Jérôme à Paris

Jérôme à Paris focuses on energy policy, specifically highlighting the intricacies of offshore wind energy, the mechanisms such as Contracts for Difference to support renewable energy, the economic and political challenges in the sector, and the impact of government decisions on energy pricing and market dynamics.

Energy Policy Renewable Energy Offshore Wind Energy Government Regulations Energy Economics Market Dynamics Energy Auctions

Top posts of the year

And their main takeaways

How utilities and big oil broke the economic model of offshore wind

1069 implied HN points • 29 Oct 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Renewable Energy Regulation Energy Policy Market Dynamics Corporate strategy
  1. Offshore wind is struggling right now because many companies are trying to sell their projects but are facing lower prices and high costs. Competition has dropped as big companies pushed out smaller players.
  2. Big utilities tried to regain control of the market through lobbying and moving into new areas, but this led to financial misjudgments and a bubble that has now burst, causing many to exit offshore wind.
  3. Despite the current challenges, offshore wind can still be a viable energy source especially in Europe, as countries look to create fair competition and avoid barriers that exclude smaller developers.

Suggestions to reform the German electricity market

534 implied HN points • 19 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy Climate change Renewable Energy
  1. Germany needs to redesign its electricity market to make it more efficient and environmentally friendly. This means achieving reliable power delivery at the lowest cost while reducing carbon emissions.
  2. Renewable energy sources should not get special treatment, as they can already produce power at low costs. Instead, the focus should be on balancing supply and demand effectively without unnecessary subsidies.
  3. Smart meters must be rolled out faster to help households adjust their energy use and production. This would allow them to save money and contribute to a more stable electricity system.

Some early lessons of 2024 in the energy sector

510 implied HN points • 24 Dec 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Energy Renewables Policy Investments Market Trends
  1. Solar energy is growing really fast, leading to more electricity than we often need, causing prices to drop sometimes.
  2. Energy storage is becoming super important to handle all the extra solar power, but keeping up with the growth is tricky.
  3. Despite talk of a big rise in energy demand, actual usage is mostly stable or even going down in many places, especially in Europe.

Energy policy, politics, facts and narratives

461 implied HN points • 21 Jan 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Energy Policy Political narratives Public Opinion Corporate Influence Environmental Issues
  1. People often join groups that share their ideas, which can limit their understanding of complex topics like energy policy. It's easy to get stuck in a mindset when everyone around you thinks the same way.
  2. The energy sector is changing rapidly, leading to fear and uncertainty. Many are used to traditional energy sources and don't know how to adapt to newer options like electric vehicles, which can create hesitation.
  3. The ongoing debate about energy often reflects larger issues of fairness and efficiency. Some believe new solutions will benefit everyone, while others worry about being left behind or losing out.

Tariff design and LCOE

267 implied HN points • 10 Feb 25
💰 Finance Market design Investment strategy Risk Assessment
  1. Contracts for Difference (CfDs) let wind projects offer lower prices compared to Corporate Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). This is because CfDs reduce the perceived risk for lenders.
  2. Merchant projects that sell directly on the spot market are risky and harder to finance. Investors need to bet on high and unstable prices to make profits, which might not always work out.
  3. Using CfDs provides more price stability for consumers compared to relying solely on PPAs. This helps ensure lower and more predictable electricity costs over time.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

Two podcasts

72 implied HN points • 18 Feb 25
🎙 Podcasts Media Education Entertainment Finance Environment
  1. I recently spoke at two different events: one about offshore wind finance and another on renewable energy investment.
  2. The presentation on offshore wind finance can be found on YouTube, but it's in French.
  3. The podcast on renewable energy investment is available in English and discusses how investors can approach this market.