Are the the European Commission’s objectives to further increase the share of renewable energy sources, increase market competition by building cross-border connections, and increase flexibility in the production of energy realistic?
3. Electricity is to flow without interruptions- but what will happen if we run out of it? Who should be responsible for the energy security of the new market model?
4. Should the Polish energy sector be treated differently because of the specific situation of the country? What are the chances that the Commission will accept Polish arguments?
5. What does the new architecture of the energy market mean for consumers.

Speakers:

• A representative of the Ministry of Energy (tbc)
• Jean Arnold Vinois, Advisor to the Jacques Delors Institute, Honorary Director, European Commission, DG Energy
• Matt Hinde, FleishmanHillard, former Head of strategy at the EU strategy for the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC)
• Joanna Mackowiak-Pandera, Forum for Energy Studies
• Tomasz Sikorski, Polish Power Grid Operator
• Jarosław Broda, Member of the Management Board, Tauron Energy

Agenda:

11:00 – 12:30 Debate to be transmitted online

• Introduction by Rafał Zasuń – Wysokie Napięcie
• Background, Polish context of the meeting, introduction to the idea of the Energy Laboratory project by Joanna Mackowiak-Pandera
• One-on-one conversation with Jean-Arnold Vinois and Rafał Zasuń
• Debate with experts

12:30 End of recording

Language: Polish, English (simultaneous translation during meetings)