Conference Summary

Policy initiatives to increase reliance on renewable generation (including wind and solar generation), driven by environmental concerns and reduced capital costs, have resulted in challenges to electricity market design worldwide. Many of these concerns stem from the intermittency of renewable generation capacity, which produces electricity only when the wind blows or the sun shines. Particular difficulties include designing incentives for increased entry of renewable generation, while at the same time ensuring system reliability through the continued availability of fossil fuel (e.g., natural gas) capacity.

Different solutions have been adopted in different jurisdictions. In some locations (including Alberta), capacity markets have been or are being introduced, in which firms are compensated for the capacity made available, as well as the energy they produce. Such markets are intended to provide revenue stability to encourage investment, but result in increased market complexity. Debate also arises over the appropriate method of renewable generation procurement, and the role of demand side response. While these issues are active areas of academic research, no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal method of integrating increased renewable generation.

The objective of this conference is to bring together leading international experts to discuss the key challenges in designing electricity markets to increase renewable generation. All invited speakers are actively engaged in research into the economic and policy issues relating to renewables. In order to ensure concrete policy relevance, the conference will also feature practitioners and policy makers from Alberta, which is currently transitioning its market and confronting these issues. These participants will provide discussion comments on the papers presented by the academic experts, relating these research papers to the policy discussion in an Alberta context.

Organizers: David Brown, Andrew Eckert, Corinne Langinier

The organizers (David Brown, Andrew Eckert and Corinne Langinier) gratefully acknowledge financial support from Future Energy Systems (FES), Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), Kule Institute for Advanced Study (KIAS), and the Faculty of Arts, without which this conference would not be possible.

List of participants

Speakers

• James Bushnell, Professor, University of California, Davis
• Richard Green, Professor of Sustainable Energy Business, Business School, Imperial College, London
• Joshua Linn, Senior Fellow, Resources for the Future
• Stephen Poletti, Senior Lecturer, University of Auckland, New Zealand
• Mar Reguant, Assistant Professor, department of Economics, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
• Stanley Reynolds, Eller Professor of Economics, University of Arizona
• Nicole Spear, Executive Director, Coal Transition, Electricity and Sustainable Energy, Alberta Energy



Discussants

• David Brown, Assistant Professor, University of Alberta
• Lucija Muehlenbachs, Assistant Professor, University of Calgary
• Derek Olmstead, Economic Advisor, Alberta Electric System Operator
• Blake Shaffer, Doctoral Student, Sessional Instructor, University of Calgary
• Basil Sharp, Professor of Energy & Resource Economics, University of Auckland, New Zealand
• Henry Thille, Associate Professor, University of Guelph

Location

Education Building, Room 129, University of Alberta, AB

Program

• 
  8:00 – 8:30
  
  8:45 – 9:00
  
  9:00 – 10:00
  
  
  
  10:00 – 10:15
  
  10:15 – 12:00
  
  
  
  
  12:00 – 1:30
  
  1:30 – 3:15
  
  
  
  
  3:15 – 3:30
  
  3:30 – 4:30
  
  
  
  4:30 – 5:00
  
  5:00 – 6:00
  
  7:00 – 9:30

  
  Registration -- Education South, Lecture Room 129
  
  Welcome Remarks
  
  Session 1:
  “What determines the emissions savings from wind power in Great Britain?” by Richard Green (with Malte Jansen and Iain Staffell)
  Discussant: Derek Olmstead (Alberta Electric System Operator)
  
  Coffee Break
  
  Session 2:
  "The Efficiency and Distributional Impacts of Large-Scale Renewable Policies" by Mar Reguant
  "Do Lower Electricity Storage Costs Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions?" by Joshua Linn (with Jhih-Shyang Shih)
  Discussants: Blake Shaffer (University of Calgary) and Basil Sharp (University of Auckland)
  
  Nicole Spear (Executive Director, Coal Transition, Electricity and Sustainable Energy, Alberta Energy)
  
  Session 3:
  "Measuring Market Power in Wholesale Electricity Markets: A Dynamic Competition Approach" by Stanley Reynolds
  "Understanding New Zealand’s Wind Resources as a Route to 100% Renewable Electricity by Stephen Poletti
  Discussants: Henry Thille (University of Guelph) and Lucija Muehlenbachs (University of Calgary)
  
  Coffee Break
  
  Session 4:
  "Setting with the Sun: Renewable energy and wholesale power markets in the Western U.S.” by James Bushnell (with Kevin Novan)
  Discussant: David Brown (University of Alberta)
  
  Concluding Remarks
  
  Reception
  
  Dinner (speakers and discussants)

   

Registration

Please visit: Registration

Before April 24, 2018

Faculty members: $100
Goverment and Industry: $150
Students: $50

After April 24, 2018

Faculty members: $200
Goverment and Industry: $250
Students: $100

Accommodation

Please visit: Hotel information

Parking

Visitor Parking is available on campus. Please visit: University of Alberta Parking Services