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Quantities vs. Capacities: Minimizing the Social Cost of Renewable Energy Promotion

Author

Listed:
  • Mark Andor
  • Kai Flinkerbusch
  • Achim Voß

Abstract

This article shows how di erent promotion schemes for renewables a ect economic welfare. Given that the abatement of greenhouse gases is optimally internalized by taxes or emissions trading, our starting point is that the external benefits from renewable energy promotion are not related to actual electricity generation, but to producing and installing capacity. We argue that generation-based subsidies such as feed-in tari s and bonus payments can only be a second-best solution. Our model framework allows us to explain how these second-best instruments cause welfare losses in an environment of volatile demand. We postulate that capacity payments for renewables should be implemented in order to avoid unnecessary social costs.

Suggested Citation

  • Mark Andor & Kai Flinkerbusch & Achim Voß, "undated". "Quantities vs. Capacities: Minimizing the Social Cost of Renewable Energy Promotion," Working Papers 201284, Institute of Spatial and Housing Economics, Munster Universitary.
    • Handle: RePEc:muc:wpaper:201284
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    Cited by:

    1. Nagl, Stephan, 2013. "Prices vs. Quantities: Incentives for Renewable Power Generation - Numerical Analysis for the European Power Market," EWI Working Papers 2013-4, Energiewirtschaftliches Institut an der Universitaet zu Koeln (EWI).
    2. Erik Gawel & Alexandra Purkus & Klaas Korte & Paul Lehmann, 2013. "Förderung der Markt- und Systemintegration erneuerbarer Energien: Perspektiven einer instrumentellen Weiterentwicklung," Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung / Quarterly Journal of Economic Research, DIW Berlin, German Institute for Economic Research, vol. 82(3), pages 123-136.
    3. Shariat Torbaghan, Shahab & Müller, Hannah K. & Gibescu, Madeleine & van der Meijden, Mart & Roggenkamp, Martha, 2015. "The legal and economic impacts of implementing a joint feed-in premium support scheme on the development of an offshore grid," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 263-277.
    4. Hu, Jing & Harmsen, Robert & Crijns-Graus, Wina & Worrell, Ernst & van den Broek, Machteld, 2018. "Identifying barriers to large-scale integration of variable renewable electricity into the electricity market: A literature review of market design," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P2), pages 2181-2195.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Renewable Energy Sources; Energy Policy; Promotion Instruments;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q41 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Demand and Supply; Prices
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy
    • H23 - Public Economics - - Taxation, Subsidies, and Revenue - - - Externalities; Redistributive Effects; Environmental Taxes and Subsidies

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