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The redesign of electricity markets under EU influence: The capacity mechanism in France and Britain

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  • Thomas Reverdy

    (PACTE - Pacte, Laboratoire de sciences sociales - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes - IEPG - Sciences Po Grenoble-UGA - Institut d'études politiques de Grenoble - UGA - Université Grenoble Alpes)

  • Frédéric Marty

    (CIRANO - Centre interuniversitaire de recherche en analyse des organisations [Montréal, Canada] = Center for Interuniversity Research and Analysis on Organizations [Montréal, Canada], OFCE - Observatoire français des conjonctures économiques (Sciences Po) - Sciences Po - Sciences Po, GREDEG - Groupe de Recherche en Droit, Economie et Gestion - UNS - Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - UniCA - Université Côte d'Azur)

  • Ronan Bolton

Abstract

The liberalisation of the electricity sector in Europe has led to a decentralisation of investment decisions to economic actors. A key assumption behind this was that investors make their decisions based on price signals. Ensuring that there is adequate generation capacity in place to meet demand therefore became a function of the market, rather than a central planning authority. Nevertheless, in many countries, the risk of supply failure has led to the implementation of an addition to power markets known as the capacity mechanism. This chapter explains how this market reform was implemented in the UK and France, the political motivations behind it, the mobilisation of economic expertise and the process of validation by the European authorities. It highlights the increasing role of State Aid control in the framing of national regulations, defining the standard for electricity market organisation and conditions for legitimate deviation from the standard.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomas Reverdy & Frédéric Marty & Ronan Bolton, 2021. "The redesign of electricity markets under EU influence: The capacity mechanism in France and Britain," Post-Print halshs-03475634, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-03475634
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-03475634v1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Severin Borenstein & James Bushnell, 2015. "The US Electricity Industry After 20 Years of Restructuring," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 7(1), pages 437-463, August.
    2. Roques, Fabien A., 2008. "Market design for generation adequacy: Healing causes rather than symptoms," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 16(3), pages 171-183, September.
    3. Merethe Dotterud Leiren & Kacper Szulecki & Tim Rayner & Catherine Banet, 2019. "Energy Security Concerns versus Market Harmony: The Europeanisation of Capacity Mechanisms," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(1), pages 92-104.
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