Universität zu Köln

Theile, Philipp ORCID: 0000-0001-7615-9649 (2026). Essays on the Economics of Energy Demand. PhD thesis, Universität zu Köln.

PDF DissertationTheilePhilipp.pdf - Published Version Bereitstellung unter der CC-Lizenz: Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB)

Abstract

The dissertation develops and applies theoretical, empirical, and numerical methods for modeling and interpreting energy demand decisions in the system transition. The applications focus on the German energy transition in the context of the European energy system. Chapter 2 of the dissertation develops a model framework combining a mixed-integer linear program with a Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation for electricity market prices to assess electrolyzer dispatch. A case study of the German electricity market illustrates the effect of a simultaneity obligation. The results indicate that simultaneity reduces the CO2 emission intensity of hydrogen production while constraining profits and increasing risks. Chapter 3 introduces a discrete choice model to estimate utility function parameters from revealed preference data. Using a dataset of charging sessions at public charging stations in Germany, the model identifies charging preferences. The results suggest that charging utility is non-linear: marginal utility decreases with energy, and marginal disutility increases with duration. An interaction between energy and duration leads to higher marginal valuation of energy for longer durations. Chapter 4 generalizes a representative agent model for investments in externality-producing durable goods under present bias by broadening the technology set to reflect the dependence of fuel prices and emission intensities on building sector technologies and to include a zero-emission backstop technology. The chapter demonstrates that if the backstop technology is not optimal, optimal policy must combine two instruments. If the backstop technology turns optimal, a single instrument can address both externality and present bias. Chapter 5 examines the relationship between digitalization and final energy and electricity consumption in the EU-28 from 2007 to 2020, distinguishing the industrial, transport, and residential sectors. Utilizing the system generalized method of moments (GMM), the chapter explores how the expansion of information and communication technology (ICT) capital impacts energy consumption. The findings reveal that increased ICT-capital share correlates with reductions in overall energy and electricity consumption.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD thesis)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Theile, Philipp philipp.theile@posteo.de https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7615-9649 UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-798276
Date:	2026
Language:	English
Faculty:	Faculty of Management, Economy and Social Sciences
Divisions:	Externe Einrichtungen > An-Institute > Associated Institutes of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences > Institute for Energy Economics
Subjects:	Economics
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language Hydrogen; Power-to-gas; Renewable energy support; Climate neutrality; Digitalization; Energy consumption sectors; Mediation analysis; European Union; Panel data; System GMM; Revealed preference data; Charging station viability; Present bias; Policy; Heating investments; Durable goods; Utility function; Discrete choice model; Charging behavior; Electric Vehicles; Optimization English
Date of oral exam:	23 January 2026
Referee:	Name Academic Title Bettzüge, Marc Oliver Prof. Dr. Schottmüller, Christoph Prof. Dr.
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/79827