IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v146y2020ics0301421520305140.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Photovoltaic self-consumption is now profitable in Spain: Effects of the new regulation on prosumers’ internal rate of return

Author

Listed:
  • López Prol, Javier
  • Steininger, Karl W.

Abstract

Whereas Spain used to have one of the most restrictive photovoltaic self-consumption (PVSC) regulations in the world, the new regulation (RD-L 15/2018 & RD 244/2019) improves the economic conditions of PVSC systems, simplifies administrative procedures and allows shared self-consumption. We analyze the impact of the new PVSC regulation on residential, commercial and industrial prosumers’ profitability (internal rate of return). We provide a wide range of results that allow us to explore future profitability depending on the evolution of installation costs, the opportunities of shared self-consumption or storage, and even the potential emergence of new business models. We find that all segments obtain now positive profitability in average conditions. Whereas the residential segment has the lowest profitability level, it has the highest potential by decreasing installation costs and increasing the share of self-consumption, given its higher retail prices. Finally, we identify potential new business models by exploiting the prices and costs differentials across segments and maximizing the share of self-consumed electricity. PVSC systems with industrial costs exploiting residential markets could achieve 35% profitability by reaching 75% self-consumption, and even higher than 40% when self-consumption exceeds 85%.

Suggested Citation

  • López Prol, Javier & Steininger, Karl W., 2020. "Photovoltaic self-consumption is now profitable in Spain: Effects of the new regulation on prosumers’ internal rate of return," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:146:y:2020:i:c:s0301421520305140
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111793
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421520305140
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111793?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mir-Artigues, Pere & Cerdá, Emilio & del Río, Pablo, 2018. "Analysing the economic impact of the new renewable electricity support scheme on solar PV plants in Spain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 323-331.
    2. Labandeira, Xavier & Labeaga, José M. & López-Otero, Xiral, 2017. "A meta-analysis on the price elasticity of energy demand," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 549-568.
    3. Colmenar-Santos, Antonio & Campíñez-Romero, Severo & Pérez-Molina, Clara & Castro-Gil, Manuel, 2012. "Profitability analysis of grid-connected photovoltaic facilities for household electricity self-sufficiency," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 749-764.
    4. Cyril Martin de Lagarde & Frédéric Lantz, 2018. "How renewable production depresses electricity prices: Evidence from the German market," Post-Print hal-01985024, HAL.
    5. Vaona, Andrea, 2016. "The effect of renewable energy generation on import demand," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 354-359.
    6. Mir-Artigues, Pere & Cerdá, Emilio & del Río, Pablo, 2015. "Analyzing the impact of cost-containment mechanisms on the profitability of solar PV plants in Spain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 166-177.
    7. Fragkos, Panagiotis & Paroussos, Leonidas, 2018. "Employment creation in EU related to renewables expansion," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 230(C), pages 935-945.
    8. Trujillo-Baute, Elisa & del Río, Pablo & Mir-Artigues, Pere, 2018. "Analysing the impact of renewable energy regulation on retail electricity prices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 153-164.
    9. Deng, Gary & Newton, Peter, 2017. "Assessing the impact of solar PV on domestic electricity consumption: Exploring the prospect of rebound effects," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 313-324.
    10. Eid, Cherrelle & Reneses Guillén, Javier & Frías Marín, Pablo & Hakvoort, Rudi, 2014. "The economic effect of electricity net-metering with solar PV: Consequences for network cost recovery, cross subsidies and policy objectives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 244-254.
    11. Li, Pei-Hao & Pye, Steve, 2018. "Assessing the benefits of demand-side flexibility in residential and transport sectors from an integrated energy systems perspective," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 965-979.
