Price and Welfare Effects of Emission Quota Allocation
51 Pages
Posted: 28 Oct 2011
Last revised: 1 Nov 2011
Norwegian University of Life Sciences; Statistics Norway - Research Department
University of Oslo - Frisch Centre
Frisch Centre
Date Written: October 26, 2011
Abstract
We analyze how different ways of allocating emission quotas may influence the electricity market. Using a large-scale numerical model of the Western European energy market, we show that different allocation mechanisms can have very different effects on the electricity market, even if the total emission target is fixed. This is particularly the case if output-based allocation (OBA) of quotas is used. Gas power production is then substantially higher than if quotas are grandfathered. Moreover, the welfare costs of attaining a fixed emission target are significantly higher. The numerical results for OBA are supported by theoretical analysis, with some new results.
Keywords: Quota Market, Electricity Market, Allocation of Quotas
JEL Classification: D61, H23, Q41, Q58
Suggested Citation:
Suggested Citation
Rosendahl, Knut Einar and Golombek, Rolf and Kittelsen, Sverre A.C., Price and Welfare Effects of Emission Quota Allocation (October 26, 2011). USAEE Working Paper No. 11-086. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1949952 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1949952
