Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-19DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101990
Clinton J. Levitt, Skylar Lovell
{"title":"Market share, plant ownership, and the merit-order effect of renewable resources: Evidence from Australia’s National Electricity Market","authors":"Clinton J. Levitt, Skylar Lovell","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101990","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101990","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing reliance on wind and solar generation motivates the need to continue investigating their impact on electricity markets. Complications continue to arise because of the ongoing concern about the potential of dominant firms to exert significant market power in electricity markets. This paper aims to empirically investigate whether market power has a mitigating effect on the merit-order effect (MOE) of solar and wind generation and to determine whether changes to pricing policies worked to alleviate any of the mitigating effects. We analyse the New South Wales (NSW) wholesale electricity by analysing market outcomes for each five-minute dispatch auction from 2019 to 2022. Our main conclusion is that there is no substantial empirical evidence supporting the hypothesis that the market power of the dominant firm mitigated the MOE of wind generation over the sample period. The only significant evidence of a mitigating effect was in dispatch intervals in which the dominant firm was a pivotal supplier. Our analysis provides evidence that the dominant firm internalised the potential loss in revenue from coal generation due to the MOE from its wind generation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101990"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144322213","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101987
Meriem Naimi Ait-Aoudia
{"title":"Design and sustainability assessment of water strategy scenarios based on resource carrying capacity and multi-criteria decision-making: the case of Algiers","authors":"Meriem Naimi Ait-Aoudia","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101987","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101987","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In semi-arid countries, water scarcity is one of the leading challenges for urban and regional sustainable development. Urban growth trends and increasing competition for limited natural water resources among different uses and localities have prompted governments to resort to intensive desalination. Taking the case of Algiers Province, this paper examines the possibilities of supporting urban growth through a sustainable urban water intervention strategy in the face of drought threats. To this end, it puts forward an original scenario selection method based on targeted water resource carrying capacity (WRCC) and combined multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques. The research novelty lies in the fact that scenarios are developed by cross-referencing supply and demand scenarios in response to a predefined WRCC. To achieve this, we adopt a scenario approach that focuses on improving the existing water system and adapting it to anticipated growth and drought trends while reducing dependence on conventional water, which is subject to disputes between different uses and localities. Finally, the sustainability assessment of scenarios relies on the use of hybrid MCDM methods, in which Game theory is employed to combine criteria weights. The results indicate that intensive desalination is not a sustainable option and that reducing demand, along with the use of recycled water, can achieve a balance between supply and demand, supporting growth while maintaining efficient management of water resources. The proposed model can help officials and decision-makers plan a sustainable water strategy for drought-prone areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101987"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-16DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101993
Ting Chen , Alina Anapyanova , Frederik Vandenriessche , Hermann de Meer
{"title":"Implementing energy sharing in energy communities: A comparative legal analysis of Austria and Flanders","authors":"Ting Chen , Alina Anapyanova , Frederik Vandenriessche , Hermann de Meer","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101993","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101993","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>EU law empowers Citizen Energy Communities (CECs) and Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) to arrange energy sharing. Transposing the relevant EU law requires more detailed rules to define energy sharing, interpret ownership requirements, set applicable network tariffs, and regulate the charges and conditions imposed by other stakeholders. Austria and Flanders (Belgium) are pioneers in developing legal frameworks for energy communities. This article compares the implementation of energy sharing, highlighting differences in defining the obligations of energy communities, the alignment of interests between community members and suppliers, the application of network tariffs, and the adequacy of regulations regarding supplier-imposed conditions and charges. The comparative analysis reveals that Austria and Flanders face common challenges in ensuring that community members are protected from unjustified charges or conditions imposed by suppliers, as well as in facilitating multiple energy sharing agreements. Austria needs to address the technical and legal challenges of grid tariff reductions, close consumer protection gaps in energy sharing, and improve legal certainty and transparency. The Austria-Flanders comparison offers insights and policy recommendations for both jurisdictions and other EU Member States.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101993"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144297510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101996
Jiazhen Ren , Ying Liu , Yida Ren , Ping Zhang