    12. Talavera, D.L. & Muñoz-Cerón, E. & Ferrer-Rodríguez, J.P. & Nofuentes, G., 2016. "Evolution of the cost and economic profitability of grid-connected PV investments in Spain: Long-term review according to the different regulatory frameworks approved," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 233-247.
    13. Woo, C.K. & Moore, J. & Schneiderman, B. & Ho, T. & Olson, A. & Alagappan, L. & Chawla, K. & Toyama, N. & Zarnikau, J., 2016. "Merit-order effects of renewable energy and price divergence in California’s day-ahead and real-time electricity markets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 299-312.
    14. Hirth, Lion & Ueckerdt, Falko & Edenhofer, Ottmar, 2015. "Integration costs revisited – An economic framework for wind and solar variability," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 925-939.
    15. Cyril Martin de Lagarde & Frédéric Lantz, 2018. "How renewable production depresses electricity prices: Evidence from the German market," Post-Print hal-01986207, HAL.
    16. del Río, Pablo & Mir-Artigues, Pere, 2012. "Support for solar PV deployment in Spain: Some policy lessons," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 5557-5566.
    17. Martin de Lagarde, Cyril & Lantz, Frédéric, 2018. "How renewable production depresses electricity prices: Evidence from the German market," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 263-277.
    18. Dillig, Marius & Jung, Manuel & Karl, Jürgen, 2016. "The impact of renewables on electricity prices in Germany – An estimation based on historic spot prices in the years 2011–2013," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 7-15.
    19. Gelabert, Liliana & Labandeira, Xavier & Linares, Pedro, 2011. "An ex-post analysis of the effect of renewables and cogeneration on Spanish electricity prices," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 33(S1), pages 59-65.
    20. Clò, Stefano & Cataldi, Alessandra & Zoppoli, Pietro, 2015. "The merit-order effect in the Italian power market: The impact of solar and wind generation on national wholesale electricity prices," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 79-88.
    21. Sensfuß, Frank & Ragwitz, Mario & Genoese, Massimo, 2008. "The merit-order effect: A detailed analysis of the price effect of renewable electricity generation on spot market prices in Germany," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 3076-3084, August.
    22. Picciariello, Angela & Vergara, Claudio & Reneses, Javier & Frías, Pablo & Söder, Lennart, 2015. "Electricity distribution tariffs and distributed generation: Quantifying cross-subsidies from consumers to prosumers," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 23-33.
    23. López Prol, Javier & Steininger, Karl W., 2017. "Photovoltaic self-consumption regulation in Spain: Profitability analysis and alternative regulation schemes," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 742-754.
    24. Mir-Artigues, Pere & del Río, Pablo & Cerdá, Emilio, 2018. "The impact of regulation on demand-side generation. The case of Spain," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 121(C), pages 286-291.
    25. De Boeck, L. & Van Asch, S. & De Bruecker, P. & Audenaert, A., 2016. "Comparison of support policies for residential photovoltaic systems in the major EU markets through investment profitability," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 42-53.
    26. Lang, Tillmann & Ammann, David & Girod, Bastien, 2016. "Profitability in absence of subsidies: A techno-economic analysis of rooftop photovoltaic self-consumption in residential and commercial buildings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 77-87.
    27. López Prol, Javier, 2018. "Regulation, profitability and diffusion of photovoltaic grid-connected systems: A comparative analysis of Germany and Spain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1170-1181.
    28. Ueckerdt, Falko & Hirth, Lion & Luderer, Gunnar & Edenhofer, Ottmar, 2013. "System LCOE: What are the costs of variable renewables?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 61-75.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. López Prol, Javier, 2018. "Regulation, profitability and diffusion of photovoltaic grid-connected systems: A comparative analysis of Germany and Spain," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 1170-1181.
    2. Kolb, Sebastian & Dillig, Marius & Plankenbühler, Thomas & Karl, Jürgen, 2020. "The impact of renewables on electricity prices in Germany - An update for the years 2014–2018," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    3. López Prol, Javier & Paul, Arijit, 2024. "Profitability landscapes for competitive photovoltaic self-consumption," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
