Economic analysis of renewable energy regulation in France: A case study for photovoltaic plants based on real options

Abstract

In this work, a novel methodology based on the real options theory has been developed for the evaluation of photovoltaic energy projects with a capacity greater than 100 KW in France. French legislation that regulates these types of projects presents two real options: on the one hand, the producer has a put option that consists of choosing between a Feed-in Tariff system and electricity market sale prices every year, and this put option coincides with public subsidies granted by the French Administration. On the other hand, the French Administration has a call option that provides a benefit to the public sector. This option supposes a limit on the subsidized production of electricity and reduces the value of the project to the promoter. The value of the put option is 4.28 € per MWh generated. The Extended Net Present Value has a value of −5.26 million Euros. The breakeven point of the project is achieved with an increase of 59% in the regulated rate. This means that the French Administration must increase the value of public subsidies if it wants to develop large-scale projects.