Discussion Papers no. 520

Inflow uncertainty in hydropower markets

In order to analyse the consequences of uncertainty for prices and efficiency in a hydropower system, we apply a two-period model with uncertainty in water inflow. We study three different market structures, perfect competition, monopoly and oligopoly and stress the importance of the shape of the demand function under different distributions of water inflow. The uncertainty element creates possibilities of exercising market power depending on the distribution of uncertainty among producers. The introduction of thermal power into the hydropower market has an impact on the residual demand function, which is important for the hydropower producers' possibilities of exercising market power.

Om publikasjonen

Tittel

Inflow uncertainty in hydropower markets

Ansvarlig

Petter Vegard Hansen

Serie og -nummer

Discussion Papers no. 520

Utgiver

Statistics Norway

Emne

Discussion Papers

Antall sider

29

Målform

Engelsk

Om Discussion Papers

Discussion papers comprise research papers intended for international journals and books. A preprint of a Discussion Paper may be longer and more elaborate than a standard journal article as it may include intermediate calculations, background material etc.

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