Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics

Working Papers,
University of Aarhus, Aarhus School of Business, Department of Economics

No 02-11: CO2 trade and market power in the EU electricity sector

Gert Tinggaard Svendsen () and Morten Vesterdal
Additional contact information
Gert Tinggaard Svendsen: Department of Economics, Aarhus School of Business, Postal: The Aarhus School of Business, Prismet, Silkeborgvej 2, DK 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
Morten Vesterdal: Atel Trading, Switzerland

Abstract: The EU commission is planning to launch an emission trading market for greenhouse gases within near future. This to meet its obligations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol. After a theoretical discussion on market power in such a market, we turn to the empirical evidence which suggests that a reasonable number of sources of CO2 emissions in the power sector exists for boilers larger than 25MW. Overall, together with the contestable single market for electricity, the risk of significant strategic behaviour seems negligible. Thus, the electric utility sector seems a suitable testing ground for an EU-scheme of emissions trading. In the longer run, it will be important to broaden the scope of the trading scheme as the inclusion of other sectors will further limit the risk of market power.

Keywords: European Union; energy economics and policy; greenhouse gases; CO2; permit market; market power; Kyoto protocol; electricity sector

JEL-codes: H20; H40; Q28

17 pages, May 7, 2002

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02-11_gts.pdf PDF-file 

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