The following provides summaries of the research in progress by staff of the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. The Institute’s unique multidisciplinary expertise allows it to examine the economics, the politics and the sociology of energy with a focus on oil and natural gas.
The specific subjects of research in progress, while set within these broad lines, necessarily reflects the particular research capacities, skills and interests of the research fellows.
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This paper contains a macroeconomic assessment of flexibility provision to integrate large shares of variable renewable energy sources into a power system. In particular, macroeconomic implications of investments in power transmission and distribution grid infrastructure in Germany are assessed. Modifications and restructuring of the German power system are aiming at sustainability, security of supply and […]
This research aims to examine whether natural gas can and will become a much more substantial energy source in Taiwan. An assessment will be conducted on Taiwan’s policy and regulatory frameworks for market liberalisation, LNG trade and energy innovation (especially biogas, biomethane, Power-to-Gas (P2G) and other storage technologies). It seeks to anticipate new patterns in […]
Decarbonisation, decentralisation and digitalisation are three major pillars reshaping electricity systems; enabling consumers to monetise their flexible load and optimise their consumption, without necessarily sacrificing their comfort; with smart infrastructures, assisting utilities to improve their operational efficiency; and promoting active grid management by distribution system operators. However, existing market design and regulation has developed in […]
Probably the biggest challenge to the energy sector is the recurrent issue of energy law stimulating investment in the energy sector. It is critical to where the energy sector will stand in 2040 and whether society can meet its aims of less than a 2°C increase. It is expected that the actual financial resources are […]
Economic diversification has been a continuous topic of debate in the MENA economies. However, of late a sense of urgency has arisen around it due to two factors; rapid structural changes in global oil markets and structural shifts in oil trade flows, and, assertions around ‘peak demand’ with the world on the brink of another […]
Confronted with slowing demand for crude oil, NOCs are increasingly diversifying from the upstream and investing in the downstream sector both in their home markets and in consuming countries to ensure market share. Already more than 75 percent of Gulf NOC oil exports are destined for Asian markets, and more than 70 percent of new […]
It is often implied that economic adjustments and structural reforms are very difficult in the context of rentier economies. Yet recent experience shows that in response to the declines in oil price and uncertainties surrounding oil markets, GCC countries have been able to introduce some limited reforms with relative ease and, so far, without much […]
India’s oil demand has surged, with transportation accounting for 40% of this. It is the world’s sixth largest car market, with over 3 million units sold in 2016. From 2010-15, car sales have been increasing by around 2 million units annually, with the majority of new sales going to fleet expansion. Unlike developed markets where […]
Following record high oil demand growth in 2015 (303,000 b/d) and 2016 (380,000 b/d), India’s demand growth in 2017 has been variable, falling by 89,000 b/d in the first quarter, recovering to 103,000 b/d in the second quarter, and witnessing the largest drop since 2003 in August, before recovering in September. Barring widespread flooding in […]
The Helm Review of The Cost of Energy (which in practice focused on electricity) was published in October 2017. It contained a penetrating analysis of the political and technical challenges facing the UK electricity industry and a number of radical proposals for reform. In doing so it raised some fundamental issues about the industry’s future, […]
Auctions are increasingly being used for the procurement of new services and resources within electricity systems. For instance, auctions are now a standard means of promoting renewables; capacity auctions are being introduced in many countries; tenders for specialised services (like black start and frequency response) are commonly employed by grid operators; and the recent Helm […]
It is well accepted that markets are the most effective arena for organising productive activities. In the liberalisation of electricity sectors the role for government was envisioned as that of the “night watchman” that intervenes in the market only when the latter fails to allocate scare resources efficiently or when the operation of the market […]
New OIES paper - Northern Europe case study: Changes in environmental regulations and completion of supply chains d… https://t.co/zWRJ6JBnu0
January 15th
LNG Supply Chains and the Development of LNG as a Shipping Fuel in Northern Europe https://t.co/xEzBVMV3Ih
January 15th
Jonathan Stern on Gazprom’s Electronic Sales Platform (ESP): What ESP illustrates is that Gazprom has bought into… https://t.co/OErAf32Rep
January 11th
