Natural gas, a vital primary source of energy for the twenty-first century economy, is poised to play a major role in the medium- to long-term outlook of energy systems worldwide. Its supply to power markets for electricity generation and other energy purposes through the stages of exploration, production, gathering, processing, transmission, and distribution have been a key driver in gas commercialisation over the past two to three decades. This book discusses insights from law and economics pertaining to gas and energy supply contracts, regulation, and institutions. It provides an in-depth ‘law-in-context’ analysis of the approaches to developing competitive and secure gas-to-power markets in an increasingly international, interrelated, and interconnected value chain. Recognising a general move towards structural reforms and economic regulation of gas and energy markets globally, the author incisively addresses the following questions: – Is there a single ‘ideal’ model or approach for ensuring effectiveness in the restructuring and regulation of gas supply to power markets? If not, then what constitutes the matrix of models and approaches? – What are the underlying principles, assumptions, and institutional structures that will enhance the modern approaches to developing competitive, secure, and sustainable gas supply to power markets? – What are the factors that determine or affect the effectiveness and efficiency of such approaches and regulatory frameworks? The book critically explores the instrumental role of regulation and organisational institutions in the restructuring and development of gas supply markets. It examines the evolution of economic approaches to regulation, competitiveness, and security of gas supply in the United States and the United Kingdom. It considers the EU as a supranational union of developed economies and Nigeria as a developing economy, in the process of applying these paradigms of economic regulation and restructuring of gas-to-power markets. In a law and policy environment where training and educational centres, lawyers, and public and corporate energy advisors are becoming more concerned about competitiveness and efficiency in gas resource allocation and pricing – and about high-quality governance frameworks for industries that depend on reliable gas supplies – this vital book will be warmly welcomed by lawyers, policymakers, energy consultants, analysts, regulators, corporate investors, academics, and institutions concerned with and engaged in the business of exploration, production, and supply of gas for energy purposes.

This textbook explains the main economic mechanisms behind energy markets and assesses how governments can implement policies to improve how these markets function. Adopting a micro-economic perspective, the book systematically analyses the various types of market failures on the electricity and gas markets as well as coal, oil, hydrogen and heat markets to identify government policies that can improve welfare. These shortcomings include the natural monopoly and the public-good character of energy infrastructures; market power resulting from inflexibility of supply and demand; international trade restrictions; negative externalities concerning the use of fossil energy; positive externalities concerning innovative new energy technologies; information asymmetries with regard to the product characteristics of energy commodities; and other public concerns, such as energy poverty. In turn, readers will learn about various measures that governments can use to address these market failures, including incentive regulation for electricity grids; international integration of wholesale energy markets; environmental regulatory measures like emissions trading schemes; subsidy schemes for new technologies; green-energy certificate schemes; and energy taxes. Given its scope, the book will appeal to upper-undergraduate and graduate students from various disciplines who want to learn more about the economics and regulation of energy systems and markets.

This highly unique book focuses on market design issues common to most EU gas markets, particularly in the context of closer integration. It explores in detail the characteristics and requirements of national gas markets in Europe, which are constructed as virtual hubs based on entry/exit schemes as a requirement of European law. The expert contributors analyse gas supply and demand patterns in the EU, showing that both have changed following the introduction of liquefied natural gas on the supply side and the growth of gas-fired power plants on the demand side. The repeated interactions between the transmission operators activity and the gas commodity markets are addressed, as is the design of commercial networks in EU markets. The contributors also question whether the relationship between commercial and physical networks, in terms of the new flexibility requirements of users, actually works. By way of conclusion, two proposals for the EU gas target model are presented, both of which tackle the fundamental issues raised in this book, as well as the organization of short-term transactions and the mechanisms for investment in vital new long-life infrastructure needed to integrate EU markets. This volume will be of great interest to practitioners, as well as academics, researchers and students in the fields of energy economics and industrial economics. Both European and non-European energy companies and regulatory authorities looking for an independent and analytical overview of European gas markets will also find this book to be a highly valuable resource.

Regulation of the Power Sector is a unified, consistent and comprehensive treatment of the theories and practicalities of regulation in modern power-supply systems. The need for generation to occur at the time of use occasioned by the impracticality of large-scale electricity storage coupled with constant and often unpredictable changes in demand make electricity-supply systems large, dynamic and complex and their regulation a daunting task. Arranged in four parts, this book addresses both traditional regulatory frameworks and also liberalized and re-regulated environments. First, an introduction gives a full characterization of power supply including engineering, economic and regulatory viewpoints. The second part presents the fundamentals of regulation and the third looks at the regulation of particular components of the power sector in detail. Advanced topics and subjects still open or subject to dispute form the content of Part IV. In a sector where regulatory design is the key driver of both the industry efficiency and the returns on investment, Regulation of the Power Sector is directed at regulators, policy decision makers, business managers and researchers. It is a pragmatic text, well-tested by the authors’ quarter-century of experience of power systems from around the world. Power system professionals and students at all levels will derive much benefit from the authors’ wealth of blended theory and real-world-derived know-how.

