Energy Storage System Financing Scheme

How do we finance the storage of electricity?

While financing the storage of electricity has often been carried out on a low-leveraged, corporate or portfolio basis, as the size of battery projects increases, we are now seeing more typical SPV non-recourse project finance structures, with a full security package.

Does project finance apply to energy storage projects?

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.

Can you finance a battery storage project?

Energy can be stored in a number of ways, depending on the source, but the most common is in chemical batteries. In this briefing, we look at some of the considerations for financing battery storage projects. Why chemical batteries? Chemical batteries are ideal for energy storage for a number of reasons: They are easily scalable.

What is a battery energy storage system?

Battery energy storage system. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) can help address the challenge of intermittent renewable energy. Large scale deployment of this technology is hampered by perceived financial risks and lack of secured financial models.

How does battery storage financing work?

Battery storage financing structures usually involve a greater proportion of equity funding than would be typically seen on a renewables project and a shorter tenor of facility. Cash sweep mechanisms are often seen, to ensure that free cash is used to repay debt.

Will a tax credit be available for energy storage projects?

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.