Carbon pricing in the EU: Evaluation of different EU ETS reform options

B-Tier
Journal: Energy Policy
Year: 2016
Volume: 97
Issue: C
Pages: 603-617

Authors (3)

Brink, Corjan (not in RePEc) Vollebergh, Herman R.J. (Universiteit van Tilburg) van der Werf, Edwin (not in RePEc)

Score contribution per author:

0.670 = (α=2.01 / 3 authors) × 1.0x B-tier

α: calibrated so average coauthorship-adjusted count equals average raw count

Abstract

This paper studies various options to support allowance prices in the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), such as adjusting the cap, an auction reserve price, and fixed and variable carbon taxes in addition to the EU ETS. We use a dynamic computable general equilibrium model that explicitly allows for allowance banking and for a detailed cost-effectiveness analysis at the EU Member State level. We find that tightening the cap provides an ad hoc solution to the fundamental issue of the robustness of the effective carbon price, while introducing a price component to the ETS brings structural carbon price support in times of negative demand shocks for emission allowances. These price-based policies still benefit from the intertemporal flexibility through the banking provision in the EU ETS by re-allocating emissions over time with stronger emission reductions in early years and emission increases in later years. A higher emission price has a larger negative impact on the new Member States' economies than on other Member States. Furthermore, introducing a carbon tax in addition to the EU ETS decreases the price of allowances, resulting in welfare gains for net buyers of allowances while net sellers are worse off.

Technical Details

RePEc Handle
repec:eee:enepol:v:97:y:2016:i:c:p:603-617
Journal Field
Energy
Author Count
3
Added to Database
2026-01-29