VVZ API is not affiliated with ETH Zurich. Data might be outdated or incorrect. Please view the official ETHZ Vorlesungsverzeichnis for binding information.

363-0514-00L 3 Credits MSC , NDS D-USYS , D-MTEC , D-BAUG , D-MAVT , D-ARCH , D-MATH , D-ERDW , D-GESS , D-ITET
You're viewing possible stale or outdated data. Please check the latest semester for more up-to-date information.

Energy Economics and Policy

Lecturers & Examiners: Prof. Dr. Massimo Filippini
It is recommended for students to have taken a course in introductory microeconomics. If not, they should be familiar with microeconomics as in, for example,"Microeconomics" by Mankiw & Taylor and the appendices 4 and 7 of the book "Microeconomics" by Pindyck & Rubinfeld.
VVZ CR n/a

Last Updated: 2026-02-05 15:42:31

Abstract

An introduction to energy economics and policy that covers the following topics: energy demand, economics of energy efficiency, investments and cost analysis, energy markets (fossil fuels,electricity and renewable energy sources), market failures and behavioral anomalies, market-based and non-market based energy policy instruments and regulation of energy industries.

Objective

The students will develop the understanding of economic principles and tools necessary to analyze energy issues and to formulate energy policy instruments. Emphasis will be put on empirical analysis of energy demand and supply, market failures, behavioral anomalies, energy policy instruments, investments in power plants and in energy efficiency technologies and the reform of the electric power sector.

Content

The course provides an introduction to energy economics principles and policy applications. The first part of the course will introduce the microeconomic foundation of energy demand and supply as well as market failures and behavioral anomalies. In a second part, we introduce the concept of investment analysis (such as the NPV), in the context of energy efficient investments. In the last part, we use the previously introduced concepts to analyze energy policies: from a government perspective, we discuss the mechanisms and implications of market oriented and non-market oriented policy instruments as well as the regulation of energy industries. Throughout the entire class, we combine the course material with insights from current research in energy economics. This combination will enable students to understand standard scientific literature in the field of energy economics. Moreover, the class aims to show students how to put real life situations in the energy sector in the context of insights from energy economics. During the first part of the course a set of environmental and resource economics tools will be given to students through lectures. The applied nature of the course is achieved by discussing several papers in a seminar. To this respect, students are required to work in groups in order to prepare a presentation of a paper. The evaluation policy is designed to verify the knowledge acquired by students during the course. For this purpose, a short group presentation will be graded. At the end of the course there will be a written exam covering the topics of the course. The final grade is obtained by averaging the presentation (20%) and the final exam (80%).

General Information

Language
English
Levels
MSC , NDS
Frequency
Yearly recurring

Examination

Type
graded semester performance
Written exam 60 min. Closed-book, a simple, non-programmable calculator without graphics functions and a non-electronic dictionary are allowed.

Course Components

Type Title Time & Place Hours
lecture with exercise Energy Economics and Policy
  • Thu 13:00-15:00 (ER SA TZ)
  • Thu 13:15-15:00 (ETF C 1)
  • 07.05 Date 13:15-17:00 (ML F 39)
2 h weekly

Offered In