REN21 Renewables Academy 2014 – Power Sector Transformation

, the integration of renewables has been seen as an addition of another technology to existing energy systems and portfolios. However, simply adding renewables to the existing power market does not work; the system as a whole needs to be transformed. Utilities are increasingly realising this as many are forced to question the viability of their traditional business models in light of increasing shares of renewable energy in power generation mix. Already today, 94% of utilities predict that their business models will be completely transformed within the next two decades. Apart from the growing shares of variable renewables, key change drivers for utilities are the decentralisation of power generation, the expansion of net metering, as well as greater energy efficiency and demand management. While most utilities are still resisting the inevitable change, others have already taken a more proactive light of these challenges for utilities, the session seeks to:- Present examples of how some utilities are already adapting to the market Discuss how the REN21 community can increase knowledge about renewables among speaker:Simon Mller, IEA:Keynote PresentationModerator:Rainer Hinrichs-Rahlwes, EREFPanelists:Richard Taylor, IHFJose-Luis Garcia, Greenpeace V. Subramanian, IREFHelen Tarnoy, Aldwych International