The effect of inhomogeneous carbon prices on the cost-optimal design of a simplified European power system

Abstract: Carbon prices are one of the most prominent methods to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions and have been adopted by several countries around the world. However, regionally different carbon prices can lead to carbon leakage. We investigate a simplified European power system where carbon prices are varied with respect to GDP per capita and find that inhomogeneous carbon prices lead to significant carbon leakage due to coal-fired generation remaining a major source of power in Eastern Europe.