IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v36y2011i6p1761-1765.html

Innovating grid regulation to regulate grid innovation: From the Orkney Isles to Kriegers Flak via Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Meeus, Leonardo
  • Saguan, Marcelo

Abstract

In the current context of a decarbonizing electricity system, grid innovation is needed to deal with the main challenges of integrating distributed generation, demand and storage, and large-scale renewable energy sources. Grid companies however have disincentives to innovate under the conventional regulatory framework, and if they do innovate, they are confronted with grid users that have disincentives to participate in the innovation. This paper analyzes three empirical cases where state of the art regulatory frameworks have been successful at stimulating grid innovation. The main lesson learned from the cases is that there is experience with addressing the disincentive of grid companies to innovate, but the participation of grid users in the innovation is much more an open issue.

Suggested Citation

  • Meeus, Leonardo & Saguan, Marcelo, 2011. "Innovating grid regulation to regulate grid innovation: From the Orkney Isles to Kriegers Flak via Italy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 1761-1765.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:36:y:2011:i:6:p:1761-1765
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2010.12.005
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148110005598
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2010.12.005?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. repec:aen:journl:2000v21-04-a03 is not listed on IDEAS
    2. Sterlacchini, Alessandro, 2006. "The R&D drop in European utilities. Should we care about it?," MPRA Paper 31, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. repec:aen:journl:2006v27-04-a05 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Swider, Derk J. & Beurskens, Luuk & Davidson, Sarah & Twidell, John & Pyrko, Jurek & Prüggler, Wolfgang & Auer, Hans & Vertin, Katarina & Skema, Romualdas, 2008. "Conditions and costs for renewables electricity grid connection: Examples in Europe," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1832-1842.
    5. Jean-Michel Glachant, 2012. "Regulating Networks in the New Economy," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 3(1).
    6. David Sappington, 2005. "Regulating Service Quality: A Survey," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 27(2), pages 123-154, November.
    7. Steven Stoft, 2006. "Problems of Transmission Investment in a Deregulated Power Market," Chapters, in: François Lévêque (ed.), Competitive Electricity Markets and Sustainability, chapter 4, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    8. Jamasb, Tooraj & Pollitt, Michael, 2007. "Incentive regulation of electricity distribution networks: Lessons of experience from Britain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(12), pages 6163-6187, December.
    9. Jamasb, Tooraj & Pollitt, Michael, 2008. "Liberalisation and R&D in network industries: The case of the electricity industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6-7), pages 995-1008, July.
    10. Per J. Agrell & Peter Bogetoft, 2010. "Network Regulation under Climate Policy Review," RSCAS Working Papers 2010/67, European University Institute.
    11. Ragwitz, Mario & Miola, Apollonia, 2005. "Evidence from RD&D spending for renewable energy sources in the EU," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 30(11), pages 1635-1647.
    12. J-M- Glachant, 2002. "Why regulate deregulated network industries?," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, Intersentia, vol. 3(3), pages 297-312, September.
    13. Dooley, J J, 1998. "Unintended consequences: energy R&D in a deregulated energy market," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 26(7), pages 547-555, June.
    14. Mayo, John W & Flynn, Joseph E, 1988. "The Effects of Regulation on Research and Development: Theory and Evidence," The Journal of Business, University of Chicago Press, vol. 61(3), pages 321-336, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Nykamp, Stefan & Andor, Mark & Hurink, Johann L., 2012. "‘Standard’ incentive regulation hinders the integration of renewable energy generation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 222-237.
    2. Karim L. Anaya & Monica Giulietti & Michael G. Pollitt, 2022. "Where next for the electricity distribution system operator? Evidence from a survey of European DSOs and National Regulatory Authorities," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 23(4), pages 245-269, December.
    3. Zhang, Tao & Jiang, Jianli & Xie, Bai-Chen, 2025. "Technological innovation and cost efficiency of grid firms in China: Dual impact of climate uncertainty and regulation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C).
    4. Schittekatte, Tim & Meeus, Leonardo & Jamasb, Tooraj & Llorca, Manuel, 2021. "Regulatory experimentation in energy: Three pioneer countries and lessons for the green transition," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    5. Lo Schiavo, Luca & Delfanti, Maurizio & Fumagalli, Elena & Olivieri, Valeria, 2013. "Changing the regulation for regulating the change: Innovation-driven regulatory developments for smart grids, smart metering and e-mobility in Italy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 506-517.
    6. Cambini, Carlo & Congiu, Raffaele & Jamasb, Tooraj & Llorca, Manuel & Soroush, Golnoush, 2020. "Energy Systems Integration: Implications for public policy," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    7. repec:aen:eeepjl:eeep4_1_meeus is not listed on IDEAS
    8. Khan, Feroz & Rapposelli, Agnese, 2024. "Determination of sustainable energy mix to ensure energy security in Italy amidst Russian-Ukraine crises," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    9. Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Monzón-Alejandro, Oscar & Borge-Diez, David & Castro-Gil, Manuel, 2013. "The impact of different grid regulatory scenarios on the development of renewable energy on islands: A comparative study and improvement proposals," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 302-312.
