Fondazione GRINS
Growing Resilient,
Inclusive and Sustainable
Galleria Ugo Bassi 1, 40121, Bologna, IT
C.F/P.IVA 91451720378
Finanziato dal Piano Nazionale di Ripresa e Resilienza (PNRR), Missione 4 (Infrastruttura e ricerca), Componente 2 (Dalla Ricerca all’Impresa), Investimento 1.3 (Partnership Estese), Tematica 9 (Sostenibilità economica e finanziaria di sistemi e territori).



RESOURCES
Integrating energy islands into the European electricity market is a key challenge for the energy transition. This study investigates the impact of the Sorgente-Rizziconi interconnector on electricity price volatility in Sicily. Before its commissioning on 28 May 2016, the Sicilian electricity market zone was poorly interconnected with the Italian mainland. Using daily data from 2015 to 2018, the analysis applies a semi-parametric GARCH model with a logistic intervention function to estimate changes in conditional price variance. A fully non-parametric additive model is employed as a robustness check, allowing the data to shape volatility dynamics without imposing a predefined structure. The results reveal that the new interconnector significantly increased price volatility in Sicily, without reducing average price levels. No significant effects were observed in other Italian market zones. These findings highlight the context-dependent nature of infrastructure impacts and suggest that physical integration alone does not guarantee price stability. The results have important implications for energy policy, investment planning, and risk management in electricity markets.
AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded by the European Union - NextGenerationEU, in the framework of the GRINS - Growing Resilient, INclusive and Sustainable project (GRINS PE00000018). The views and opinions expressed are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union, nor can the European Union be held responsible for them.
CITE THIS WORK