IFRS Impact on Power Purchase Agreements: Benefits & Challenges for Companies

Learn how Power Purchase Agreements are accounted for under IFRS and their impact on companies. This article explores the benefits and challenges of PPAs and provides finance professionals and accountants with valuable insights to make informed decisions and deepen their understanding of these contracts.

Table of Contents

• Introduction to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and IFRS
• What are Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)?
• The Importance of IFRS in Accounting for PPAs
• Advantages of Accounting for PPAs Under IFRS
• Transparency and Comparability
• Risk Management and Fair Value Measurement
• Leasing and Own Use
• Access to Capital Markets and Investors
• Challenges in Accounting for PPAs Under IFRS
• Complexity of Contract Structure
• Uncertainty of Future Energy Prices
• Impact on the Profit and Loss Statement
• Impact on Companies
• Financial Reporting and Disclosure Requirements
• Strategic Decision-Making and Company Performance
• Tax Implications and Compliance Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions about Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and IFRS

Introduction to Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and IFRS

What are Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)?

Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are long-term contracts between an electricity generator and a buyer, specifying the terms for the delivery and purchase of electricity. These agreements play a crucial role in the renewable energy sector as they promote investments in new facilities and secure long-term revenue for electricity generators.

PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) offer companies a variety of benefits, particularly in the renewable energy sector. Here are some of the main benefits of PPAs for businesses:

Cost Stability and Predictability:
   - Companies can enter into long-term contracts at fixed prices, helping them avoid energy price fluctuations and making energy costs more predictable.

Emissions and Environmental Responsibility:
   - By entering into PPAs for renewable energy, companies can reduce their carbon emissions and meet their sustainability goals. This can also enhance brand image and foster customer loyalty.

Financial Benefits:
   - PPAs can provide financial advantages as companies often gain access to renewable energy at more favourable rates compared to traditional energy sources.
   - PPAs can also help reduce operational costs by avoiding investments in and maintenance of their own energy infrastructure.

Reputation and Competitiveness:
   - Using renewable energy through PPAs can improve a company's reputation as an environmentally conscious and sustainable business. This can also help attract and retain talented employees who value sustainability.

Energy Independence and Security:
   - PPAs enable companies to hedge against energy supply risks, especially in regions with uncertain or unreliable energy supply.

Promotion of Innovation:
   - PPAs can support and promote innovative projects, such as the construction of new wind farms or solar plants, contributing to the advancement of renewable energy.

Overall, PPAs provide an effective means for companies to stabilise their energy costs, achieve their environmental goals, and differentiate themselves from competitors.

The contracts often have a term of 10-20 years and can have quite complex structures. This requires thorough analysis during the negotiation phase and the correct accounting of such contracts. In the current phase of the energy transition, the demand for green electricity exceeds supply. Therefore, companies with sufficient expertise and robust processes in the area of Power Purchase Agreements will have strategic competitive advantages.

Still, many renewable energy projects (e.g., hydro, hydrogen, cooling systems) have water usage implications. My water risk guide can help companies assess their energy-related water risks.

How PPA Accounting Varies Across Industries

The accounting treatment of PPAs under IFRS can differ significantly depending on the industry and business model. For example:

• Energy-intensive industries (e.g., chemicals, steel): PPAs are often classified as "own use," as contracts cover direct electricity consumption, reducing IFRS 9 implication.
• Financial institutions: Investments in virtual PPAs are frequently treated as derivatives under IFRS 9, leading to income volatility and disclosure obligations under IFRS 7.
• Tech and digital companies: Large-scale VPPA deals are part of ESG strategies, where fair value changes influence reported emissions reductions and investor disclosure.

These differences highlight why industry-specific expertise is critical when applying IFRS rules to PPAs.

IFRS & Corporate Reporting - Accounting for power purchase agreements (PPAs)

The Importance of IFRS in Accounting for PPAs

The International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) are accounting standards developed by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB). Applying IFRS in accounting for PPAs is crucial to ensure a consistent and transparent representation of the financial impacts of these agreements. Compliance with IFRS standards is vital for companies entering into PPAs to improve financial reporting and provide reliable information to investors.

