The German power market. Data collection for model analysis

In the present project the market scenario for analysing market imperfections has been the Northern European power market, i.e. a market including Germany as well. Consequently, one of the tasks in the project has been to collect data for Germany in order to develop the empirical basis of the ELEPHANT model. In that perspective the aim of this report is to document the data collected for Gemany, to specify the data sources used and further to lay stress on the assumptions which have been made when data have not been available. By doing so, transparency in model results is improved. Further, a basis for discussing the quality of data as well as a framework for future revisions and updating of data have been established. The data collected for Germany have been given by the exogenous variables defined by the ELEPHANT model. In that way data collection is a priori given by the specification of the model. The model includes more than 30 exogenous variables specified at a very detailed level. These variables include among others data on energy demand, detailed power production data and data on energy taxes and CO2 emission targets. This points to the fact that many kinds of data sources have been used. However, due to lack of data sources not all relevant data have been collected. One area in which lack of data has been significant is demand reactions to changes in energy prices, i.e. the different kinds of demand elasticities used in the production and consumer utility functions in the model. Concerning elasticities for German demand reactions no data sources have been available at all. Another area of data problems is combined heat and power production (so-called CHP production), in which only very aggregated data have been available. Lack of data or poor quality of data (e.g., data not up to date or data not detailed enough) has led to the use of appropriate assumptions and short cuts in order to establish the entire data basis for the model. We describe the assumptions and short cuts made by the authors in order to point out areas in which improvements of data quality are needed. Although the collection of data for Germany has been the scope of this report we have decided to include the present data previously collected by Hauch for Denmark. This has been done to compare Germany to a country which is relevant as a competitor in an integrated market. We have elaborated a general framework for presenting the data. Besides the specific data used for model analysis, the framework includes a definition of the specific exogenous variable considered, a specification of the unit used, reference year and data source. Further, the framework includes a section for comments on data problems, if relevant. (EHS)