电力市场设计—适合净零（英）-39页_2mb

Executive Summary

This report from Eurelectric addresses the need for reforms in EU electricity market design to support a net-zero transition by 2050. It identifies key gaps in consumer engagement, investment frameworks, and system coordination, and provides policy recommendations to enhance market efficiency while maintaining competition. The proposed changes build on existing EU market structures, focusing on long-term contracting, de-risking investments, and better consumer protection to reduce costs and ensure security of supply.

Key Challenges and Gaps

The current market design falls short in three main areas. Consumer engagement is limited due to short contracts, lack of information, and barriers to hedging, leading to price volatility risks and reduced benefits from renewable energy. Investment challenges arise from inadequate frameworks for capital-intensive projects, such as renewables and flexible resources, where public and private contracting is fragmented and limited. System coordination is hampered by narrow system needs assessments that do not account for flexibility, cross-sector electrification, and long-term horizons, risking inefficiencies in infrastructure planning.

Policy Recommendations by Pillar

Pillar I: Consumer Contracting and Engagement

• Remove regulatory barriers to long-term contracts for consumers, promoting transparency and standardized power purchase agreements (PPAs). This includes facilitating retail offers that encourage demand-side response and smart meter rollouts.
• Enhance hedging opportunities beyond short-term periods to protect against price volatility, with measures like credit risk mitigation tools and two-sided contracts for difference to balance consumer benefits and market signals.

Pillar II: Investment Framework for Generation

• Implement capacity mechanisms as core tools for ensuring security of supply, with competitive tenders and harmonized EU guidelines to avoid market distortions. These mechanisms should complement public de-risking schemes and private contracts like PPAs.
• Promote market-based de-risking through contracts for difference and financial instruments that reduce financing costs, while ensuring schemes are cost-effective and avoid undermining short-term market incentives.

Pillar III: Framework for Coordinating Future System Needs

• Expand system needs assessments to a 'whole system' perspective, incorporating flexibility resources and cross-sector impacts (e.g., electrification of transport and industry). Conduct assessments with longer horizons (up to 2050) and better methodologies to ensure economic viability and resilience stress testing.

Conclusion

The recommendations aim to create a fit-for-purpose market design that balances consumer protection, investment attraction, and system resilience. By preserving EU market efficiency and promoting innovative solutions, these reforms can facilitate Europe's energy transition while avoiding rushed changes that could disrupt energy security and investment flows.