The problem

The development of a single European energy market, in particular for electricity, must address multiple and possibly conflicting challenges. These include the development of sustainable energy resources and their integration within the supply system, improving the security of supply and the technical and socio-economic aspects of market liberalisation. The realisation of a reliable and competitive European unified internal market in electricity will require close co-operation between technical and regulatory experts and the adoption of best practice measures across the EU.

Overview:

SESSA will create a scientific energy technology regulation forum with high-level technical experts and decision-makers from across the EU representing regulators, power generators, transmission and distribution companies, users and NGOs. It will produce guidelines for implementing actions addressing:

• The refinement of internal market design
• Industry restructuring and issues related to the enlarged Europe
• Harmonisation of regulations
• Investment barriers for sustainable power generation

Contribution to policy development:

• Improvement of knowledge on existing regulations and policies for sustainable energy systems
• Development and comparison of analytical tools for European energy markets
• Proposals on the implementation of best practice across the EU
• Establishing long-term, high-level links between the research and decision-making communities

Project deliverables

• Report on benchmarking / best practices – July 2005
• Five conferences with stakeholders – July 2005
• Final general report, book and articles – October 2005
• Presentation of main findings to decision-makers at European Forum in Rome –
  June-October 2005
• Final meeting in Brussels – October 2005

Dissemination

• For each conference, a press release, reports, and e-mail newsletter will be issued – July 2005
• The final Rome conference will include a public session – October 2005
• Main findings will be published as a book and a special review issue – October 2005

Technical information

Project acronym: SESSA
Project’s official full title: Sustainable Energy Specific Support Assessment
Research priority: 3.2. The development of tools, indicators and operational parameters for assessing sustainable transport and energy systems performance (economic, environmental and social)
Specific webpage: http://www.sessa.eu.com/
Proposal/contract no: 502479
Start date: 01/04/2004
Kick off meeting: 23/04/2004
Completion date: 30/09/2005
European Commission scientific officer: Domenico Rossetti di Valdabero
(Domenico.Rossetti-Di-Valdalbero@ec.europa.eu)

Coordinator:
Name: Association pour la Recherche et le Développement des Méthodes et Processus Industriels
Abbreviated name: ARMINES
Address: 60, Boulevard Saint Michel
75272 Paris Cedex 06
Country: France
Tel: +33 01 40 51 90 50
Fax: +33 01 40 51 00 94
Website: www.armines.net

Partners

Name: University of Hull
Abbreviated name: UHULL
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Cambridge University
Abbreviated name: UCAM-DAE
Country: United Kingdom

Name: Stockholm School of Economics
Abbreviated name: SSE
Country: Sweden

Name: DIW Berlin
Abbreviated name: DIW
Country: Germany

Name: Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration
Abbreviated name: SNF
Country: Norway

Name: Universidad Pontificia Comillas
Abbreviated name: COMILLAS
Country: Spain

Name: Università Bocconi
Abbreviated name: UNI-IEFE
Country: Italy

Name: University of Louvain
Abbreviated name: UCL
Country: Belgium