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The private and social value of British electrical interconnectors

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  • Newbery, David
  • Gissey, Giorgio Castagneto
  • Guo, Bowei
  • Dodds, Paul E.

Abstract

Interconnectors have value for Britain, providing access to cheaper Continental power, security of supply, and managing increased renewables, prompting proposals for substantial new interconnectors. The EU Target Electricity Model requires interconnector market coupling via Day Ahead and IntraDay Markets. We examine the efficiency and value of uncoupled and coupled trading for the four DC interconnectors to GB, over different timescales from year ahead to intraday, and the social costs and benefits not reflected in the private benefits. Because the GB carbon tax is not replicated abroad it transfers some €65 m./yr to the foreign interconnector part-owners and creates distortions when trade flows change. IFA and BritNed have a commercial value of about €500 million/yr, create additional infra-marginal surplus of €25 m./yr, but suffer €30 m./yr deadweight loss from the asymmetric GB carbon tax. The island of Ireland was coupled in Oct 2018, dramatically reducing trading inefficiency. While further investment in interconnectors appears socially profitable, it is important to harmonise carbon taxes across the EU. If GB leaves the EU and is uncoupled, some of these trading gains would be sacrificed, but other financial markets may alleviate the cost of Brexit, making policies to enhance liquidity desirable.

Suggested Citation

  • Newbery, David & Gissey, Giorgio Castagneto & Guo, Bowei & Dodds, Paul E., 2019. "The private and social value of British electrical interconnectors," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:133:y:2019:i:c:s0301421519304744
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.110896
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    Cited by:

    1. Do, Hung Xuan & Nepal, Rabindra & Jamasb, Tooraj, 2020. "Electricity market integration, decarbonisation and security of supply: Dynamic volatility connectedness in the Irish and Great Britain markets," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 92(C).
    2. Liu, Y. & Jiang, Z. & Guo, B., 2021. "Assessing China's Provincial Electricity Spot Market Pilot Operations: Lessons from the Guangdong Province," Cambridge Working Papers in Economics 2165, Faculty of Economics, University of Cambridge.
    3. MacIver, Callum & Bukhsh, Waqquas & Bell, Keith R.W., 2021. "The impact of interconnectors on the GB electricity sector and European carbon emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    4. Montoya, L.G. & Guo, B. & Newbery, D. & Dodds, P.E. & Lipman, G. & Castagneto Gissey, G., 2020. "Measuring inefficiency in international electricity trading," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    5. Chyong, Chi Kong & Newbery, David, 2022. "A unit commitment and economic dispatch model of the GB electricity market – Formulation and application to hydro pumped storage," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    6. Mezősi, András & Kácsor, Enikő & Diallo, Alfa, 2023. "Projects of common interest? Evaluation of European electricity interconnectors," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).
    7. Liu, Yang & Jiang, Zhigao & Guo, Bowei, 2022. "Assessing China’s provincial electricity spot market pilot operations: Lessons from Guangdong province," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Interconnectors; Market coupling; Hedging; Social value;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C54 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric Modeling - - - Quantitative Policy Modeling
    • D40 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - General
    • D44 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Auctions
    • F14 - International Economics - - Trade - - - Empirical Studies of Trade
    • D47 - Microeconomics - - Market Structure, Pricing, and Design - - - Market Design
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies
    • L94 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Transportation and Utilities - - - Electric Utilities
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

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