Short term Power Trader: weather sensititity

Hi all !

I am a Junior Power trader (prop only) in a small european boutique ! I trade power in different countries on a short term basis (days and weeks). On this time frame, weather is king ! I have basis in weather understanding but I can't properly explain a move from one forecast run to another - which seems normal as super computers run half a day for each run...

I look everywhere for other forecasters than ECMWF and GFS, other sources that do their own forecasts based on the original inputs of EC/GFS etc. in order to tale a position when one is very different from another. However, it seems more like a random process than anything else to predict the next move of weather forecast (especially the wind...)

What do you guys think ? Is this a good way to trade the short term power ?

Happy to share on my little exp if you have any question !!

8 Comments
 

Hey doudounovic, what a lonely thread. I'm here since nobody responded ...so maybe one of these discussions will help:

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  • AMA: I'm a real-time power trader trading industry after a internship and got a full time gig shortly after. Ask away. Power Trading ... Originally had planned to go the Asset Management route, passed CFA Level I etc, wound up in the power ...
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  • Trading: Gas&Power vs Emissions vs Ags the underlying you traded at the BB, like would they consider Gas&Power trader > ags trader ... Hi folks, Say you are a new BB analyst in London given a choice of three trading desks, all of ... them commodity derivatives. a) Gas & Power b) Emissions c) Agriculture Which would you prefer and ...
  • Career Switch to Power Trader/Scheduler/Analyst here or the field such as power trading, I would like to take the liberty to ask you guys some ... questions regarding my plan of career switch to power trading. My background focuses on engineering of power ... now. Are there many power trader/scheduler positions around this area? I am appreciative should you ...
  • More suggestions...

I hope those threads give you a bit more insight.

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run what you think load is on 30 year normals, 10 year normals, forecast, forecast +/- 10% change and try to evaluate risk/reward. for ex a super simple trade if load comes in 10% higher maybe you think price increases $5 but if its 10% lower than forecast maybe you might model a price decrease of $20. All depends on where you are in the stack. I agree wind is huge now and very hard to predict - just use the forecast and try to evaluate probabilities

 

I would focus more on generation/transmission outgaes coupled with weather. Also learn what goes into each model and the differences in MB height. Ex: PJM late Oct 19, gas getting hammered, no cong, hr collapsing to 10, 2nd week traded 28 w/ intra day trading 26, outages for the 2nd week was peak generation outages at ~40GW, downside on $28 is probably $25....upside $40 if colder weather comes in....models run a few days later the 2nd week is going for $46 with load now forecasted at 110GW w/ 40GW of gen out...very simple example but looking at load/outages/pipeline conditions then throw weather on top maybe be easier than saying I think the 12Z GFS is going to be colder...just my 2 cents.

 

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