    4. Sergio Coronas & Jordi de la Hoz & Àlex Alonso & Helena Martín, 2022. "23 Years of Development of the Solar Power Generation Sector in Spain: A Comprehensive Review of the Period 1998–2020 from a Regulatory Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-53, February.
    5. Macedo, Daniela Pereira & Marques, António Cardoso & Damette, Olivier, 2020. "The impact of the integration of renewable energy sources in the electricity price formation: is the Merit-Order Effect occurring in Portugal?," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    6. Santiago, Isabel & Palacios-Garcia, Emilio J. & Gonzalez-Redondo, Miguel & Arenas-Ramos, Victoria & Simon, Bernardo & Hayes, Barry P. & Moreno-Munoz, Antonio, 2024. "Assessment of generation capacity and economic viability of photovoltaic systems on urban buildings in southern Spain: A socioeconomic, technological, and regulatory analysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    7. Abban, Abdul Rashid & Hasan, Mohammad Z., 2021. "Solar energy penetration and volatility transmission to electricity markets—An Australian perspective," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 434-449.
    8. Javier L'opez Prol & Wolf-Peter Schill, 2020. "The Economics of Variable Renewables and Electricity Storage," Papers 2012.15371, arXiv.org.
    9. Thomaßen, Georg & Redl, Christian & Bruckner, Thomas, 2022. "Will the energy-only market collapse? On market dynamics in low-carbon electricity systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 164(C).
    10. Raquel Fernández-González & Andrés Suárez-García & Miguel Ángel Álvarez Feijoo & Elena Arce & Montserrat Díez-Mediavilla, 2020. "Spanish Photovoltaic Solar Energy: Institutional Change, Financial Effects, and the Business Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-18, March.
    11. Wilkinson, Sam & Maticka, Martin J. & Liu, Yue & John, Michele, 2021. "The duck curve in a drying pond: The impact of rooftop PV on the Western Australian electricity market transition," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    12. Rinne, Sonja, 2024. "Estimating the merit-order effect using coarsened exact matching: Reconciling theory with the empirical results to improve policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    13. Samarth Kumar & David Schönheit & Matthew Schmidt & Dominik Möst, 2019. "Parsing the Effects of Wind and Solar Generation on the German Electricity Trade Surplus," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-17, September.
    14. Espinoza, R. & Muñoz-Cerón, E. & Aguilera, J. & de la Casa, J., 2019. "Feasibility evaluation of residential photovoltaic self-consumption projects in Peru," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 136(C), pages 414-427.
    15. López Prol, Javier & Steininger, Karl W. & Zilberman, David, 2020. "The cannibalization effect of wind and solar in the California wholesale electricity market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    16. Macedo, Daniela Pereira & Marques, António Cardoso & Damette, Olivier, 2021. "The Merit-Order Effect on the Swedish bidding zone with the highest electricity flow in the Elspot market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    17. Renato Fernandes & Isabel Soares, 2022. "Reviewing Explanatory Methodologies of Electricity Markets: An Application to the Iberian Market," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    18. Figueiredo, Nuno Carvalho & Silva, Patrícia Pereira da, 2019. "The “Merit-order effect” of wind and solar power: Volatility and determinants," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 54-62.
    19. Csereklyei, Zsuzsanna & Qu, Songze & Ancev, Tihomir, 2019. "The effect of wind and solar power generation on wholesale electricity prices in Australia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 358-369.
    20. Macedo, Daniela Pereira & Marques, António Cardoso & Damette, Olivier, 2022. "The role of electricity flows and renewable electricity production in the behaviour of electricity prices in Spain," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 885-900.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    PV; Profitability; Renewable electricity; Energy transition; net billing;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • N74 - Economic History - - Economic History: Transport, International and Domestic Trade, Energy, and Other Services - - - Europe: 1913-
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q48 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Government Policy

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:146:y:2020:i:c:s0301421520305140. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.