What is a capacity market designed to ensure?

A capacity market is specifically designed to ensure that there is sufficient capacity available to meet future energy demand. In a capacity market, electricity providers are paid not just for the energy they generate, but also for the capacity they hold, which ensures that enough resources are available when needed, especially during peak times. This helps to maintain reliability in the power supply by incentivizing generation companies to invest in and maintain adequate resources, which is essential for avoiding shortages or blackouts.

While lower energy prices, increased competition, and the development of new energy sources are important goals in the broader context of energy policy, their achievement is not the primary purpose of a capacity market. Instead, the focus is on guaranteeing that the lights stay on and that demand can always be met, securing the necessary infrastructure to support energy needs well into the future.