{"title":"Renewable energy investment in China's new demonstration cities: A quasi-natural experiment","authors":"Jiazhen Ren , Ying Liu , Yida Ren , Ping Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101996","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101996","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Renewable energy investment (REI) plays a vital role in the country's transition toward a cleaner energy mix. To optimize environmental policy and enhance energy supply stability, China has implemented the New Energy Demonstration Cities (NEDC) initiative. This analysis utilizes panel data from China's A-share listed companies, spanning 2000 to 2023, and conducts a quasi-natural experiment on the NEDC initiative—viewed as a comprehensive policy intervention—to evaluate its impact on REI and explore the underlying mechanisms. The results show that NEDC policies significantly stimulate REI, leading to a 57.44 % increase in investment. Mechanism analysis reveals that these policies promote REI mainly by easing financing constraints, increasing government subsidies, and reducing information asymmetry. Heterogeneity analysis further indicates that the positive effects of NEDC policies on REI are more pronounced in non-state-owned enterprises and large firms. The findings offer important policy implications for advancing China's green, low-carbon, and sustainable development goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101996"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144288900","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101992
Jiahai Yuan , Yao Wang , Ying Wang , Yuanxin Liu , Jian Zhang , Haonan Zhang
{"title":"Network optimization and deployment for carbon capture and storage in China's coal-fired power plants","authors":"Jiahai Yuan , Yao Wang , Ying Wang , Yuanxin Liu , Jian Zhang , Haonan Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101992","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101992","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The low-carbon energy transition and sustainable development are crucial for addressing global climate change. As the only technology currently capable of achieving large-scale decarbonization of fossil fuels, carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is essential, especially for China, which heavily relies on coal-fired power generation. This study proposes a novel method for optimizing the network of coal-fired power plants equipped with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. To address the needs of China's transition strategy and industrial policy, we investigate the deployment trajectories of coal-fired power plants with CCS under different carbon quota constraints and various coal-fired power development scenarios. We found that, depending on future transition scenarios, the deployment scale of CCS coal-fired power plants ranges from 33.26 GW to 406.4 GW. Specifically, around 30 GW–60 GW will need to be deployed by 2035, with an additional 70 GW–150 GW required by 2050. Failure to accelerate early deployment could significantly increase the pressure on the coal power sector to reduce emissions and hinder the overall carbon reduction process in China. The coal-fired units needing retrofitting are primarily concentrated in the 'Three North' regions, and with larger deployment scales, this will gradually spread to Central and Eastern China. Inner Mongolia, Shandong, and Xinjiang will bear the highest capture cost expenditures. The total length of CO<sub>2</sub> transportation pipelines may reach up to 25 thousand km, with many pipelines requiring cross-provincial or cross-regional construction. Lastly, based on the findings of this study, development suggestions are proposed for advancing coal power CCS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101992"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144271160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101991
Jian Zhang , Yuming Huang , Yuanxin Liu , Na Yang , Jiahai Yuan
{"title":"Optimizing the strategic reserves of coal-fired power units to balance reliability and cost in China's clean energy transition","authors":"Jian Zhang , Yuming Huang , Yuanxin Liu , Na Yang , Jiahai Yuan","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101991","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101991","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The strategic reserve mechanism for coal-fired power units provides a viable policy option to address security concerns in the low-carbon transition of the power system. This paper proposes a strategic reserve selection framework combining Monte Carlo simulation and mixed-integer linear programming to identify optimal reserve units by minimizing the cost per unit reduction in expected energy not served, thereby quantifying the economic efficiency of converting units of different capacities such as 300 MW, 600 MW, and 1000 MW and with service ages ranging from 1 to 30 years into strategic reserves. Simulation results for a representative region in East China indicate that converting 1000 MW units at around 20 years of service age yields the best economic benefits. With a renewable penetration rate of 30 %, the minimum strategic reserve cost of a 1000 MW unit is 13,780 CNY/MWh, compared to 15,630 and 26,120 CNY/MWh for 600 MW and 300 MW units, respectively. When the penetration rate increases to 50 %, the minimum cost of 1000 MW, 600 MW, and 300 MW units is reduced by 80.19 %, 77.42 %, and 76.03 %, respectively. Sensitivity analysis shows that increasing reserve margin raises costs, while higher renewable penetration advances the optimal conversion age. Large-capacity units consistently offer superior reduction of expected energy not served, with up to 64.65 % reliability improvement. These findings provide empirical guidance for policymakers in coal-dependent countries, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of prioritizing large, moderately aged units for reserve conversion to balance reliability and economic objectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101991"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144263120","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101984
Ali Osman Solak
