Bloc should support technologies which are available 24/7 and have long lifespan
Europe should adopt a technology neutral approach to energy while valuing long-term security of supply and support for a range of market instruments, the Brussels-based industry group nucleareurope said.
The group outlined its priorities for how to best review the existing European electricity market, calling for an electricity market which is designed to ensure security of supply and affordable energy prices.
Yves Desbazeille, nucleareurope’s director-general, said the blocs energy market also has to support those sources which are going to help Europe reach ambitious decarbonisation targets.
In a position paper, nucleareurope called for a technology neutral electricity market. It said the market as it stands today is geared towards specific technologies and should focus on goals such as decarbonisation, security of supply and affordability, rather than on specific technologies.
It said the market needs to support technologies – such as nuclear – which are available 24/7 and have a long lifespan.
Europe should also support a range of market instruments including power purchase agreements for “all relevant technologies” with a duration that is more closely aligned to the design life of the technology which they support.
Other market instruments which should be considered include two-way contracts for difference, the Mankala model used in Finland and the regulated asset base model that is being considered in the UK, nucleareurope said.
