Efficiency, productivity and environmental policy: A case study of power generation in the EU

This study uses the EU public power generating sector as a case study to investigate the environmental efficiency and productivity enhancing performance of the European Union's CO2 Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) in its first phase. Using Data Envelopment Analysis methods, we measure the environmental efficiency and the productivity growth registered in public power generation across the EU over the 1996-2007 period. In the second stage of our analysis we attempt to explain changes in productivity and efficiency over time using econometric techniques. Our analysis suggests two conclusions: carbon pricing led to an increase in environmental efficiency and to a shift outwards of the technological frontier; and, the overly generous allocation of emission permits had a negative impact on both measures. These results are shown to be robust to changes in controls and specifications.

► We measure environmental efficiency and productivity of public power generation. ► We analyse effects of emission trading on the performance of public power plants. ► CO2 price led to an increase in environmental efficiency and technological progress. ► The allocation of permits had a negative impact on both measures.