Carbon Price instead of Support Schemes: Wind Power Investments by the Electricity Market

Authors

Marie Petitet, Dominique Finon, Tanguy Janssen

Abstract

This paper studies wind power development within electricity markets with a significant carbon price as the sole incentive. Simulation of electricity market and investment decisions by System Dynamics modelling is used to trace the evolution of the electricity generation mix over a 20-year period from an initially thermal system. A range of carbon prices is tested to determine the value above which market-driven development of wind power becomes economically possible. This requires not only economic competitiveness in terms of cost-price, but also profitability versus traditional fossil-fuel technologies. Results stress that wind power is profitable for investors only if the carbon price is significantly higher than the price required for making wind power MWh’s cost-price competitive on the basis of levelized costs. In this context, the market-driven development of wind power seems only possible if there is a strong commitment to climate policy, reflected in a stable and high carbon price. Moreover, marketdriven development of wind power becomes more challenging if nuclear is part of investment options.

The Energy Journal, Vol. 37, No. 4, 2016