Insufficient transmission network capacity reduces equalisation of wholesale prices in the Nordic electricity market. This has financial impacts on, for example, electricity users. These are the findings of a doctoral dissertation examined at Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT).
The creation of a common electricity market requires not only a market model but also an electricity transmission network with sufficient capacity. Historically speaking, transmission networks were designed to handle the internal needs of countries and the cross-border lines may be insufficient from the common market point of view. Thus, new network investments are needed. However, such large, cross-border transmission network investments are often challenging to implement, because, for example, permit processes are slow and the distribution of investment costs can be unclear.
In her dissertation, Mari Makkonen, M. Sc. (Tech.), assessed the critical factors affecting the implementation of transmission network investments. Makkonen evaluated the effects of planned by unrealised transmission network investments on the functioning of electricity markets. Makkonen's work focused particularly on Nordic electricity markets by means of various illustrative examples. Similar challenges to developing transmission networks have also been observed in other parts of Europe.
Makkonen will defend her doctoral dissertation in the field of electrical engineering, entitled Cross-border transmission capacity development - Experiences from the Nordic electricity markets on at noon on 21 August 2015 in room 1382 at Lappeenranta University of Technology. Acting as the opponent will be Dr Matti Supponen, European Commission, DG Energy, Belgium. Professor Satu Viljainen from Lappeenranta University of Technology will serve as custos.
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The dissertation has been published in the Acta Universitatis Lappeenrantaensis research series number 648. ISBN 978-952-265-817-3 and ISSN 1456-4491. The dissertation is available for reading on the Lappeenranta University of Technology's LUTPub database at http://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-265-818-0. A printed version of the dissertation may be purchased from the Aalef bookstore, tel. +358 44 744 5511 or kirjakauppa(at)aalef.fi and from the LUT Shop online store at https://lutshop.lut.fi.
The doctoral candidate's personal information:
Name: Mari Makkonen
Year and place of birth: 1985, Loppi, Finland
Home municipality: Lappeenranta
Education: M.Sc.(Tech.), 2008, Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT)
Employment: Doctoral student, LUT, 2008-2015