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Expert survey on capacity markets in the US: Lessons for the EU

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  • Bhagwat, Pradyumna C.
  • de Vries, Laurens J.
  • Hobbs, Benjamin F.

Abstract

We present a survey of US capacity market experts with the purpose of drawing lessons for the EU. Of the respondents, 41% advised EU member states against implementing capacity markets, while the remaining were neutral or provided suggestions for improving capacity markets. Cross-border effects are currently not a concern but may become so in the future. Imports may dampen prices in a capacity market, but neighbouring markets may also experience pressure to implement a capacity market. The capacity markets in the USA were believed to have achieved their goals with respect to reliability, but in an economically inefficient manner.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhagwat, Pradyumna C. & de Vries, Laurens J. & Hobbs, Benjamin F., 2016. "Expert survey on capacity markets in the US: Lessons for the EU," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 11-17.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:38:y:2016:i:c:p:11-17
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2015.11.005
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    Cited by:

    1. Bhagwat, Pradyumna C. & Iychettira, Kaveri K. & Richstein, Jörn C. & Chappin, Emile J.L. & De Vries, Laurens J., 2017. "The effectiveness of capacity markets in the presence of a high portfolio share of renewable energy sources," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 76-91.
    2. Komorowska, Aleksandra & Benalcazar, Pablo & Kaszyński, Przemysław & Kamiński, Jacek, 2020. "Economic consequences of a capacity market implementation: The case of Poland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Bhagwat, Pradyumna C. & Richstein, Jörn C. & Chappin, Emile J.L. & Iychettira, Kaveri K. & De Vries, Laurens J., 2017. "Cross-border effects of capacity mechanisms in interconnected power systems," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 33-47.
    4. Wierzbowski, Michal & Filipiak, Izabela, 2017. "Enhanced operational reserve as a tool for development of optimal energy mix," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 602-615.
    5. Biggar, Darryl R. & Hesamzadeh, Mohammad Reza, 2025. "The capacity market debate: What is the underlying market failure?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    6. S. Oliveira, Fernando & William-Rioux, Bertrand & Pierru, Axel, 2023. "Capacity expansion in liberalized electricity markets with locational pricing and renewable energy investments," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 127(PB).
    7. Bhagwat, Pradyumna C. & Marcheselli, Anna & Richstein, Jörn C. & Chappin, Emile J.L. & De Vries, Laurens J., 2017. "An analysis of a forward capacity market with long-term contracts," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 255-267.
    8. Aryani, Morteza & Ahmadian, Mohammad & Sheikh-El-Eslami, Mohammad-Kazem, 2020. "Designing a regulatory tool for coordinated investment in renewable and conventional generation capacities considering market equilibria," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 279(C).
    9. Wang, Jiahua & Wu, Jiang & Zhou, Yuzhou & Shao, Zhentong, 2025. "Capacity adequacy assessment and pricing for power systems with high penetration of renewable energy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 396(C).
    10. Mastropietro, Paolo & Fontini, Fulvio & Rodilla, Pablo & Batlle, Carlos, 2018. "The Italian capacity remuneration mechanism: Critical review and open questions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 659-669.
    11. Bublitz, Andreas & Keles, Dogan & Zimmermann, Florian & Fraunholz, Christoph & Fichtner, Wolf, 2018. "A survey on electricity market design: Insights from theory and real-world implementations of capacity remuneration mechanisms," Working Paper Series in Production and Energy 27, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Industrial Production (IIP).
    12. Meyabadi, A. Fattahi & Deihimi, M.H., 2017. "A review of demand-side management: Reconsidering theoretical framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 367-379.
    13. Mou, Yuting & Papavasiliou, Anthony & Hartz, Katharina & Dusolt, Alexander & Redl, Christian, 2023. "An analysis of shortage pricing and capacity remuneration mechanisms on the pan-European common energy market," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
    14. Christos K. Simoglou & Pandelis N. Biskas, 2023. "Capacity Mechanisms in Europe and the US: A Comparative Analysis and a Real-Life Application for Greece," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-32, January.
    15. Lo Prete, Chiara & Palmer, Karen & Robertson, Molly, 2024. "Time for a Market Upgrade? A Review of Wholesale Electricity Market Designs for the Future," RFF Reports 24-09, Resources for the Future.
    16. repec:aen:journl:ej38-2-lynch is not listed on IDEAS
    17. Lan, Liuhan & Zhang, Xingping & Ng, Tsan Sheng & Wang, Teng & Tan, Qinliang, 2025. "Bidding behaviors of coal-fired units in China's electricity market considering previous capacity revenues based on prospect theory," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 322(C).
    18. Bartosz Jeżyna & Marcin Lis & Agata Mesjasz-Lech, 2020. "The DSR Scheme in the Capacity Market of Industrial Enterprises in Poland—Participation Determinants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-16, October.
    19. Komorowska, Aleksandra & Kaszyński, Przemysław & Kamiński, Jacek, 2023. "Where does the capacity market money go? Lessons learned from Poland," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    20. Perica Ilak & Lin Herenčić & Ivan Rajšl & Sara Raos & Željko Tomšić, 2021. "Equilibrium Pricing with Duality-Based Method: Approach for Market-Oriented Capacity Remuneration Mechanism," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-19, January.
    21. Bichuch, Maxim & Hobbs, Benjamin F. & Song, Xinyue, 2023. "Identifying optimal capacity expansion and differentiated capacity payments under risk aversion and market power: A financial Stackelberg game approach," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    22. Bublitz, Andreas & Keles, Dogan & Zimmermann, Florian & Fraunholz, Christoph & Fichtner, Wolf, 2019. "A survey on electricity market design: Insights from theory and real-world implementations of capacity remuneration mechanisms," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 1059-1078.
    23. Lo Prete, Chiara & Palmer, Karen & Robertson, Molly, 2025. "Time for a market upgrade? A review of wholesale electricity market designs for the future," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    24. Gallego, Camilo A., 2025. "Marginal price impact under firm energy obligations in capacity remuneration mechanisms: The case of reliability options," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 152(C).
    25. repec:aen:journl:ej38-6-papavasiliou is not listed on IDEAS

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