
Energy storage projects with contracted cashflows can employ several different revenue structures, including (1) offtake agreements for standalone storage projects, which typically provide either capacity-only payments or payments for capacity plus variable O&M costs; (2) offtake agreements for renewables-plus-storage projects, which typically provide payments for delivered energy or energy plus capacity; and (3) build-transfer agreements, which typically provide payment for title to the energy storage project upon substantial completion and operation of the project (or after mechanical completion and prior to the project being placed in service for tax purposes if tax credits are involved). [pdf]
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.
In many ways, energy storage projects are no different than a typical project finance transaction. Project finance is an exercise in risk allocation. Financings will not close until all risks have been catalogued and covered. However, there are some unique features to energy storage with which investors and lenders will have to become familiar.
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.
Most groups involved with project development usually agree that energy storage projects are not necessarily different than a typical power industry project finance transaction, especially with regards to risk allocation.
Investors and lenders are eager to enter into the energy storage market. In many ways, energy storage projects are no different than a typical project finance transaction. Project finance is an exercise in risk allocation. Financings will not close until all risks have been catalogued and covered.
Energy storage projects provide a number of services and, for each service, receive a different revenue stream. Distributed energy storage projects offer two main sources of revenue. Capacity payments from the local utility are one.
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