Advantages of Accounting for PPAs Under IFRS

Transparency and Comparability

Applying IFRS in accounting for PPAs allows companies to transparently present their financial performance and facilitates international comparisons with other companies in the industry. This helps build investor confidence and can lower the company's capital costs.

Risk Management and Fair Value Measurement

IFRS sets stringent requirements for risk management and the valuation of financial instruments. If a PPA - such as a green virtual PPA - includes a price-fixing component, it typically implies classification as a derivative, impacting the financial statements. The PPA is then treated as a financial instrument, similar to futures or options, with a fluctuating future value based on energy market developments. Derivatives or derivative components are to be accounted for as financial instruments under IFRS 9. Even if RECs are physically delivered and not separately priced, the entire contract is classified as a financial instrument.

Fair value measurement is more complex, as the value must be continuously assessed and determined. Most changes result from market price fluctuations, while other effects may arise from changes in assumptions and input parameters (such as expected volumes, shape, or quality factor). Generally, continuous fair value measurement of PPAs through profit and loss (FVTPL) leads to increased volatility in the income statement.

Hedge accounting is a tool used to address the differences in measurement and recognition between derivatives and the procurement of electricity/RECs. With hedge accounting, a company can reduce the impact of market fluctuations on the profit and loss statement of the hedging instrument (fair value of the PPA) and the hedged item (electricity demand or supply).

By applying these standards, companies can better manage their risks and accurately assess the fair value of their PPAs, leading to a more precise representation of their financial status. For further insights, you may refer to my detailed article on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and its importance in sustainability.

Expert Opinions and Controversies

There is ongoing debate among accounting experts on how far IFRS rules capture the economic reality of PPAs:

• Some auditors emphasize strict IFRS 9 classification, treating most PPAs as derivatives, which can create volatility in profit and loss.
• Others argue that “own use” exemptions should be applied more broadly, reflecting that many PPAs are fundamentally procurement contracts rather than speculative instruments.
• Market participants often stress the gap between rapidly evolving energy markets (e.g., corporate VPPAs) and the current IFRS framework, which was not originally designed for renewable energy contracts.

This controversy underlines the importance of interpreting IFRS not just through compliance, but also through strategic disclosure and risk communication.

Leasing and Own Use

Another crucial aspect of PPA accounting is that a physical PPA can be classified as a lease under IFRS 16 from the developer's perspective. This requires distinguishing between "Pay-as-Produced" contracts and volume or baseload-oriented contracts. If the contract transfers all generated benefits, including RECs, it could be considered a lease. An indication of a lease is also the transfer of control over the asset, such as the right to shut down. Lease accounting can increase complexity and imply recognition as a leased asset. To avoid this, especially with "Pay-as-Produced" contracts, it is essential to ensure that no control rights are transferred. Typically, power buyers choose the baseload model, where the contracted quantity or bandwidth of delivered power is predetermined. 

Today, there is almost no physical equivalent for baseload products as nuclear power has been phased out and coal's role in the German energy mix is diminishing. The combination of solar, wind, and battery storage already allows power buyers to ensure continuous renewable energy supply, similar to traditional baseload profiles from fossil energy. Moreover, standardising PPAs simplifies the administrative process, as procuring remaining quantities now follows a standard profile through daily spot market trading, making the process less cumbersome.

Own use is the simplest case for industrial companies. A PPA that is not cash-settled still allows power to be sold on an active market in Germany and thus easily converted to cash. If the volume procured under the PPA does not exceed the company's electricity needs and the contract is concluded for own use, it falls outside the scope of IFRS 9. Embedded derivatives, such as price fixes or RECs, must be examined to determine if they should be accounted for separately or are closely related to the main contract. It is essential to note that a PPA with price fixation is most likely defined as a derivative.

Access to Capital Markets and Investors

Compliance with IFRS standards in accounting for PPAs can facilitate access to capital markets, as investors have confidence in the company's financial statements and can better assess the risks and opportunities of PPAs.

Challenges in Accounting for PPAs Under IFRS

Complexity of Contract Structure

The long-term nature of PPAs and the multitude of variables influencing their valuation make IFRS accounting a complex task. Companies must carefully analyse contract terms and apply complex valuation models to determine the value of fair value contracts.

