@inbook{04a03cd207ed425696b7f35b3f0aa745,
title = "Prosumers: New actors in EU energy security",
abstract = "This chapter critically analyses the new challenges and opportunities that prosumers, as new energy actors, bring to achieving energy security goals in the context of the European Union (EU). Following trends in the EU towards new levels of cooperation in energy governance, decentralisation, and the emergence of a {\textquoteleft}gig{\textquoteright} economy, the energy sector is currently undergoing a large-scale transition. One of its core aspects is the progressive top-down diffusion of potential, competences, and leverage across the energy value chain from states and corporate actors towards prosumers. While this trend creates ample potential for facilitating and improving the EU{\textquoteright}s security of supply, as well as fulfilling its climate change targets, several caveats exist. These caveats are not confined within energy security prerogatives; they also extend to the critical management of digital security, which the digitalisation of energy services brings to the fore. Private and public finance should be effectively attracted and directed to infrastructure schemes that will enable a transition from the traditional centralised power network to the decentralised nexus of smart grids. Technology will play a crucial role in facilitating the role of prosumers in the new market in the making.",
keywords = "Climate change, Decentralisation, European Union, Gig economy, Prosumers, Renewable energy, Security",
author = "Rafael Leal-Arcas and Feja Lesniewska and Filippos Proedrou",
note = "Funding Information: Introduction........................................................................................................................ 140 Drivers of Change ............................................................................................................. 142 5.2.1 Energy Security Challenges ................................................................................... 142 5.2.2 Climate Change and Sustainable Development..................................................... 143 5.2.3 The {\textquoteleft}Gig{\textquoteright} Economy and New Technologies ......................................................... 145 EU Energy Law Reform: Decentralisation ....................................................................... 148 Rafael Leal-Arcas, Jean Monnet Chaired Professor in EU International Economic Law and Professor of Law, Queen Mary University of London (Centre for Commercial Law Studies); Visiting Scholar, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, United Arab Emirates; Member, Madrid Bar; Ph.D., European University Institute; J.S.M., Stanford Law School; LL.M., Columbia Law School; M.Phil., London School of Economics and Political Science; J.D., Granada University; B.A., Granada University. The financial help from two EU grants is greatly acknowledged: Jean Monnet Chair in EU International Economic Law (project number 575061-EPP-1-2016-1-UK-EPPJMO-CHAIR) and the WiseGRID project (number 731205), funded by Horizon 2020. I am grateful to two anonymous reviewers for excellent suggestions to a previous version of this article. Feja Lesniewska, Senior Teaching Fellow, Climate Change and Energy Law, School of Law, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London; PhD., SOAS, University of London; M.A., International and Comparative Legal Studies, SOAS, University of London; M.Sc., Human Ecology, University of Edinburgh; M.A., (Hons) Economic and Social History, University of Edinburgh. Filippos Proedrou, Research Fellow in Social Policy (International Affairs), University of South Wales; Ph.D., Democritus University of Thrace; M.A., University of Warwick; B.A., Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. Research assistance of Bernardo Rangoni, funded by Horizon 2020, is acknowledged. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018, T.M.C. ASSER PRESS and the authors.",
year = "2018",
doi = "10.1007/978-94-6265-243-9_5",
language = "English (US)",
series = "Netherlands Yearbook of International Law",
publisher = "T.M.C. Asser Press",
pages = "139--172",
booktitle = "Netherlands Yearbook of International Law",
address = "Netherlands",
}