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Please find below the judging results for your proposal.

Finalist Evaluation

Judges'' comments


Thank you for your well thought out and innovative proposal. The parts of the proposal that make it novel (developing fusion energy and thorium-based reactors) probably do not have to be implemented to make this proposal successful, but they might make nuclear more acceptable to the public. Why only tax nuclear fuel; why not heavily tax fossil-based fuel plants to accelerate their phase out? How could this be used to reduce green house gases outside the EU? Also, how about the time and cost overruns of developing nuclear plants? How does this fit in with the current trend of distributed generation and smart grid technologies?

Semi-Finalist Evaluation

Judges'' ratings


Novelty:
Feasibility:
Impact:
Presentation:

Judges'' comments


Thank you for your ambitious proposal. We see two areas of concern: 1. bridging solutions should not be so costly or they are not really a 'bridge' just a redirection of much needed investment and 2. most countries are moving towards more localized distributed solutions as opposed to "super-grids" due to losses from T&D, new business models, and community energy initiatives. Please seek to add more detail and address these concerns for the next round of judging.

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Alexandra Marksteiner

Jun 15, 2016
06:56

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Thank-you for advancing my proposal to the semi-finals. I understand this is a controversial approach; hence, I have sought to add more details and explanation. I've summarized all changes and additions below:

  1. I've altered the allocation of the nuclear fuel tax revenue to direct more funding towards renewable energy infrastructure and the HVDC grid. A pie chart has been added for clarification.
  2. I've tried to explain that the EU will not be subsidizing nuclear energy, but renewables instead. Very little funds will be invested into the bridge technology - at least on the political level.
  3. On the level of the energy sector, I've tried to explain that there is no way of guaranteeing that investment will shift from fossil fuels to renewables without sufficient subsidies. The overarching objective of the EU x ACT Initiative is to supply the necessary funds to finance these subsidies. 
  4. Nuclear energy companies that signal their intent to invest in renewables, alongside running and maintaining their NPPs, will face lower nuclear fuel tax rates. This will ensure that the utilization of a bridge technology doesn't obstruct investment into renewables.
  5. A table summarizing the initiative's costs has been added.
  6. I've also tried to explain that the completion of the European super grid doesn't mean interfere with the adoption of localized initiatives. The HVDC grid would serve to link these local projects, lowering the risks of power outage and making investment into renewables profitable. The two undertakings complement each other, rather than exclude one another.
  7. Information on the miniscule losses from transmission and distribution, regarding HVDC technology, has been added.
  8. I've pointed out that a grid wouldn't only include trans-border but also intra-state links, which are desperately needed - even without the initiative.
  9. It is true that there has been a shift towards local solutions. Hence, I've adopted a strategy similar to the one in the the Paris Agreement: combining top-down ambition with bottom-up flexibility. The EU wouldn't hand out funds but rather award budget contribution breaks. This would allow national and local governments to retain independence. These entities alone would decide on the type of renewable energy infrastructure project and on who gets to carry it out.
  10. I've noted that this initiative would be a huge job creation opportunity.

 

For more information on points #1, #4, #6, #7, #8 and #9, please see the "What actions do you propose?" section.

For more information on points #2, #3 and #5, please see the "costs" section.

Again, thank-you for selecting my proposal as a semi-finalist. I've enjoyed working on this idea a great deal. Thank-you for this opportunity.

Sincerely,

Alexandra