The cost of energy impacts, among other factors, the competitiveness of industries and economies. The price paid by industrial consumers is not a direct derivative of wholesale market fundamentals but contains various additional elements such as the cost of current and future infrastructure (network and possibly generation), taxes and policy levies (and exemptions from them). High fossil gas prices - especially in electricity systems with insufficient flexibility – together with policy levies allocated on electricity is a key barrier to the electrification of industries. Electrification that is the key vehicle of decarbonisation and energy efficiency. How to create competitive industries in the CEE region in an environment of high and volatile energy prices? What are the necessary conditions for industrial electrification?

At the conference we:

• focused on the role of energy price in industrial competitiveness, including wholesale price formation, accessibility and cost of networks, and policy choices on levies;
• showcased strategies of energy-intensive industries to maintain their competitiveness; and
• delved into technology and policy solutions to increase the competitiveness of CEE businesses.

Speakers:

• Viktor Horváth, Deputy State Secretary for Energy Transition in the Ministry for Energy of Hungary

• Tom Howes, Adviser to the Director for Green transition and market regulation, European Commission, DG ENER (online)

• András Mezősi, Senior research associate, REKK
• Georg Zachmann, Senior fellow, Bruegel

Industrial decarbonization panel:

• Introductory presentation: Jacek Truszczyński, European Commission, Deputy Head of Unit for Net Zero Industries, DG GROW (online)
• Szilárd Korhetz, Head of Business Development at ALTEO

• Gergely Garai, Plant manager, Holcim Hungary

• Michał Smoleń, Head of Energy and Climate Program, Polish Economic Institute

• Moderator: Balázs Felsmann, REKK

Grid development and electrification panel:

• Introductory presentation: Zsuzsanna Pató, Principle at RAP

• Tomáš Šipoš, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Západoslovenská distribučná, a.s.

• Luca Lo Schiavo, Senior Regulatory Specialist at ERRA

• Bram Buijs, Team leader Grid Strategy at Alliander (online)

• Moderator: Zsuzsanna Pató, Principle at RAP