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Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/170239
Exploring investment potential in a context of nuclear phase-out uncertainty: Perfect vs. imperfect electricity markets
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In view of the ongoing nuclear power debate in Europe, we analyze how uncertainty about a nuclear phase-out affects investment capacity decisions by Belgian electricity suppliers depending on the type of market structure considered. To achieve this goal, we build a structural model and solve it by using game-theoretic and optimization approaches, in order to consider the different types of market structure, namely oligopoly (simplified to a duopoly in this case), and the two extremes of the competition spectrum, i.e., monopoly and perfect competition. We show that higher levels of investment in new electricity generation capacity are reached with decreasing probability of nuclear license extension and/or with higher levels of competition in the market. Moreover, investments in perfectly competitive markets are less influenced by changes in the probability of future nuclear license extension, resulting in a more stable long-term investment climate. However, the consideration of possible changes in market structure and gradual nuclear phase-out is crucial in order to not overestimate investment potential in Belgium.
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FRUTOS CACHORRO, Julia de, WILLEGHEMS, Gwen and BUYSSE, Jeroen. Exploring investment potential in a context of nuclear phase-out uncertainty: Perfect vs. imperfect electricity markets. Energy Policy. 2020. Vol. 144, num. 111640, pags. 01-15. ISSN 0301-4215. [consulted: 19 of August of 2026]. Available at: https://hdl.handle.net/2445/170239