Consider that you need to determine how to power a load that will double after 3 years
Question:
Consider that you need to determine how to power a load that will double after 3 years of the initial operation. You have the option of buying enough DG units to power the initial load and the load increase in 3 years for $ 2M or you can buy enough for the initial load by $1M and buy the rest of the DG units in 3years. Consider that the annual inflation rate is 3%. You are financing your capital investment with a loan. Loans interest rate are a couple of points above a savings account interest rate which, in turn, is a couple of points above the inflation rate. Thus, the savings account rate is 5% and the loan's rate is 7%.
What should you do? You have 3 options, please solve all the three of them:
A. Get a loan today for $2M for all the present capacity plus the load increase in year 3.
B. Get a loan for $1M now to power the initial load and after 3 years an additional loan for $1M.
C. Get a loan today for $2M, use only what it is needed initially ($1M) and invest the rest until using it in year 3