In this study, a Feed-in Tariff pricing model is developed using real option. The Black-Scholes formula is conversed with real option, because the structure of Feed-in Tariff(FIT) is European put option. This pricing methodology may be new approach fo...
In this study, a Feed-in Tariff pricing model is developed using real option. The Black-Scholes formula is conversed with real option, because the structure of Feed-in Tariff(FIT) is European put option. This pricing methodology may be new approach for FIT pricing under electricity price risk, but levelized generation cost method don't consider this risk premium.
From the result, FIT of the project whose critical price (x*) is high such as photovoltaic is more dependent on risk free rate than risk adjusted discount rate. As x* is decreased, FIT is more dependent on risk adjusted discount rate. This is because FIT is European put option, so the payoff is paid present at the price of discounted with risk free rate.
Most of all, it is interesting that FIT increases as monthly weighted average System Marginal Price(from now on we call it SMPm) grows higher, and FIT decreases after certain SMPm. The reason of FIT increase is that (FIT-SMPm) decreases as SMPm grow higher. The reason of FIT decrease is that profit grow as SMPm increase. Therefore it is the structure of compromise between increasing factor(put option from FIT) and decreasing factor(profit from SMPm)
This is very fascinating result comparing with levelized cost approach. In the case of levelized cost this compromise can't be considered because it calculates only cost except benefit which behave like a stochastic process. If fixed electricity price is subsided, levelized cost approach may be reasonable. But there is value of SMPm derivatives like put option in stock market when SMP-FIT is subsided if SMPm fall below FIT. If there is volatility, put option has some value. This value can be priced theoretically using Black-Scholes formula. Thus the Feed-in Tariff is originally good measure, because it derives the value of risk which is cost-free. But if this value is not priced, renewable energy power producer takes all of this risk premium value but consumer can not take this advantage.
In addition, the renewable energy source which took the most premium was photovoltaic. Therefore, this underestimate made unequal distribution of renewable energy source development such as photovoltaic bias. To make things worse, FIT of photovoltaic was the highest, so it made big burden to "Fund for Electric Power Infrastructure". The problem was not the Feed-in Tariff measure, but pricing of FIT using levelized cost approach. The measures can be improved by developed real option model in this thesis.
Renewable Portfolio Standard(RPS) measure is supposed to replace Feed-in Tariff measure in Korea. In this case, unequal distribution may take place as before if Renewable Energy Certificate(REC) weight is calculated using levelized cost approach. This unequal distribution is not the purpose of renewable energy promotion measures. So, reasonable calculation methodology is needed to tackle this problem. The developed real option model can be used to calculate REC weight, because there must be volatility of Renewable Energy Certificate price.
From the result of REC weight calculation using real option, the weight varies according to SMPm. To avoid the unequal distribution of renewable energy source, changing REC weight according to SMPm is better than Fixed REC weight.
Although REC trading is different market with SMPm market, it is deeply related with each other. When SMPm exceed the critical price of respective renewable energy power generation business, subsidy such as REC is not necessary because this business arrived at grid parity which is the eventual purpose of renewable energy promotion. In this case, the business can be competitive with conventional fossil fuel generator and nuclear generator and so on.
Consequently, Opt-in, Opt-out measure - If SMPm exceed critical price, the business can't take REC (Opt-out), otherwise SMPm is below critical price, the business can participate in REC market (Opt-in) - can improve RPS measure.
The public are required to pay their own such as "Fund for Electricity Power Infrastructure" or "tax", under both Feed-in Tariff and RPS measures. Because these are social cost, reasonable FIT pricing or reasonable REC weight calculation using real option model are the way of achievement of social welfare maximization for sustainable development as response to depleting resources. Therefore, government should calculate reasonable FIT or REC weight considering that there is risk in power generation business. The developed real option model can be good method to calculate reasonable pricing.