05 July 2007

Conference Report for second Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogue now available

The Global Public Policy Institute's second Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogue took place on May 25^th 2007 at the Jolly Hotel Vivaldi, Berlin. Entitled “Security of supply in liberalized energy markets: Transatlantic experiences and future challenges” the event followed on from the excellently received opening dialogue session “Energy dragons rising: Global energy governance and the rise of India and China” which was held in January of this year.  The goal of this conference was to bring together decision-makers from the economic, political and academic worlds; NGOs; and the media to cut across the traditional dividing lines of security, development and the environment within the context of energy security. In all, over 30 well respected participants from across all sectors participated in the dialogue sessions, which once again benefited from an innovative format and vibrant discussions.

Divided into two sessions either side of lunch, the days events consisted of two panel discussions each followed by a series of three parallel working groups. The opening panel discussion focused on the impact to date that energy market liberalization has had upon security of supply. Debate gave a solid platform for further analysis of issues at the nexus of energy market liberalization such as the need for investment in infrastructure in grids if security of supply is to be guaranteed within a market framework and the effect market liberalization has had on the natural gas market. The afternoon session sought to shed light on future challenges that are projected to take place within a liberalized energy market framework. The focus was very much on what a new energy mix could look like with topical talking points including diversification of domestic and external energy sources as well as the crucial future role of energy efficiency.

Taking its lead from these challenges, the report is structured by the three key questions that came to the fore of the debate and structured the dialogue: (i) Can liberalized energy markets deliver on security of supply? (ii)  What can Europe and European actors do to overcome security of supply fears emanating from Russia within a liberalized market framework? (iii) Are liberalized markets capable of being utilized to combat human induced climate change?

The strong mix of speakers and participants made for lively discussion and debate both during the conference and during informal gatherings. Speakers and participants included, among others, Richard. P. O’Neill, Chief Economic Adviser, Federal Energy Regulation Commission (FERC), Washington, DC; Rolf Hempelmann, Member of German Parliament, Spokesman for Energy Affairs, SPD, Ulrik Stridbaek, Senior Policy Advisor on Electricity Markets, International Energy Ageny (IEA); Enno Harks, Political Analyst, British Petroleum in Germany and; Alex de Alvarez, Deputy Director for Infrastructure Security and Energy Restoration, Department of Energy, Washington DC.

A third Transatlantic Energy Security Dialogue will hopefully take place either later this year or early 2008. It will function as part of a comprehensive research study being undertaken currently by GPPi entitled, "Changing rules of the game: Towards effective global energy governance in the 21^st century".

The conference report is available for download here.

For further information please contact Jan Martin Witte.

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