    10. He, Xian & Keyaerts, Nico & Azevedo, Isabel & Meeus, Leonardo & Hancher, Leigh & Glachant, Jean-Michel, 2013. "How to engage consumers in demand response: A contract perspective," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 27(C), pages 108-122.
    11. Gaspari, Michele & Lorenzoni, Arturo, 2018. "The governance for distributed energy resources in the Italian electricity market: A driver for innovation?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3623-3632.
    12. Gaspari, Michele & Lorenzoni, Arturo & Frías, Pablo & Reneses, Javier, 2017. "Integrated Energy Services for the industrial sector: an innovative model for sustainable electricity supply," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 118-127.
    13. Bovera, Filippo & Lo Schiavo, Luca, 2022. "From energy communities to sector coupling:a taxonomy for regulatory experimentation in the age of the European Green Deal," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    14. Leonardo Meeus, 2014. "Offshore grids for renewables: do we need a particular regulatory framework?," RSCAS Working Papers 2014/24, European University Institute.
    15. Xenias, Dimitrios & Axon, Colin J. & Whitmarsh, Lorraine & Connor, Peter M. & Balta-Ozkan, Nazmiye & Spence, Alexa, 2015. "UK smart grid development: An expert assessment of the benefits, pitfalls and functions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 89-102.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. T. Jamasb & R. Nepal, 2015. "Issues and Options in the Economic Regulation of European Network Security," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, Intersentia, vol. 16(1), pages 2-23, March.
    2. Jean-Michel Glachant, 2012. "Regulating Networks in the New Economy," Review of Economics and Institutions, Università di Perugia, vol. 3(1).
    3. Schmitt, Stephan & Kucsera, Denes, 2013. "The Impact of the Regulatory Reform Process on R&D Investment of European Electricity Utilities," VfS Annual Conference 2013 (Duesseldorf): Competition Policy and Regulation in a Global Economic Order 80035, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    4. Bhatt, Brijesh & Singh, Anoop, 2021. "Power sector reforms and technology adoption in the Indian electricity distribution sector," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 215(PA).
    5. Sterlacchini, Alessandro, 2012. "Energy R&D in private and state-owned utilities: An analysis of the major world electric companies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 494-506.
    6. Agnolucci, Paolo, 2008. "Factors influencing the likelihood of regulatory changes in renewable electricity policies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(1), pages 141-161, January.
    7. Simona Benedettini & Federico Pontoni, "undated". "Electricity distribution investments: no country for old rules? A critical overview of UK and Italian regulations," IEFE Working Papers 50, IEFE, Center for Research on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy, Universita' Bocconi, Milano, Italy.
    8. Angel Arcos-Vargas & Fernando Núñez & Juan Antonio Ballesteros, 2017. "Quality, remuneration and regulatory framework: some evidence on the European electricity distribution," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 51(1), pages 98-118, February.
    9. Rahmatallah Poudineh & Donna Peng & Seyed Reza Mirnezami, 2020. "Innovation in regulated electricity networks: Incentivising tasks with highly uncertain outcomes," Competition and Regulation in Network Industries, , vol. 21(2), pages 166-192, June.
    10. Jamasb, Tooraj & Pollitt, Michael, 2008. "Liberalisation and R&D in network industries: The case of the electricity industry," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(6-7), pages 995-1008, July.
    11. Anna Ter-Martirosyan & John Kwoka, 2010. "Incentive regulation, service quality, and standards in U.S. electricity distribution," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 258-273, December.
    12. Jamasb, Tooraj & Orea, Luis & Pollitt, Michael, 2012. "Estimating the marginal cost of quality improvements: The case of the UK electricity distribution companies," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 1498-1506.
    13. Kim, Jihwan & Kim, Yeonbae & Flacher, David, 2012. "R&D investment of electricity-generating firms following industry restructuring," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 103-117.
    14. Romagnoli, Matteo, 2024. "Clean sweep: Electricity liberalization and the direction of technological change in the electricity sector," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(8).
    15. Tahvanainen, Kaisa & Honkapuro, Samuli & Partanen, Jarmo & Viljainen, Satu, 2012. "Experiences of modern rate of return regulation in Finland," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 21(C), pages 32-39.
    16. Maestrini, Marcelo & Vargas, Marco & Losekann, Luciano & Senra, Paulo Mauricio, 2025. "Energy transition and innovative choices of Brazilian electricity distribution utilities," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    17. David Sappington & Dennis Weisman, 2010. "Price cap regulation: what have we learned from 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry?," Journal of Regulatory Economics, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 227-257, December.
    18. Inglesi-Lotz, R., 2019. "Energy research and R&D indicators: An LMDI decomposition analysis for the IEA Big 5 in energy research," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    19. Tsatsos, Aristidis, 2012. "Die Liberalisierung des russischen Gassektors: 3 Szenarios? [The liberalisation of the Russian gas sector: 3 scenarios?]," MPRA Paper 44623, University Library of Munich, Germany.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:36:y:2011:i:6:p:1761-1765. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.