Conall Heussaff
@cheussaff.bsky.social
💡 Senior Analyst, Offshore European Policy at EirGrid.
Focused on cross border grid infrastructure, energy markets, and the role of modelling in policymaking.
🇮🇪 Irish in Brussels 🇧🇪
Focused on cross border grid infrastructure, energy markets, and the role of modelling in policymaking.
🇮🇪 Irish in Brussels 🇧🇪
... it's also likely that, due to poor competition in retail markets, suppliers in many European countries use their market power to keep final prices high after wholesale price spikes. more consumer switching would in theory remove this ability to unduly profit
April 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
... it's also likely that, due to poor competition in retail markets, suppliers in many European countries use their market power to keep final prices high after wholesale price spikes. more consumer switching would in theory remove this ability to unduly profit
typically there's a lag between wholesale and retail prices because the suppliers have a forward position based on long-term contracts signed months/years ago. I think of the lag as the time it takes for suppliers to adjust their consumer pricing based on their expectation of future prices...
April 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
typically there's a lag between wholesale and retail prices because the suppliers have a forward position based on long-term contracts signed months/years ago. I think of the lag as the time it takes for suppliers to adjust their consumer pricing based on their expectation of future prices...
The challenge isn’t just spending more on grids—it’s also about spending smarter. Independent planning, innovative regulation, and fair cost distribution will determine if Europe efficiently delivers an grid ready for net-zero.
Full policy brief: www.bruegel.org/policy-brief...
Full policy brief: www.bruegel.org/policy-brief...
February 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
The challenge isn’t just spending more on grids—it’s also about spending smarter. Independent planning, innovative regulation, and fair cost distribution will determine if Europe efficiently delivers an grid ready for net-zero.
Full policy brief: www.bruegel.org/policy-brief...
Full policy brief: www.bruegel.org/policy-brief...
Fair cost recovery ⚖️
Electricity affordability is required to ensure public support. National funds could smooth cost recovery over time. However, common EU rules should be applied to avoid preferential treatment for national industries. See figure for a sketch of how such state funds could work.
Electricity affordability is required to ensure public support. National funds could smooth cost recovery over time. However, common EU rules should be applied to avoid preferential treatment for national industries. See figure for a sketch of how such state funds could work.
February 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Fair cost recovery ⚖️
Electricity affordability is required to ensure public support. National funds could smooth cost recovery over time. However, common EU rules should be applied to avoid preferential treatment for national industries. See figure for a sketch of how such state funds could work.
Electricity affordability is required to ensure public support. National funds could smooth cost recovery over time. However, common EU rules should be applied to avoid preferential treatment for national industries. See figure for a sketch of how such state funds could work.
Cross-border transmission 🔗
More interconnection = better renewable integration + lower costs, BUT, the people paying aren’t always the ones benefiting.
Expanding EU funding to address cross-border distributional issues could speed up strategic project deployment.
More interconnection = better renewable integration + lower costs, BUT, the people paying aren’t always the ones benefiting.
Expanding EU funding to address cross-border distributional issues could speed up strategic project deployment.
February 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Cross-border transmission 🔗
More interconnection = better renewable integration + lower costs, BUT, the people paying aren’t always the ones benefiting.
Expanding EU funding to address cross-border distributional issues could speed up strategic project deployment.
More interconnection = better renewable integration + lower costs, BUT, the people paying aren’t always the ones benefiting.
Expanding EU funding to address cross-border distributional issues could speed up strategic project deployment.
Regulation 📜
Network regulation should encourage network companies to invest in the most efficient solutions.
Current regulatory approaches may favour traditional capital expenditure, potentially missing innovative operational solutions.
Network regulation should encourage network companies to invest in the most efficient solutions.
Current regulatory approaches may favour traditional capital expenditure, potentially missing innovative operational solutions.
February 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Regulation 📜
Network regulation should encourage network companies to invest in the most efficient solutions.
Current regulatory approaches may favour traditional capital expenditure, potentially missing innovative operational solutions.
Network regulation should encourage network companies to invest in the most efficient solutions.
Current regulatory approaches may favour traditional capital expenditure, potentially missing innovative operational solutions.
Independent planning 📊
Proper investment needs assessment is a prerequisite for efficient spending.
Local and national level planning should be complemented by independent pan-EU assessments.
First-best solution would be for an EU Independent System Operator (ISO) to perform such assessments.
Proper investment needs assessment is a prerequisite for efficient spending.
Local and national level planning should be complemented by independent pan-EU assessments.
First-best solution would be for an EU Independent System Operator (ISO) to perform such assessments.
February 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Independent planning 📊
Proper investment needs assessment is a prerequisite for efficient spending.
Local and national level planning should be complemented by independent pan-EU assessments.
First-best solution would be for an EU Independent System Operator (ISO) to perform such assessments.
Proper investment needs assessment is a prerequisite for efficient spending.
Local and national level planning should be complemented by independent pan-EU assessments.
First-best solution would be for an EU Independent System Operator (ISO) to perform such assessments.
Network layers 🔌
The majority of grid investment will happen at the distribution layer, although transmission, offshore and cross-border are still significant. Appropriate financing sources and cost recovery approaches depend on the network type.
The majority of grid investment will happen at the distribution layer, although transmission, offshore and cross-border are still significant. Appropriate financing sources and cost recovery approaches depend on the network type.
February 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Network layers 🔌
The majority of grid investment will happen at the distribution layer, although transmission, offshore and cross-border are still significant. Appropriate financing sources and cost recovery approaches depend on the network type.
The majority of grid investment will happen at the distribution layer, although transmission, offshore and cross-border are still significant. Appropriate financing sources and cost recovery approaches depend on the network type.
Investment needs and current levels 💰
While huge grid investment over a sustained period is required, tens of billions of euros are flowing into electricity transmission and distribution in the EU and neighbouring countries.
While huge grid investment over a sustained period is required, tens of billions of euros are flowing into electricity transmission and distribution in the EU and neighbouring countries.
February 18, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Investment needs and current levels 💰
While huge grid investment over a sustained period is required, tens of billions of euros are flowing into electricity transmission and distribution in the EU and neighbouring countries.
While huge grid investment over a sustained period is required, tens of billions of euros are flowing into electricity transmission and distribution in the EU and neighbouring countries.