Description
On behalf of the Conference of Heads of Government, ARGE ALP commissioned two studies from the Swiss research and consulting company INFRAS on the topic ofenergy supply in Alpine border regions.
In the first study, focusing on 'energy solidarity', the advantages of cross-border cooperation and existing obstacles were highlighted.
The report explores the role of cross-border cooperation in Europe in the context of four fields of action:
- Harmonisation of energy policies
- Integration of electricity markets
- Cooperation on gas supply
- Cooperation in border regions
For each field of action, the report highlights the benefits of cross-border cooperation, such as "more efficient distribution and cost savings", "increased security of supply", "research and innovation" and "synergies between border regions". Existing obstacles, such as "national interests", "regulation of path dependencies", "differences in technology preferences" and "available infrastructure", make it difficult to realise the above-mentioned benefits of cross-border cooperation. Due to these obstacles, the authors make several demands on nation states and the European Union (EU), which are summarised in the report.
The second INFRAS study compares the energy plans and strategies implemented by the various border territories and identifies opportunities for closer cooperation in the event of energy shortages. Alongside all the ARGE ALP territories, the Principality of Liechtenstein also took part in the study.
The study focuses on three priority aspects
- Analysing and comparing the current energy plans and strategies of the 10 ARGE ALP regions (identifying commonalities, differences and contradictions and to what extent the energy plans are already prepared for the future: what concrete measures are being taken to achieve the goal of 'climate neutrality'? What is being done to ensure security of electricity supply)?
- Analysis of regulatory and technical requirements and obstacles for enhancing cross-border energy supply
- In-depth analysis of cross-border cooperation in the event of energy shortages.
The Autonomous Province of Trento ensured active collaboration in the realisation of the studies through the competent energy structure:
Provincial agency for water resources and energy (aprie)
Office for studies and planning of energy resources, Director ing. Sara Verones.