Uncertainty of Future Energy Prices

Uncertainty in future energy prices poses a challenge in accounting for PPAs, especially those based on baseload. Developers and companies must make assumptions about future market prices, affecting the valuation of PPAs and the accuracy of financial reporting. This challenge can be better understood by referring to our detailed guide on Geo-Lift Testing and its relevance.

In the future, it will be challenging to find baseload or pay-as-consumed contracts as the power plants that enable this become scarce. Therefore, sellers offering these contracts will have to bear the residual risk, leading to higher costs. On the other hand, flexible profiles will be comparatively cheaper due to the abundant wind and solar power and will additionally be "green" if you need guarantees of origin for your consumption. However, the residual risk arising when wind and solar do not produce enough power introduces uncertainties regarding electricity prices. Battery parks can mitigate this risk, either in combination with wind and solar or as standalone storage, absorbing power during cheap hours and delivering it when prices are high, reducing the remaining price risk or even allowing for profit from price fluctuations.

Impact on the Profit and Loss Statement

Accounting for PPAs under IFRS can impact the profit and loss statement, especially if the fair value valuation of PPAs changes over time. This can lead to volatility in financial results and complicate financial analysis.

Impact on Companies

Financial Reporting and Disclosure Requirements

Applying IFRS in accounting for PPAs significantly impacts financial reporting and disclosure requirements. Companies must provide detailed information about their PPAs and transparently present the effects on their financial position and performance.

Strategic Decision-Making and Company Performance

Accounting for PPAs under IFRS influences strategic decision-making as companies must consider the long-term impacts of these contracts on their performance. Accurate representation of the financial effects of PPAs enables companies to make informed decisions and improve their long-term performance. Explore how strategic decision-making is influenced by other financial tools like Marketing Mix Modeling.

Tax Implications and Compliance Requirements

Accounting for PPAs under IFRS may also have tax implications and compliance requirements. Companies must ensure they comply with tax regulations and properly account for the effects of PPAs on their tax returns.

Overall, accounting for Power Purchase Agreements under IFRS involves a range of benefits, challenges, and impacts on companies. Adherence to IFRS standards is crucial to ensuring an accurate and transparent representation of the financial effects of PPAs and supporting companies' long-term success.

Case Examples: How Companies Apply IFRS to PPAs

Example 1: Tech Sector VPPA – A global cloud provider entered into a 15-year VPPA for wind power in Europe. Under IFRS 9, the VPPA was classified as a derivative, creating earnings volatility. The company adopted hedge accounting to reduce income statement noise, while using disclosures to highlight its net-zero pathway.

Example 2: Manufacturing Firm – A German industrial group signed a pay-as-produced PPA. As the contract matched internal energy needs, it qualified as “own use” and was outside IFRS 9. This simplified accounting treatment but still required transparency for CSRD reporting.

These contrasting examples show how regulatory classification interacts with business strategy and reporting obligations.

Checklist: Preparing for IFRS Accounting of PPAs

• Clarify whether the PPA falls under own use exemption or must be classified under IFRS 9.
• Assess if lease components exist under IFRS 16 when contracts transfer asset control.
• Develop models for fair value measurement and scenario testing under market price fluctuations.
• Establish hedge accounting documentation upfront to minimize volatility in reported earnings.
• Ensure robust disclosure processes under IFRS 7 to meet investor expectations and CSRD alignment.
• Engage with tax experts early, as derivative contracts may have unexpected tax consequences.

This checklist helps ensure companies approach PPAs not only from a compliance perspective but also as part of their financial and ESG strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) – Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and IFRS

How I Can Help

As an independent sustainability consultant, I can assist your company in navigating the complexities of Power Purchase Agreements and their accounting under IFRS. With expertise in both sustainability and financial reporting, I offer tailored guidance to ensure accurate and transparent representation of PPAs in your financial statements. Whether it's conducting a thorough analysis of your contracts, implementing robust accounting processes, or providing strategic insights for long-term success, I am here to help.

Reach out today to discuss how we can work together to enhance your company's sustainability efforts and financial performance.