Brexit and Article 50 of the Treaty of the European Union: Implications for UK Energy Policy and Security

Augustine O. Ifelebuegu, Kenneth E. Aidelojie and Elijah Acquah-Andoh
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Augustine O. Ifelebuegu: School of Energy, Construction and Environment, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
Kenneth E. Aidelojie: Department of Energy and Procurement, GSM London, Plymouth University, London SE1 4LG, UK
Elijah Acquah-Andoh: School of Energy, Construction and Environment, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-15

Abstract: This paper articulates the potential implications of Brexit on energy policy and security in the United Kingdom (UK). Given the uncertainties associated with the decision to leave the European Union (EU), the need to consider its potential effects on the UK’s energy sector becomes even more pertinent. Through the lens of a few widely reviewed trade regimes in the light of Brexit, it can be observed that while UK energy policies are unlikely to change drastically, Brexit nevertheless threatens the UK’s capacity to safeguard its energy supply. The uncertainties following Brexit could arguably starve the UK’s upstream petroleum, electricity, and renewable energy sectors of their required investments. Both short and long-term impacts could result in UK residents paying more per unit of energy consumed in a “hard Brexit” scenario, where the UK exits the Internal Energy Market (IEM) and must trade with the EU under World Trade Organisation rules. While a hard Brexit could aid the growth of the nascent shale gas industry, a negotiated withdrawal that includes some form of access to the IEM (a “soft Brexit”) would be more beneficial for the future of energy security in the UK.

Keywords: BREXIT; UK; energy policy; European Union (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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