LPO can finance energy storage projects through several avenues: Title 17 Clean Energy Financing Program – Innovative Energy and Innovative Supply Chain Projects (Section 1703): Financing for clean energy projects, including storage projects, that use innovative technologies or processes not yet widely deployed within the United States.
The rapid growth in the energy storage market is similarly driving demand for project financing. The general principles of project finance that apply to the financing of solar and wind projects also apply to energy storage projects.
Since the majority of solar projects currently under construction include a storage system, lenders in the project finance markets are willing to finance the construction and cashflows of an energy storage project. However, there are certain additional considerations in structuring a project finance transaction for an energy storage project.
However, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, tax credits are now available for standalone energy storage systems, and thus lenders may be willing to provide bridge capital that is underwritten based on the receipt of proceeds from an anticipated tax equity investment, similar to renewable energy projects.
What can I do with a solar energy grant?
Small and large solar generation. Ocean (tidal, current, thermal) generation. Funds may also be used for the purchase, installation and construction of energy efficiency improvements, such as: High efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC). Insulation. Lighting. Cooling or refrigeration units. Doors and windows.
These projects will have long-term predictable revenue streams. In addition, lenders may be willing to finance merchant cashflows, but with less leverage and subject to detailed market studies and cash sweeps. These trends for solar and wind projects also apply to energy storage projects.
An estimated 387 gigawatts (GW) (or 1,143 gigawatt hours (GWh)) of new energy storage capacity is expected to be added globally from 2022 to 2030, which would result in the size of global energy storage capacity increasing by 15 times compared to the end of 2021.