In this episode, the hosts discuss the transformative effects of the Inflation Reduction Act on the energy storage sector, including the standalone storage investment tax credit and its implications for storage financing. They also explore new opportunities for tax-exempt owners and investors, transferability deals, the impact of the domestic content bonus, and trends in renewable energy and storage finance. Additionally, they discuss the potential impact of higher rates on the industry.
The introduction of the standalone storage Investment Tax Credit (ITC) under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has revolutionized storage financing, providing increased flexibility and opportunities.
The IRA has expanded the options for utilizing the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and Production Tax Credit (PTC), allowing tax-exempt owners to participate in the tax credits and enabling transferability for new investors, leading to varied investment structures and off-take agreements in the storage market.
Deep dives
Standalone storage ITC revolutionizes the storage sector
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) introduced a standalone storage Investment Tax Credit (ITC) that has brought significant changes to the storage sector. Previously, storage projects could only receive a federal tax credit if they were part of a generation project eligible for ITC, such as solar and wind projects. However, the IRA created a new standalone storage ITC that allows storage to qualify for the ITC independently, without restrictions on grid charging. This change opens up new possibilities for the financing and development of storage projects, providing increased flexibility and opportunities.
Expanded options for utilizing tax credits drive market growth
The IRA has expanded the options for who can utilize the Investment Tax Credit (ITC) and the Production Tax Credit (PTC). One major change is the inclusion of tax-exempt owners, who can now participate in the tax credits and receive a direct payment from the US government. Additionally, transferability has become a way for new investors to invest in projects without needing long-term ownership. These changes have increased the flexibility in the market, allowing for varied investment structures and off-take agreements, particularly beneficial for batteries that may not fit traditional tax equity models.
The IRA provisions boost battery factory development
Alongside changes in the storage sector, the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has introduced provisions that incentivize the development of battery factories. Two new tax credits, the 48C Advanced Energy Project Credit and the 45x Advanced Manufacturing Production Tax Credit, support the manufacturing of components for renewable energy projects, including batteries. The IRA also includes a domestic content bonus, which rewards facilities that use domestic materials. These provisions aim to promote value throughout the renewable energy supply chain, increase job opportunities, and create more possibilities for manufacturers and investors in the battery industry.
In this episode of the Troutman Pepper Battery + Storage Podcast, host Bill Derasmo is joined by Troutman Pepper Partners Anne Loomis and John Leonti to discuss the transformative effects of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on the energy storage sector. They delve into the standalone storage investment tax credit (ITC), its implications for the storage sector, and its role in revolutionizing storage financing. The trio also explores new opportunities for tax-exempt owners and investors, the rise of transferability deals, the impact of the domestic content bonus, and more.
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