ENE474 Energy Finance

• Topics

  Following the deregulation of the electricity industry, supply and demand is to a larger extent balanced by the price mechanism. Producers as well as consumers are more exposed to market price risk. European energy markets have become more integrated across geographical areas as well as energy carriers (electricity, gas, coal). A common European framework for tradeable emission rights has been established to meet the climate challenge. The financial marketplaces, where forward contracts on energy as well as emissions are traded, provide valuable information on price and risk, and opportunities for trading and risk management.

  The starting point of the seminar is the Nordic electricity market, where the important marketplaces are the Nord Pool spot market and Nasdaq OMX Commodities financial market. The objective of the course is to combine concepts from finance theory with characteristics of the energy finance markets, to improve financial as well as operative decisions in business. Examples of the former are valuation, trading, and risk management. Examples of the latter are production, transmission, and storage.

  The following topics will be addressed in the seminar:

  - Forward contract v. swap contract (flow)

  - Forward curve modelling

  - Spreads (calendar spread, spark spread, area spread)

  - Forward curve dynamics

  - Option valuation (European, Asian)

  - Spread option valuation (spark spread option)

  - Examples of possible applications:

  • Flexible load contract

  • Gas storage

  • Power purchase agreement

  • Swing contract

  • Electricity generation

• Learning outcome

  Knowledge - Upon completing the course students will

  • Have developed an understanding of an energy finance market and its instruments.
  • Have developed an understanding of the concept of forward curve and its dynamics.

  Skills - Upon completing the course students will know how to

  • Use the forward curve and option pricing theory to provide insight to key aspects of relevant valuation or operational decision problems under uncertainty.

  Competences - Upon completing the course students

  • Can apply Excel to support the analysis of relevant valuation or operational decision problems under uncertainty, using the forward curve and option pricing theory.

• Teaching

  One-week intensive course with lectures and solution to exercises.

• Recommended prerequisites

  Basic knowledge of calculus and Excel.

• Required prerequisites

  Basic knowledge of calculus and Excel.

• Credit reduction due to overlap

  None.

• Compulsory Activity

  Attendance is mandatory. 4 mandatory individual assignments.

• Assessment

  Written individual assignment. The students will work on the assignment for three weeks.

• Grading Scale

  Pass - Fail.

• Literature

  Lecture notes.

  Benth, F.E., S. Koekebakker, and F. Ollmar (2007): Extracting and Applying Smooth Forward Curves From Average-Based Commodity Contracts with Seasonal Variation. Journal of Derivatives, Fall 2007, pp. 52-66.

  Bjerksund, P., and G. Stensland (2014): Closed Form Spread Option Valuation. Quantitative Finance, Vol. 14, No. 10, pp. 1785-1794.

  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14697688.2011.617775https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/14697688.2011.617775

  Bjerksund, P., G. Stensland, and H. Rasmussen (2010): Valuation and Risk Management in the Norwegian Electricity Market. In Bjørndal, E., M. Bjørndal, P.M. Pardalos, and M. Rönnqvist (Eds.): Energy, Natural Resources and Environmental Economics. Springer, pp. 167-185.

  Supplementary readings:

  Bjerksund, P., B. Myksvoll, and G. Stensland (2008): Exercising Flexible Load Contracts: Two Simple Strategies, Applied Stochastic Models in Business and Industry, Vol. 24, pp. 93-107.

  Bjerksund, P., G. Stensland, and F. Vagstad (2011): Gas Storage Valuation: Price Modelling v. Optimization Methods. The Energy Journal, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 203-228.

  Jaillet, P., E.I. Ronn, and S. Tompaidis (2004): Valuation of Commodity-Based Swing Options. Management Science, Vol 50, No. 7, pp. 909-921.

  Johnson, B., and M.I. De Miranda (2002): Modelling Generation Assets. In Ronn, E.I. (Ed.): Real Options and Energy Management: Using Options Methodology to Enhance Capital Budgeting Decisions, Risk Books, pp. 393-427.