An Analysis of the Main Determinants of Electricity Forward Prices and Forward Risk Premia

Abstract

The liberalisation of energy markets entails the appearance of market risks which must be borne by market participants: producers, retailers and final consumers. Some of these risks can be managed by participating in the forward markets and transferring it to other agents who are willing to bear it and command a compensation for it. Thus, forward prices are made up of two components: the expected spot price at a future date and the forward risk premium. In this chapter we analyse the factors influencing the evolution of electricity forward prices in Spain. These factors include the forward prices for natural gas and CO2 emission rights, as well as the electricity forward prices in Germany and in France and spot prices in Spain. We also analyse the behaviour of the ex-post electricity forward risk premia in Germany, France and Spain, and in particular we find a positive correlation between ex-post electricity risk premia in these three countries as well as between risk premia for electricity and natural gas futures prices.