Bringing together conceptual, theoretical and evidence-based contributions from a diverse set of experts, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of energy in Africa, from a management perspective. Taking a closer look at the global energy environment and security in developing areas of the region, the authors discuss the significance of energy policy to the socio-economic growth of the continent. This important book tackles the challenge of ensuring sustainability in Africa and focuses on both fossil fuels and renewable energy. Essential reading for researchers interested in energy management, sustainability, and energy policy, this noteworthy collection of interdisciplinary contributions provides examples of effective energy management in Africa.

This timely collection of essays examines the legal and regulatory dynamics of energy transitions in the context of emerging trends towards decarbonisation and low-carbon energy solutions. The book explores this topic by considering the applicable energy law and policy frameworks in both: (i) highly industrialised and major economies such as the US, EU, China and Australia; (ii) resource-rich developing countries such as Nigeria and regions like Southern Africa. Comprising 16 chapters, the book delves into the tradeoffs and regulatory complexities of carbon-constraints in conventional energy supply systems, while maintaining a reliable and secure energy system that is equally sustainable (ie decarbonised). It highlights the importance of ensuring affordable access to energy services in developing economies as the energy transitions unfold and explores the potentials of emerging technologies such as hydrogen networks, power-to-gas and Carbon Capture and Storage. Additionally, the book also considers the international investment law implications of energy decarbonisation. Focusing on the nexus between law, regulation and institutions, it adopts a contextual approach to examine how and to what extent institutions can effectively facilitate more reliable, sustainable and secure energy supply systems in the twenty-first century. This book portrays the conventional hydrocarbon-based energy supply industry in a largely international and interconnected context. It highlights the costs, benefits and losses that may arise as the transition towards decarbonisation unfolds depending on the pathways and solutions adopted. With chapters written by leading experts in energy law and policy, the reader-friendly style and engaging discussions will benefit an international audience of policymakers, academics, students and advisers looking for a more incisive understanding of the issues involved in energy transitions and the decarbonisation of energy systems.

This textbook explains the main economic mechanisms behind energy markets and assesses how governments can implement policies to improve these markets’ performance. Adopting a microeconomic perspective, it systematically analyses the various types of market failures on the electricity and gas markets as well as coal, oil, hydrogen and heat markets in order to identify government policies that can improve welfare. Critical factors in this regard include the natural monopoly and the public-goods character of energy infrastructures; market power structures resulting from inflexibility of supply and demand; international trade restrictions; negative externalities concerning the use of fossil energy; positive externalities concerning innovative new energy technologies; information asymmetries with regard to the product characteristics of energy commodities; and other public concerns, such as energy poverty. In turn, readers will learn about various measures that governments can use to address these market failures, including incentive regulations for electricity grids; international integration of wholesale energy markets; environmental regulatory measures like emissions trading schemes; subsidy schemes for new technologies; green-energy certificate schemes; and energy taxes. This second, updated and expanded edition addresses recent developments in international energy markets that have resulted in extremely high prices and concerns about the markets’ ability to provide a secure energy supply. Further, it examines several countries’ intensified measures to implement the transition to a low-carbon energy system. Given its scope, the book will appeal to upper-undergraduate and graduate students from various disciplines who want to learn more about the economics and regulation of energy systems and markets. “Given Mulder’s experience in government and academia, he provides a novel contribution to the literature by systematically analyzing different types of market failures and potential remedies offered by economic theory. Overall, Mulder’s textbook should be a valuable reference for students and energy policy analysts.” (J. Wesley Burnett, The Energy Journal, Vol. 43, Number 3)

Pollution Under Environmental Regulation in Energy Markets provides a study of environmental regulation when energy markets are imperfectly competitive. This theoretical treatment focuses on three relevant cases of energy markets. First, the residential space heating sector where hybrid regulation such as taxation and emissions trading together are possible. Second, the electricity market where transactions are organized in the form of multi-period auctions. Third, namely natural gas (input) and electricity (output) markets where there is combined imperfect competition in vertical related energy markets. The development of free or low carbon technologies supported by energy policies, aiming at increasing security of supply, is also explored whilst considering competition policies that reduce market power in energy markets thus improving market efficiency. Pollution Under Environmental Regulation in Energy Markets discusses the key issues of whether imperfect competition can lessen the ability of environmental policy to reduce pollution and/or to minimize the cost of meeting environmental targets. Policymakers, analysts and researchers gain a thorough understanding of the performance of environmental policy from Pollution Under Environmental Regulation in Energy Markets leading to better design of simulation models of performance and costs of environmental regulation.

With twenty-two chapters written by leading international experts, this volume represents the most detailed and comprehensive Handbook on electricity markets ever published.

Short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), including methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone, have become part of climate policy debates. Discussion has revolved around the potential of their mitigation to slow down global warming in the short term and bring about co-benefits, for instance, for air quality and public health. This book provides the first comprehensive analysis of global SLCP law and governance. A diverse array of contributors delves into the science and evolution of the concept of SLCPs, analyses the legal and governance responses developed under various international and transnational arenas, and discusses selected sectoral case studies.