Introduction: EU Energy; Solutions to Energy Security, Sustainability & Competition
By Guy Isherwood, Editor, Commodities Now.

Europe's Energy Challenge
Questions remain over the Commission's ability to deliver.
By Jeremy Wilcox, Energy Partnership.

EU Gas Market - Trading & Infrastructure Development
Wholesale gas trading in Europe continues to develop, but at a slower pace than many traders and new market entrants would like. The only truly liquid trading markets are in the UK and Benelux.
By Nigel Harris, Prospex Research.

EU Energy Policy: In the Name of Security or in the Name of Control?
Over the last year or so, there have been two notable trends affecting energy markets in a number European Member States which give worrying signals for the future of European energy policy. The first consists in the reinforcement of the admittedly long-standing tradition of individual EU Member States establishing bilateral deals with external gas exporting governments. The second in the augmented interference of national governments in the electricity market, by way of the introduction of distorting wholesale price caps or regulated retail tariffs.
By Peter Styles & Ilaria Conti, EFET.

What Hope for Energy Competition?
In the UK, retail energy prices are still rising at the same time as wholesale prices are softening. Whilst this may not go down too well with consumer groups, the power companies have been able to argue that much of their business has been placed forward and, therefore, won't be responding to short-term pricing activity. Instead, they will wait and see if the trends persist, but should prices continue to fall, will they be happy to lower their tariffs?
By Scott Dendy, UKPowerFocus.

Increasing Self-Sufficiency & Reducing Energy Dependency
Higher energy prices have prompted action to reinforce the economic security benefits of diversifying away from imported oil, gas, coal, etc., (notwithstanding possible emission benefits). But increasing energy efficiency has left the Commission with the conundrum of how do we go for these 'low hanging fruit' to help solve our energy dependency?

Europe's Nuclear Options
'Nuclear' has, by and large, been a dirty word over the past two decades. The Chernobyl meltdown of 1986 reignited the safety fears that first surfaced with the Three Mile Island incident of the previous decade. And with the EU energy economy looking to new alternative energy sources as the demand for environmentally sustainable energy gathered momentum, the future for nuclear looked bleak. But growing fears of energy insecurity and the failure to address global warming (emissions increasing since the turn of the century) has put nuclear power generation centre-stage once again.
By Jeremy Wilcox, Energy Partnership.

Development of Biofuels Supply Chain: Are All the Elements in Place?
Since the price for a barrel of oil on the New York market reached a high of US$78.40 (14th July 2006), crude prices have lost 25% of their value. Yes, this phenomenon is a chance to point a finger at the limits of emerging alternative energies. But, it is still far from disputing the many actions that have been taken over the last three years with a view to developing biofuels in Europe.
By Hélène Morin, Energy Department, Agritel.