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Deferring real options with solar renewable energy certificates

Hanyu Zhang, Martina Assereto and Julie Byrne

Global Finance Journal, 2023, vol. 55, issue C

Abstract: This study evaluates investment in a utility-scale solar power plant using a real-options approach (ROA). Although ROAs have been widely applied in the literature, the deferring option for a utility-scale power plant has not been fully examined, especially within the context of the unique subsidy program of solar renewable energy certificates (SRECs) in the USA. Using data from one of the most developed solar electricity markets in New Jersey, we incorporate the time-varying volatility of electricity prices and bounded SREC prices in real-options valuation. Our results show that deferring real options generates significant value for the project that the traditional discount cash flow approach ignores. It is thus optimal to postpone the investment in more than 70% of cases. In addition, we demonstrate that debt financing is crucial for renewable energy investments.

Keywords: Least-squares Monte Carlo simulation; Real-options approach; Solar photovoltaic investment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C15 G11 G13 Q2 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:glofin:v:55:y:2023:i:c:s1044028322000977

DOI: 10.1016/j.gfj.2022.100795

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