Input and output data for the paper "Evaluating the German PV auction program: The secrets of individual bids revealed"

Batz Liñeiro, T., Müsgens, F., (2021). Energy Policy

doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112618

ABSTRACT

Auctions have become the primary instrument for promoting renewable energy around the world. However, the data published on such auctions are typically limited to aggregated information (e.g., total awarded capacity, average payments). These data constraints hinder the evaluation of realisation rates and other relevant auction dynamics. In this study, we present an algorithm to overcome these data limitations in German renewable energy auction programme by combining publicly available information from four different databases. We apply it to the German solar auction programme and evaluate auctions using quantitative methods. We calculate realisation rates and—using correlation and regression analysis—explore the impact of PV module prices, competition, and project and developer characteristics on project realisation and bid values. Our results confirm that the German auctions were effective. We also found that project realisation took, on average, 1.5 years (with 28% of projects finished late and incurring a financial penalty), nearly half of projects changed location before completion (again, incurring a financial penalty) and small and inexperienced developers could successfully participate in auctions.

Description

The data package offered in this publication comprises input, processing, and output files, accompanied by the corresponding R-codes used for data processing at different stages. Among the various data outputs, the "Auctions" sheet within the file "2 Auction Realizations Solar-2" holds particular significance for users. Within this sheet, users can identify the realized projects, their respective IDs, and the reported individual bid values. However, it is recommended to refer to the attached publication to gain a comprehensive understanding of the bid-value identification process.

For users seeking to update the results, the input files can be easily updated by referring to partner publications that share the same file names. These partner publications include the UnitRegister, PaymentRegister, and TariffRegister datasets.