After completing the module, students will be familiar with the legal framework regulating the European electricity, gas and hydrogen markets. They understand the legal particularities of the highly regulated sector with a focus on the regulatory tools implemented to achieve the sustainable energy transition.  Additionally, students will learn how to critically analyze the legal provisions, legislative procedures and possible impact on the markets in order to align business models with legal requirements and to develop new business models based on an upcoming legal framework. Based on case-studies and active group discussion, students gain an understanding of the roles, rights and obligations of the various economic operators. The module also provides an understanding of funding possibilities for renewable energies and other business ideas supporting the energy transition. Students complete the module with an academic paper which provides the opportunity to practice consistent written argumentation based on thorough analysis of reliable primary and secondary sources. 

Content:

• Basic vocabulary of the energy industries: Transition System Operator (TSO)/Distribution System Operator (DSO); capacity, supplier, smart-metering, Declaration of Origin etc. 
• Main goals of European and national energy policy: Sustainability, security of supply, effective competition
• Implementation of policy goals in legislative acts
• Unbundling of traditionally vertically integrated undertakings to achieve effective competition
• Network access and price regulation 
• Upcoming regulation of the hydrogen market
• European Emission Trading System (ETS)
• Citizens Energy Communities
• Energy trading
• Diversification of energy sources
• Energy efficiency
• Funding of business ideas and European state aid law

Methods: 

• Basics of legal methodology 
• Introduction to European energy law and the process of legislation
• Deep-dive into the linkage between business strategy and legal reality
•  Group work on case studies

Teaching methods: 

•  Seminary classses
• Group work
•  Case studies
• Blended learning
• Supervised module paper
• Possible excursion

Great importance is given to practical application  of the course content. Thus, students systematically learn how to deal with the relevant legal sources and, at the same time, how to make use of the possibilities provided by the law.

Literature: 

• Kim Talus, Introduction to EU Energy Law, 2016, Oxford University Press
• Raphael J. Heffron, Energy Law: An Introduction, 2021, Springer Link

Further literature will be announced in the beginning of the semester