The Impossible Energy Trinity : Energy Security, Sustainability, and Sovereignty in Cross-Border Electricity Systems
This article explores energy policy trade-offs faced by small states in cross-border electricity systems. We develop the concept of an impossible energy trinity which posits that small states in the energy transition cannot simultaneously achieve energy security, sustainability, and sovereignty. Based on a relational definition of energy smallness, we argue that small states have three options to cope with the intermittency of domestic electricity production from renewables and the resulting challenges for security of supply and grid stability. The dirty option resorts to generation from non-sustainable energy sources. The insecure option accepts system stability risks and/or higher electricity prices. The non-autonomous option cedes control over domestic energy rules to pursue an integration with the electricity grids and markets of larger neighbors. We empirically illustrate our novel concept using the case of Switzerland, which currently finds itself at the crossroads of the three options. We show that the country has to choose whether it wants to add gas-fired generation capacities, accept grid instabilities and higher electricity prices, or further integrate with the EU electricity market and rule set. We discuss possibilities for managing the impossible energy trinity as well as possible generalizations beyond the Swiss case. We conclude that considering public pressure for decarbonization and economic pressure to maintain a secure energy supply, the non-autonomous option will currently be the most likely policy option in many small states. This will reinforce the regional integration of electricity grids and the related power relationships
Year of publication: |
[2021]
|
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Authors: | Thaler, Philipp ; Hofmann, Benjamin |
Publisher: |
[S.l.] : SSRN |
Subject: | Elektrizitätswirtschaft | Electric power industry | Nachhaltige Energieversorgung | Sustainable energy supply | Welt | World | Souveränität | Sovereignty | Energieversorgung | Energy supply | Energiemarkt | Energy market |
Saved in:
freely available
Extent: | 1 Online-Ressource (24 p) |
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Type of publication: | Book / Working Paper |
Language: | English |
Notes: | Nach Informationen von SSRN wurde die ursprüngliche Fassung des Dokuments November 2, 2020 erstellt |
Other identifiers: | 10.2139/ssrn.3819010 [DOI] |
Source: | ECONIS - Online Catalogue of the ZBW |
Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10013232857
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