THEMA Berlin looks back on 2024
The year 2024 was marked by plenty of ideas and attempts at accelerating and safeguarding the German power system. However, the fall of the coalition government in November casts uncertainty over many of these efforts. We at THEMA look back on the year, reflecting on our personal milestones and those of the nation at large.
What the Nordics’ Experience of Power Market Integration Teaches Us
Our recent work with the Lantau Group in Asia got us thinking about what we can learn from the development of power markets in both regions. In this post, we reflect on what we can learn from from the Nordic experience. My thanks to both Dave Carlson at Lantau and David Attlmayr at THEMA for…
Mastering Strategy 1: Five strategy development pitfalls
Most leaders find strategy work to be challenging. How do you ensure that the strategic plan doesn’t end up in the bottom drawer, but actually creates value and energises the organisation? To answer this question, we will explore what defines a successful strategy process as part of a forthcoming series of articles.
RES cost assessment: The importance of system value and costs
Are we making decisions on generation technologies based on the right metrics? Often, levelized costs of electricity with constant financing costs are applied. However, for system planners and policy makers this may be misleading. Alternatives exist that capture system value and account for differentiated financing conditions.
Renewable technology costs – Quo vadis?
Renewable energy costs fell notably in the last decades. Yet, the early 2020s saw increased costs in many key industries due to the covid pandemic and exploding gas and raw material prices. While solar PV prices again at an all-time low, wind power remains more expensive than two years ago, showcasing different market dynamics.
Still waiting for ‘the new normal’
While the worst effects of the gas crisis in Europe have subsided, markets and politics still reflect the fact that we are in the middle of the energy transition. Things are changing fast, but not fast enough to reach the 2030 climate targets. There is no reason to expect 2024 to be a quiet year…
What a difference a year can make!
It is Christmas time again. In Germany as elsewhere, Christmas is a festival of lights, with bright electric stars on every home and shop, and ice-cold days, huddled up in the warmth of one´s home with friends and family. A stark contrast to a year ago, when we worried that we would not have the…
Who would have thought…
While 2021 was a dramatic year in the energy sector, 2022 was completely exceptional. Putin, helped by climate change, has created energy shortages and historically high energy prices in Europe. The markets are coming apart at the seams and we are heading for a painful winter. We are facing a 2023 where we have to…
The Commission’s emergency intervention to reduce power prices explained
To cut power prices and reduce gas power production, the European Commission is proposing efforts to cut consumption, particularly in peak price hours. The measures are to be financed by a revenue cap. If adopted, the measures will help reduce prices in Europe. Here we explain how.
Replacing gas in the German power sector
The invasion of the Ukraine by Russia has led to substantial economic sanctions. In this context, replacement of Russian gas is discussed. We analyze in how far activation of coal and nuclear capacities can replace gas in the power sector. We assess relevant constraints and find that the potential of such measures is limited.
Power prices rally – old debates open up again
Currently, power prices seem to be out of control in Europe. In Germany, we see power prices above 200 EUR/MWh. In Great Britain, they are even higher. Even Norway is seeing prices well above 100 EUR/MWh in certain areas over extended periods. The power price surge has become a matter of political concern, as it burdens both…
