European Governments Look for Ways to Keep Lights on

摘要

A number of EU governments are looking at ways of avoiding future electricity blackouts as a huge increase in Europe's intermittent renewable capacity hastens the demise of uncompetitive baseload gas- and coal-fired units. Many, led by the UK, have introduced or are planning some form of capacity mechanism or strategic reserve to ensure power is available when renewables fail to produce enough electricity by paying generators to keep baseload capacity operational or putting older units under the control of grid operators to fire up if needed. But the plans have triggered controversy, with critics saying capacity mechanisms aren't required, run counter to EU goals of creating a truly competitive internal energy market, and simply act as a form of subsidy for otherwise uneconomic fossil fuel units.