The strategic investment decision: Developing a framework to assess strategic investment options in the geothermal industry in the Netherlands

The strategic investment decision: Developing a framework to assess strategic investment options in the geothermal industry in the Netherlands

Maat, L.A.J.

Herder, P.M. (mentor)
Stikkelman, R.M. (mentor)
Correljé, A.F. (mentor)
Froon, B. (mentor)

Technology, Policy and Management

Energy & Industry

SEPAM

2013-09-03

Deep geothermal energy gained more and more attention in the Netherlands over the past few years. It is a renewable energy source with limited air emissions and it can provide reliable base-load power. Since 2007 eight installations were built and more than hundred exploration permits were approved by the Dutch authorities. Many energy firms are looking for new business opportunities and might also see the potential of the geothermal industry. However, the geothermal industry is a nascent market in an early stage of formation. It is not clear which activities are present in the geothermal industry and what investment options are available for energy firms. This research addresses these issues. Should energy firms invest in the geothermal industry and if so, what strategic investment options are available and which should they choose? This research connects practice—the geothermal industry, which is still immature, very cooperative and under development—with the theoretical concepts from transactions cost theory, the resource-based view and resource dependence theory. A strategic investment framework is developed to support firms during their decision-making process. It is concluded that resources are especially important in competitive markets, in which TAQA is currently active, while resource dependence is important when firms do not directly compete, which is the case in the geothermal industry. Transaction cost theory might be important in mature markets and did not prove to be of high value for the geothermal industry or for TAQA. The framework includes criteria resulting from all three theories in order to support firms in assessing strategic investment options in the geothermal industry.

geothermal energy
transaction cost
resource dependence
resource-based view
strategic investment framework
strategic investment decision

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:ba4fae65-8963-49c1-b483-97593b7ecb63

Student theses

master thesis

(c) 2013 Maat, L.A.J.