Optimal Strategies for Investment in Generation of Electric Energy through Real Options

Caminha-Noronha, J. C. and Marangon-Lima, J. W. and Leite-Ferreira, T. G. and Unsihuay, C. and Zambroni de Souza, A. C. (2006): Optimal Strategies for Investment in Generation of Electric Energy through Real Options.

Abstract

The Brazilian electric sector has two market-environments for the energy supply: a regulated pool (ACR), with 64 power distribution companies, and the free market (ACL), including free-consumers and energy wholesalers. In the regulated market, the power generation competition is enforced via energy auctions, where the winning generator has to sign long-term standard power purchase agreements (PPA) simultaneously with all distributors at the bidding-price. In this work we use the Real Options Theory to valuate new hydraulic generation assets, which will be traded in the new energy auction. This approach models the uncertainties in setting up the cash flow for the investments and incorporates some possible managerial flexibility associated with the decision taken along the investment forecast. A real example is presented, in which we incorporated the flexibilities regarding the waiting to invest in a new hydro power plant and an abandon option, representing the transfer of concession rights. Since the project involves a multistage investment consisting of design, construction and operation phases, it can be treated as a sequential compound option. A binomial approach was elaborated to model this investment opportunity analysis.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Power Generation Investments, Real Options, Investment Analysis
• Subjects: L - Industrial Organization > L5 - Regulation and Industrial Policy; D - Microeconomics > D8 - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty > D81 - Criteria for Decision-Making under Risk and Uncertainty; G - Financial Economics > G3 - Corporate Finance and Governance > G31 - Capital Budgeting ; Fixed Investment and Inventory Studies ; Capacity; Q - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics ; Environmental and Ecological Economics > Q4 - Energy

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