Energy Systems Integration: an analysis of European energy regulatory framework

Greenhouse emissions are a significant factor in the well-known problem of global warming. Thus, the European Union has developed a strategy to fight the phenomenon: the plan aims to create an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Energy Systems Integration (ESI) is considered key to reducing greenhouse emissions in the energy industry. ESI technology has been developed to connect different Power Industries, such as gas, electricity and heating, to exploit all the synergies and efficiencies of the networks. Providing a holistic view of the energy industry, ESI integrates the use of innovative Distributed Renewable Energy Systems (DRESs) with storage and conversion systems for a clean and affordable energy supply. Specifically, the approach allows ESI to be flexible, leading to an increase in the reliability of DRESs. As any type of innovation, ESI needs a proper regulatory framework to overcome the economic and social barriers of a market adaptation-phase. This work analyses the policies issued by European Countries, highlighting their effectiveness in the adoption of ESI. Moreover, supported by the IREN experimental program data, it identifies the incentives required to implement a Power to Heat system in 5 different European Countries. Finally, the analysis concludes that the current European regulatory framework does not sufficiently incentivise the adoption of ESI.