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Regulation Working Group

Find out more about the goals, activities and publications of this Working Group


The Regulation Working Group was established to promote knowledge-sharing among projects addressing diverse regulatory aspects in the energy domain. The WG directs its efforts towards two key topics:

  • Regulatory Framework for Energy Storage – it focuses on establishing a regulatory framework with clear rules and responsibilities for ownership, competition, technical modalities, and financial conditions in both island and mainland cases within the energy storage sector
  • Regulatory Challenges in Smart Grids – it addresses regulatory challenges related to incentives for demand-side response, commercial arrangements, cooperation with Transmission System Operators (TSO) and Distribution System Operators (DSO), smart meter data, etc., within the smart grids sector.

To achieve these objectives, the Regulatory Working Group is organized into several Actions:

  • Improve Market Access for Consumers - Identifies regulatory barriers hindering the valorization of flexibility to propose viable solutions, enhancing market access for consumers.
  • Peer-to-Peer and Energy Sharing - Explores the role of energy sharing in the overall market design.
    Energy and Flexibility Market Coordination and Integration - Identifies barriers in market design that impede an integrated and coordinated market in Europe
  • Supporting Sector Coupling - Explores potential synergies arising from increased sector coupling/sector integration/system integration, aiming to understand and address regulatory barriers limiting its potential.
  • Supporting System Operators for 2030 - Examines innovative strategies needed to advance network planning and operation tools, supporting system operators in preparing the grid for the year 2030.
  • Understanding Regulatory Barriers for Data Spaces - Collaborates closely with the Data Management and Business Models Working Groups to comprehend and address regulatory barriers in support of data spaces.

 

For more information about this Working Group, please contact secretariat@horizon-bridge.eu

Chair:

José Pablo Chaves Ávila

Co-Chair:

Karine Laffont-Eloire

Latest reports and documents

Annual report 2024 - 2025 - Regulation
(October 2025) This report, written by the Regulation Working Group, provides an overview of the collaborative efforts of the WG during the 2025/2024 period. It focuses on different topics that have been addressed, resulting in most cases in specific reports that can be shared not only within the BRIDGE community but also with a larger audience. The WG defines the most important regulatory challenges to be addressed, proposes best practices from the BRIDGE projects, and formulates recommendations for policymakers.
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English
(2.99 MB - PDF)
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Supporting potential synergies from increased sector coupling, sector integration and system integration - Regulation
(July 2025) This report underlines the role of sector coupling and system integration in achieving a climate-neutral European energy system, highlighting findings from BRIDGE Action 4. Drawing on evidence from over 30 EU-funded projects, it identifies a shift from primarily technical barriers (like data interoperability and privacy) toward more structural and institutional ones. Persistent challenges include fragmented regulations, inconsistent permitting, and the lack of harmonised market mechanisms. While progress is visible, systemic barriers continue to limit the large-scale deployment of integrated energy systems.
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English
(1.7 MB - PDF)
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Report on energy sharing - Regulation
(July 2025) This report highlights the state of energy sharing (collective self-consumption) across the EU, noting that only a few member states currently have functional frameworks. It reviews recent EU reforms under the Electricity Market Design to operationalize energy sharing, the work of BRIDGE Action 2 in assessing peer-to-peer trading and community energy, and findings from 15 national reviews. While progress is advanced in countries like Portugal, France, Spain, Italy, and Austria, many others are still developing frameworks. Overall, Europe is moving positively toward supportive regulation, with knowledge-sharing seen as crucial to ensure fair and effective adoption.
Other links
English
(2.54 MB - PDF)
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