Abstract
Incumbent power generation and distribution get disrupt by variable renewable electricity supplies. As spontaneous default position is accepted that the disruptors (renewable energy producers) are responsible for the impacts they occasion on established systems. Mostly is added: renewable energies should pay the expenses for systems adaptations necessary to absorb their growing success. This first-hand position is challenged by the “polluter pays principle”: because the incumbent power systems are not sustainable, they must cede and adapt to the requirements of the sustainable renewable ones and pay the transition expenses. The opposite positions are documented with value-price gaps on climate, fossil fuels, and renewable energies. A comprehensive view on liberalized electric power systems frames the proposed dichotomy of power producers in “commanded generation plants” and “independent generators of own power (IGOP).” At prevailing conditions, IGOP power is inferior to and not competitive with commanded power; moreover, IGOP disrupt the functioning of commanded power. However, IGOP make up the core of sustainable low-carbon electricity systems. This enigma challenges the policy and politics of electricity sector transition. No detailed regulations are recommendable before clarifying the strategic positioning of the various participants.
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Notes
- 1.
This contribution is based on a lecture presented at IRENEC-2012 in Maltepe-Istanbul [1], reworked and updated in 2013 (this text), and further complemented in cooperation with 11 colleagues in 2014–2015 [2]. The reader may observe that the study and discussion on the topics covered are far from finished.
- 2.
- 3.
Fossil fuels moreover are subsidized. The International Energy Agency (World Energy Outlook) estimates US$406 bn over 2010, and US$523 bn over 2011.
Abbreviations
- DNO:
-
Distribution Network Operator
- IGOP:
-
Independent Generator of Own Power
- RE:
-
Renewable Electricity
- TSO:
-
Transmission System Operator
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Verbruggen, A. (2017). Electric Power System Transition and the “Polluter Pays Principle”. In: Uyar, T. (eds) Towards 100% Renewable Energy. Springer Proceedings in Energy. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-45659-1_44
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