ENERGY ECONOMICS

ENERGY ECONOMICS

Carlo Andrea Bollino

Instructional goals

provide historical and analytical foundations for understanding the most important phenomena of the international and Italian energy system and a global overview of the main policy strategies for the energy transition

Intended learning outcomes

The student - acquiring the correct tools and method - will be able to interpret, apply and present the reference interpretative models, but also develop practical projects on the energy system in a systematic way, solving business problems of: demand, supply, costs, organization of markets, institutional interventions and regulation, in the context of the international markets and the energy and environmental policies. The student, through the use of the methodologies acquired during the course, will have acquired problem analysis skills and the ability to identify the information necessary for their solution. At the end of the course the student will be able to use the business and technical vocabulary of energy and environmental economics, gaining advanced rhetorical skills necessary for his/her professional career in the energy business. The student will develop a solid knowledge of the fundamental aspects of the subject that will allow him to continue to deepen the topics addressed independently and to undertake the various post-graduate professional training courses, such as Master of Science and MBA.

Course Contents

The program is divided into four parts. The first part focuses upon a deepening of the general economic theory needed to understand the operation of the energy system. The second part shows the theoretical models applied to the energy system. The third part deals with the general analysis of the energy system in a systematic way: demand, supply, costs, organization of markets, institutional interventions and regulation. In the fourth part there is a deeper analysis of special topics related to international markets and the energy and environmental policies, the current debate on energy transition and some view on geopolitical implications of the energy markets. Class discussion is aimed at enlightening some ideas of the current literature for further reading.

Reference Books

Zweifel Erdmann Praktiknjo, Energy Economics, Springer Verlag Editor, 2017 Bhattacharyya, Subhes C., Energy Economics, Concepts, Issues, Markets and Governance, Springer Verlag Editor, 2011, XXVI, 721p Bigerna S. Bollino C. A. Micheli S, The Sustainability of Renewable Energy in Europe, Springer, Verlag Editor, 2015, VIII, 137p. M. Filippini, S. Srinivasan, Introduction to Energy Economics and Policy, Cambridge University, 2025 Press

Teaching Methods

Traditional lecture - team works - business games

Assessment Method

Two intermediate written tests 25%, 25%, One final exam 50%. Additional Bonus: Group paper writing on a topic discussed in class

Thesis assignment criteria

Specific interest and preliminary discussion with the student

Week 1

Introduction to energy markets

Week 2

Theory I: monopoly, monopolistic discrimination, oligopoly, market failures

Week 3

Theory I: asymmetric information, externalities, surplus, welfare analysis

Week 4

Theory II: LCOE, Hotelling price, target revenue, backstop technology

Week 5

Energy System: energy and energy sources

Week 6

Energy system: energy production

Week 7

Energy system: optimal generation capacity choice

Week 8

Energy system: energy markets liberalization

Week 9

Oil markets

Week 10

Gas markets

Week 11

Electricity in liberalized energy markets

Week 12

Energy and environmental policy. Renewable energy sources subsidies. Regulation and market mechanisms