Hydropower Production Profiles: Impacts on Capacity Structure, Emissions, and Windfall Profits

Abstract

Production structure in markets with a significant role of hydropower is sensitive to the production profile of hydropower. In this paper we utilize a long-run oriented real-time price based simulation model to analyze through scenarios the impact of different hydropower production profiles on the total annual energy consumed, prices, and capacity structure. We also show the relation between different hydropower production profiles and emissions, costs, and windfall profits. There seems to be no superior scenario under which all socially desirable goals are achieved as there is a clear tradeoff between allowing high windfall profits with highest cost efficiency and achieving the target for lower emissions.