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On the Choice of the Discount Rate and the Role of Financial Variables and Physical Parameters in Estimating the Levelized Cost of Energy

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  • Sergei Manzhos

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Block EA #07-08, 9 Engineering Drive 1, 117576, Singapore)

Abstract

The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) approach has become popular, especially in the field of renewable energy. We argue that when assessing levelized cost of energy, different rates should be used for borrowing and discount rates. We further argue that the risk-free rate should be used for discounting when assessing and comparing the cost of energy across different producers and technologies. Recent analyses used the same rate for borrowing and discounting, which leads to underestimation of the cost for risky borrowers and to distorted sensitivities of the cost to financial and non-financial factors. Specifically, it is shown that they may lead to gross underestimation of the importance of solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency when applied to photovoltaics. The importance of device efficiency is re-established under the treatment of the discount rate proposed here.

Suggested Citation

  • Sergei Manzhos, 2013. "On the Choice of the Discount Rate and the Role of Financial Variables and Physical Parameters in Estimating the Levelized Cost of Energy," IJFS, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-8, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijfss:v:1:y:2013:i:3:p:54-61:d:27294
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Branker, K. & Pathak, M.J.M. & Pearce, J.M., 2011. "A review of solar photovoltaic levelized cost of electricity," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 15(9), pages 4470-4482.
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    Cited by:

    1. 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.
    2. Lang, Tillmann & Gloerfeld, Erik & Girod, Bastien, 2015. "Don׳t just follow the sun – A global assessment of economic performance for residential building photovoltaics," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 932-951.
    3. Aldersey-Williams, J. & Rubert, T., 2019. "Levelised cost of energy – A theoretical justification and critical assessment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 169-179.
    4. Lindahl, Johan & Lingfors, David & Elmqvist, Åsa & Mignon, Ingrid, 2022. "Economic analysis of the early market of centralized photovoltaic parks in Sweden," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(C), pages 1192-1208.
    5. Aldersey-Williams, John & Broadbent, Ian D. & Strachan, Peter A., 2020. "Analysis of United Kingdom offshore wind farm performance using public data: Improving the evidence base for policymaking," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C).

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