Module Descriptions
Module: Economic Principles of Electricity Markets (5 or 6 ECTS)
LV-Nr.: 30636 (lecture) & 30367 (tutorial)
Type of course: Lecture (2 SWS) and tutorial (2 SWS)
Content
This class provides an introduction to the economic principles of electricity markets. We first discuss wholesale markets and how the interaction of supply and demand determines time- and location-dependent electricity prices. We further study the German market as well as other selected international markets to understand how market design choices impact price building as well as the integration of renewable energies. We finally learn how electricity markets can be modelled using common programming languages and how such models can be used to study policy-relevant questions, such as the phase-out of nuclear power plants or the introduction of a CO2 price. The lecture will further include a discussion of other topics relevant to the decarbonization of electricity, such as different tools for CO2 pricing, policies supporting renewable energies, and demand-side measures.
Language of instruction: Englisch
Exam type: written or oral examination (50%) and contribution (50%)
You find further information in cmLife.
Module: Solving economic dispatch and investment problems in electricity markets
LV-Nr.: 30641 & 30640 (SoSe) / 30643 & 30642 (WiSe)
Type of course: Research module
Content
Participants in electricity markets face several optimization problems. How should a battery operator operate at the wholesale market? How should a fleet of electric cars be charged? How much photovoltaics should a homeowner invest in? In this course, participants analyze a relevant operational problem, formalize it, and implement solution strategies in a relevant programming language. Participants further use real-world data, such as from electricity markets, to evaluate their strategies. The class prepares students for jobs in energy economics, such as trading in utilities and aggregators, planning in grid operators, and policy making.
The class starts with a session introducing students to relevant operational and investment problems in energy economics as well as relevant solution strategies. After that, students independently work on their research projects. The class concludes with student presentations.
Admission requirements
Participants are recommended to join the lecture of “Economic Principles of Electricity Markets” (not mandatory).
You find further information in cmLife.
Modul: Data Analysis in Energy and Climate (5 or 6 ECTS)
LV-Nr.: 30655
Type of course: Seminar (block course / 3 SWS)
Content
This class provides an introduction to handling real world da-ta in the context of energy and climate-related research, spe-cifically electricity markets and electric mobility.
The class covers how to access different data sources through means such as APIs or webcrawling. The subsequent focus lies on geospatial data, such as relevant municipality-level socio-economic data, photovoltaics systems, or electric vehicle charging stations. We will introduce the concepts and tools in manipulating, visualizing, and utilizing geodata with the geo-pandas package in Python. We will further use the data in econometric analyses and modelling applications.
Admission requirements
Basic programming skills (e.g. Python) are recommended but not required
Language of instruction: Englisch
Exam type: Final report (60%) and presentation (40%)
You find further information in cmLife.
Modul: Topics in Energy and Environmental Economics (6 ECTS)
LV-Nr.: 30660
Type of course: Seminar (4 SWS)
Content:
This class introduces students to current research in energy and environmental economics. The class will cover different topics, such as economic policies to support renewable ener-gies, CO2 pricing, or the cost of climate change. For each topic, students get introduced to key economic research papers and discuss one paper in detail, to get familiar with relevant empir-ical strategies. At the beginning of the semester, students get assigned papers to pitch during the sessions.
Students further write an essay on a current research paper, demonstrating their skills to engage with state-of-the-art re-search and critically discuss its research approach.
Admission requirements
Principles of microeconomics and empirical economics from Bachelor’s studies
Language of instruction: English
Exam type: Presentation (50 %) and Final report (50 %)
Availability frequency/ Duration: Summer term
First half of the semester: two sessions (90min) per week, including paper pitch presentations by students
Second half of the semester: essay writing
You find further information in cmLife.