Actions and flagship projects

Actions and flagship projects

Establish an integrated and well-functioning market for energy by implementing the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) which, in addition to infrastructure projects, includes specific steps to achieve the desired integrated and functioning internal market for energy, identifying missing infrastructures in electricity and gas, and providing for coordination among all actors concerned. This should include better coordination of national energy strategies, and measures to promote diversity of supply and better functioning of the energy market.

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  Monitor the implementation of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP) correspondingly with the actions of the High-Level Group of the BEMIP. In particular, give priority to ‘connecting the Baltic States to the energy networks of the region’. The need to monitor BEMIP progress arises not only from the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan by its own, but also from the framework of the EUSBSR. The monitoring function is a matter for the High-Level Group of the BEMIP, which has agreed also to act as EUSBSR HLG. The aim of this project is therefore improved coordination between the strategic goals of the EUSBSR and the BEMIP. EU Member States concerned (Lithuania) has organised conferences on the regional level (November 25 2009 and September 14 2012 in Vilnius) to promote and assess the BEMIP implementation. The Commission and the Member States concerned have developed the BEMIP which identifies key missing infrastructures in electricity and gas, lists necessary actions (including financing), and provides coordination mechanisms to bring together Member States, market players and different financing sources. Innovative interconnector solutions involving ‘plugging in’ offshore renewable energy production installations, are being considered. Projects listed under the TEN-E guidelines could be co-financed by the TEN-E instruments. In addition, the European Economic Recovery Plan provides for substantial additional financial support to infrastructure projects in the region. Lead: Lithuania. Deadline: progress report scheduled for July 2013.
  

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  Sharing best practices of regional cooperation of BEMIP with EU Eastern Partnership countries. The main deliverables since the beginning of the BEMIP initiative were presented at the 7th meeting of Eastern Partnership – Energy Security Platform on 18 June 2012. As there is interest from all parties concerned, the initiative to share best practices of BEMIP as an example of regional integration to the Eastern Partnership countries should be further continued. Transfer of know-how on regional cooperation and on the legal framework establishment for a well-functioning energy market may be implemented through seminars and bilateral consultations. Lead: Lithuania. Deadline: progress review in connection with the Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in Vilnius, 28-29 November 2013.
  
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  Extend the Nordic electricity market model (NORDEL)³³ to the three Baltic States by following a step-by-step approach with a fixed timetable for implementation (market integration roadmap) under the framework of the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan (BEMIP). Lead: Latvia. Deadline: 2013.
  

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  Investment in infrastructure in the Baltic Sea Region. Infrastructure development in the Baltic Sea region means massive investments in the electricity and gas grid in order to improve security of supply, the functioning of the internal energy markets, and integration of renewable energy sources in the energy supply. At the moment, though, there are a number of obstacles in securing market integration and investment in infrastructure, which have to be investigated. The purpose of the project is to investigate and present proposals on how to overcome these challenges while taking into account the overall sustainability of the investments and the repeated calls for phasing out environmentally harmful subsidies. Lead: Denmark. Deadline: to be determined.
  

Increased use of renewables, better integration of RES in the market, and promotion of an efficient legal framework can be achieved by exchanging experiences and good practices, extending the use of sustainable biomass, solar energy and wind power (e.g. the Nordwind II project supported by the Nordic Council of Minister’s, and Krieger’s Flak), and especially by research in demonstration and deployment of on and offshore wind and other marine renewable energy technologies. The Krieger’s Flak Combined Grid Solution project is planned to be commissioned together with the Danish OWF of 600 MW in 2018. The region has high-level expertise in maritime technologies. The Energy Efficiency Directive sets out energy efficiency obligation schemes in all Member States with the aim of yielding an annual energy reduction of 1.5%. This will enquire an exchange of best practices and experience among Member States in the region.

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  Enhanced market integration of RES and best practice sharing. One of the best ways of achieving the goals of this action is to share best practices on national approaches to renewable energy support schemes. The project is concerned with greater consistency in national approaches and with making renewable energy support schemes in the region more effective. Lead: Latvia. Deadline: to be determined.
  

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  Promote measures to develop the usage of sustainable biofuels. The European Commission and Member States are convinced that future increases in renewable energy use in the transport sector should be achieved by biofuels, produced sustainably and efficiently. The project aims to promote the production and usage of biofuels which meet the sustainability criteria by demonstrating solutions, sharing experiences and promoting cooperation (e.g. future common projects). Lead: Latvia. Deadline: to be determined.
  
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  Demonstration of coordinated offshore wind farm connection solutions, e.g. at Krieger’s Flak (Denmark, Germany). The Krieger’s Flak Combined Grid Solution project is a joint Danish-German project managed by the two Transmission System Operators 50Hertz Transmission, Germany and Energinet.dk, Denmark. Lead: Denmark. Deadline: 2018.
  
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  Promoting energy efficiency measures. The next challenge for delivering on the Energy Efficiency Directive will be the implementation process. For instance, one of the legally binding measures set out in the Directive is the introduction of national energy efficiency obligation schemes in all Member States with the aim of yielding an annual final energy reduction of 1.5%. The project aims to ensure efficient and successful implementation of Article 6 of the Energy Efficiency Directive by exchanging best practices and experience of the Member States Energy Efficiency Obligations. Lead: Latvia. Deadline: 2015.
  

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  Exploration of cooperation mechanisms. The Renewable Energy Directive (2009/28/EC) sets binding targets for the share of renewable energy sources in energy consumption in the EU Member States. The overall EU target is a 20% share of renewable energy sources that is further allocated to the countries with national targets varying from 10% to 49%. The Directive includes mechanisms that enable Member States to cooperate in order to reach their targets cost-efficiently. The European Commission wishes to increase the use of these mechanisms and has in a recent study underlined that the earlier these cooperation mechanisms are used, the larger the potential efficiencies will be. The Nordic Council of Minister’s working group on renewable energy is currently exploring the issue in a Nordic context. One way to proceed could thus be to broaden the focus to the Baltic area, exploring the possibility of a cooperation mechanism both within the area and with countries outside the Baltic area. Part of the work should also be to develop the institutional and regulatory framework for the use of statistical transfer of renewable energy, which is one of the cooperation mechanisms. Lead: Sweden (tbc). Deadline: to be determined.