ENE428 Empirical Analysis of Energy Markets (expired)

• Topics

  • The functioning of fossil fuel energy markets
  • Wholesale, retail and transportation markets
  • Energy policies and regulation of energy markets
  • Empirical analysis of markets for fossil fuels and renewable energies

• Learning outcome

  This course explores the theoretical functioning of primary energy markets and provides an empirical perspective on international markets. The objective of this course is twofold. Students will first learn how (fossil fuel) energy markets work along the value added chain and which different types of markets exist (wholesale, retail, transport). The lecture will also discuss resource availability and resource extraction in a carbon constrained world. In addition, we will address the process of decarbonizing future energy systems in Europe. Hence, instruments and incentives for including energy generated from renewable sources into the current system will be presented.

  In parallel, students will learn how to apply the principal components of empirical (time series) analysis to international markets for energy. The methods used in the course allow evaluating the effectiveness of energy policies.

  Upon successful completion of the course the student

  Knowledge

  • understands the fundamental functioning of energy markets
  • has learned to link economic theoretical knowledge to energy sector specific issues
  • understands energy policies, their instruments and overall aims in different countries

  Skills

  • is able to analyze energy market related data using the software STATA
  • can apply empirical methods to problems in energy trading, price formation, and evaluation of energy policies

  General Competence

  • can identify a timely research question, place it in the existing literature and conduct a solid basic econometric analysis
  • has the knowledge to carry out independent research

• Teaching

  Lectures, home assignments, computer, and class discussions

• Recommended prerequisites

  Basic skills in microeconomics and in statistical interference.

• Compulsory Activity

  Participants shall work with compulsory assignments during the course. These include theory as well as data analyses and are graded with approved/not approved. The assignments have to be written in English. Compulsory activities (work requirements) are fullfilled on the basis of these assignments.

• Assessment

  The final exam is a term paper, where either individuals or teams of no more than two students should write up and submit a research paper. The handling time between topic assignment to submission is 20 working days. The paper has a maximum of 4.000 words (excluding tables, figures and references) and has to be written in English.

• Grading Scale

  A - F.

• Computer tools

  The course contains use of the statistical package STATA.

• Literature

  For the econometric analysis I suggest: Wooldridge, Jeffrey M. (2009): Introductory Econometrics. A Modern Approach. 4th edition, South-Western, CENGAGE Learning.

  For the other topics there is no single textbook to recommend. I will provide and announce relevant papers or book chapters in class.