{"title":"Rent-seeking in megaprojects: The case of Turkey's public-private partnerships for roads","authors":"Ali Osman Solak","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101984","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101984","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates how Turkey's public-private partnership (PPP) road projects under the AKP administration transformed into an institutionalized rent-extraction mechanism and a tool for political consolidation. Drawing on an in-depth case study and diverse sources, this analysis argues that these projects were systematically structured through manipulated feasibility and traffic forecasts, contractual opacity, and asymmetric risk allocation that favoured private partners with excessive state guarantees. All of these factors were exacerbated by declining governance quality. This systemic subversion led to infrastructure underutilization, significant fiscal burdens, and social inequity, providing a critical perspective on the risks associated with PPPs in weak institutional contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101984"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144271772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-09DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101982
Carlos Gutiérrez-Hita , Santiago Budría Rodríguez , Shahriyar Nasirov
{"title":"The evolution of competitiveness in the Chilean mobile market","authors":"Carlos Gutiérrez-Hita , Santiago Budría Rodríguez , Shahriyar Nasirov","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101982","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101982","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study offers a comprehensive analysis of market power issues in Chile's mobile telecommunications sector and explores how these concerns have evolved since the liberalization came into force. Apart from using typical ex-post structural measures, this study's methodology includes theoretical modeling and empirical assessment to ascertain the behavior of leading operators in the market. In the theoretical modeling, we assume that operators engage in Cournot (quantity-setting) competition, characterizing equilibria under competitive and cooperative scenarios where operators may participate in either full or partial collusion. In the empirical assessment, we simulate the model using monthly data from January 2005 to June 2024 and evaluate each operator's strategic incentives to exercise market power. The results indicate that although incentives to collude may persist, the two largest operators in the market (<em>Movistar</em> and <em>Entel</em>) may have behaved more competitively in recent periods. This shift was further evidenced by the entry of the fourth operator (<em>Wom</em>) and its aggressive strategy. Despite this result, we argue that further research is needed to evaluate the evolution of the competitive environment. In addition, we suggest that the regulatory authorities should strengthen the legal framework to enhance the competitiveness of small operators and new entries, thereby reducing concentration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101982"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144240152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-03DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101986
Nuno Rego , Rui Castro , João Lagarto
{"title":"Sustainable energy trading and fair benefit allocation in renewable energy communities: A simulation model for Portugal","authors":"Nuno Rego , Rui Castro , João Lagarto","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101986","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101986","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The transition to a decentralized and decarbonized energy system has accelerated the adoption of renewable energy communities (REC), where prosumers share energy locally to enhance self-sufficiency and reduce electricity costs. Conventional models used in REC studies generally assume monetary energy transactions, where those with deficit generation financially compensate members with surplus energy. This study addresses a gap in the literature by proposing a novel energy management model for a Portuguese REC, optimizing socially conscious energy trading without internal monetary compensation. A community of 10 households with photovoltaic generation, with and without battery storage, and a tertiary building (TB) is analyzed over a 25-year investment horizon, incorporating realistic electricity prices, taxes, and the evolution of consumption and generation. The study evaluates three key aspects of REC: technical performance, economic viability, and environmental impact. Results show that prosumers can achieve € 2523 annually from selling surplus electricity to the TB rather than to the grid. A self-sufficiency of 80 % and a reduction in CO2 emissions can be achieved in the REC scenario with the highest battery capacity. Findings reveal that investing in a REC is more profitable than individual self-consumption or non-investment, with potential net present values reaching €14,806 and internal rates of return of 24 %. A fairness index calculation shows that the new benefit allocation model outperforms existing ones in ensuring equity among members. This simulation study provides valuable insights for prosumers and policymakers, demonstrating the economic and environmental advantages of REC in accelerating the clean energy transition.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101986"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195152","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Utilities PolicyPub Date : 2025-06-02DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2025.101972
Chinazaekpere Nwani, Philip Chimobi Omoke
{"title":"Towards an ecologically sustainable electricity mix in South Africa: Evaluating the policy implications of renewable and nuclear energy","authors":"Chinazaekpere Nwani, Philip Chimobi Omoke","doi":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101972","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jup.2025.101972","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Achieving a balance between meeting rising electricity demands and minimizing ecological impact is essential for advancing sustainability goals. Using dynamic and Kernel-based simulation techniques, we evaluate the effects of renewable and nuclear energy on ecological load capacity factor (EL) in South Africa from 1985 to 2022. The findings reveal that fossil-fuel-based electricity generation negatively impacts EL, while a transition to low-carbon energy, particularly renewables, offers significant ecological benefits. In contrast, nuclear energy shows minimal and statistically insignificant benefits. These findings call for targeted incentives to boost investments in renewable infrastructure and strategies for managing nuclear safety and waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23554,"journal":{"name":"Utilities Policy","volume":"96 ","pages":"Article 101972"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}