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Financing renewables in the age of falling technology costs

Author

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  • Neuhoff, Karsten
  • May, Nils
  • Richstein, Jörn C.

Abstract

Cost of renewable energies have dropped, approaching wholesale power price levels. As a result, the role of renewable energy policy design is shifting – from covering incremental costs towards facilitating risk-hedging. An analytical model of the financing structure of renewable investment projects is developed to assess this effect und used to compare different policy design choices: contracts for differences, sliding premia, fixed premia and a setting without dedicated remuneration mechanism. The expected benefit for electricity consumers from reduced risk and financing costs is approximated at the example of a 2030 scenario for Germany. Policies like sliding premia, previously evaluated as providing low-risk investment environments, provide for less risks hedging, when technology costs approach wholesale power prices. Contracts for differences provide in all scenarios the most effective hedge for investors against power prices uncertainty, enabling low-cost financing and reducing costs for consumers, while also hedging electricity consumers against high power prices.

Suggested Citation

  • Neuhoff, Karsten & May, Nils & Richstein, Jörn C., 2022. "Financing renewables in the age of falling technology costs," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 70(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:resene:v:70:y:2022:i:c:s0928765522000471
    DOI: 10.1016/j.reseneeco.2022.101330
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Anna L. SOBIECH & UCHIDA Hirofumi, 2023. "Characteristics of Green Loan Users and the Green Policy Mix," Discussion papers 23072, Research Institute of Economy, Trade and Industry (RIETI).
    4. Alcorta, Peio & Espinosa, Maria Paz & Pizarro-Irizar, Cristina, 2023. "Who bears the risk? Incentives for renewable electricity under strategic interaction between regulator and investors," Resource and Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Investments under uncertainty; Financing costs; Renewable energy policy; Contracts for difference;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q42 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy - - - Alternative Energy Sources
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • O38 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Government Policy

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