The government has identified energy as one of its priority issues in the upcoming negotiations about the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the Republic of Ireland. The government states that “specific, early, consideration” must be given to the single energy market (SEM), which covers the whole island of Ireland, in a position paper published by the Department for Exiting the European Union (Dexeu) earlier this week. The SEM, set up following the signing of the Good Friday peace agreement, has allowed electricity generators to compete in a unified wholesale market across the island of Ireland since 2007. In its position paper, Dexeu says that any post-Brexit framework should “facilitate the continuation” of the SEM, which it describes as “by far the best option for the electricity market in Northern Ireland,” given the size and isolation of the province.
Utility Week 25th Aug 2017 read more »