SERN
The Sustainable Energy Regulation Network (SERN) facilitates exchange of experience and knowledge between regulators and government officials on policy and regulatory mechanisms that promote and accelerate the development of sustainable energy. SERN is co-ordinated by researchers at University College London - Energy Institute (UK).
The SERN aims to:
- secure greater understanding of the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy amongst energy regulators and government departments;
- secure regulatory mechanisms (e.g. price controls, network development incentives etc) that incentivise energy efficiency, renewable energy and distributed generation.
SERN activities include:
- This communication facility which acts as a focal and link point for information on renewable energy, energy efficiency and distributed generation geared to the needs of energy regulators and others with an interest in energy regulation.
- A course on sustainable energy and regulation and case studies of regulation as it affects sustainable energy has been developed as a training package (see http://africa-toolkit.reeep.org/)
- Literature and web reviews and a glossary of key terms in sustainable energy regulation (see “publications”).
- The coordination of a policy and regulatory review (the 2010 edition covers more than 160 countries, see “publications” or the Policy Database ONLINE); some major countries have been updated in 2011.
- Facilitating contacts between regulators and policy makers.
- Running training courses, seminars and other events in collaboration with REEEP regional secretariats, REEEP partners and others.
SERN newsletter is disseminated to more than 900 individuals from energy regulatory agencies, government departments, consultants, academics and other stakeholders with an interest in regulation. Members are drawn from all continents.
SERN works with the main associations of regulators of the energy sector in African countries, Caribbean countries and South Asia. SERN also develops links with funding agencies, regional energy organisations and energy NGOs.
Key SERN activities in 2006-11 included:
Publications
- Policy and regulation review, fifth edition published – this document outlines policy frameworks, regulatory institutions and mechanisms relevant to renewable energy and energy efficiency, country by country in several regions – Latin America, Central America and the Caribbean; the whole African continent; South Asia; Russia and the former Soviet Union; Central and Eastern Europe; Middle East, Asia Pacific and Australasia.
- The fourth edition of the policy and regulation review included a special report on India and Indian states launched at the World Forum of Energy Regulators in Athens in October 2009, and a special report on China, launched at Wilton Park in June 2010.
- SERN newsletters and interviews – with a focus on various regions covered by REEEP
- SERN literature reviews – these reviews present a selection of important documents and websites on regulation and sustainable energy.
Capacity building
- SERN has participated at the World Forum on Energy Regulation III, in Washington, October 2006, and at the WFER IV in Athens, October 2009, and will participate at the next WFER V in Quebec City, May 2012.
- Lecture at the 15th Commission on Sustainable Development – Learning Centre, United Nations, New York, 8 May 2007.
- Participation in two IEA Expert meetings on Global Best Practice in Renewable Energy Policy in Paris, June 2007 and Berlin, October 2007.
- SERN and the REEEP regional secretariat collaborated with the Eastern Europe Energy Regulators Regional Association ERRA, to organize a workshop on "guarantees of origin" in Budapest, June 2006, and a workshop on "regulating for distributed energy" in Budapest, July 2007.
- SERN made a presentation at the OOCUR – Organization of Caribbean Utility Regulators - General Assembly in Georgetown, Guyana November 2007 and in Barbados, November 2011 and also at a CARICOM expert meeting on harmonized legislation for the reform of the electricity sector in Dominica, February 2008.
- Collaboration with World Resources Institute (WRI), Asian Development Bank and others on a workshop on Clean Energy, Good Governance and Regulation for regulators from SE and South Asia, in Singapore in March 2008 and in Johannesburg, May 2010.
- Leonardo Energy Webinar on "Off-Grid Regulation: how to provide cost-effective and sustainable rural energy services in remote areas of developing countries," given in May 2009.
- Workshop on Policy and Regulation for Energy Efficiency in Southern Africa organised by SERN and REEEP Southern Africa Regional Secretariat in Johannesburg, in July 2009.
- Workshop on Feed-in Tariff in Africa with more than 120 participants, organised by SERN and REEEP Southern Africa Regional Secretariat in Johannesburg in November 2010.
- Workshop on Energy Efficiency and workshop on Feed-in Tariff organised as side-events of the Asian Development Bank & WRI Asian Clean Energy Forum, in Manila in June 2011.
Support to specific projects
- Input to a UNIDO-REEEP training course for regulators in Africa on sustainable energy issues. The course is now made available as a CD-ROM training package for African institutions and on-line at http://toolkits.reeep.org/
- Advisor on a REEEP funded project on off-grid regulation and rural electrification with solar photovoltaic ESCOs in Africa; advices on a REEEP project on feed-in tariff in Namibia,...
- Expertise provided for a GOF – TERI Project on a “Framework for Renewable Energy Certificate System in Maharashtra”. This follows a similar REEEP project lead by TERI with SERN in 2006 on “Capacity Building for Regulators and Policy Makers in Andhra Pradesh” and contributed to the implementation of green certificates in India.
Research/Documentation/Policy advisor
SERN works as a research/resource centre on the implementation of policies and regulatory mechanisms to promote sustainable electricity in the specific context of developing countries. SERN acts as advisor to integrate sustainable energy in energy policies and regulatory frameworks mainly at the request of governments or regulatory bodies in three fields.
- On-grid regulation
Mechanisms and policies to support on-grid connection RET include notably targeted feed-in tariff laws or green certificates markets. The conditions of success of these policies are now well documented.
- Off-grid regulation
SERN has developed a good knowledge on how to implement off-grid regulation and institutions adapted to the diffusion of stand-alone and mini-grid systems with renewable energy technologies.
- Energy efficiency
Energy efficiency measures are considered as the most cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions. Some countries have accumulated a lot of experience in this field (labels and standards, energy audits, white certificates, Demand-Side management programmes) and SERN can put interested regulatory bodies in relation with energy efficiency experts.
Contact:
Sustainable Energy Regulation Network (SERN)
Dr Xavier Lemaire
University College London -Energy Institute
Central House - 14 Upper Woburn Place
London WC1H 0NN
United Kingdom
Email: xavier.lemaire@reeep.org