The Impact of the Energy Transition on Wholesale Power Pricing and Market Risk

Low carbon power generation is gaining market share in many key markets around the world. Underpinned by displacing traditional thermal power generation with renewables like wind and solar, this trend introduces supply intermittency that drives new pricing patterns and changes the profile of risk. The scale and complexity of the intermittency challenge will increase as the share of renewable generation rises in energy systems. Understanding these challenges are key to investment, strategy, and policy decisions. This article explores these trends using evidence from the U.K. power market, followed by a discussion on future implications and recommendations.