How to get returns from investing in energy storage projects

Is energy storage a good investment?

Energy storage is an attractive emerging high-growth sector. It's still wide open with many upcoming companies. The market has seen more pure energy storage players coming online with different technologies. These are often high-risk, high-reward investments. ESS (energy storage solutions) offers a compelling new segment in renewable energy.

What are the future opportunities for energy storage?

Energy storage is a fast-emerging sector. Pumped hydro is the most used solution for now. Batteries are the next step to support renewable energy. Lithium technologies lead the way, but many upcoming technologies have different benefits. I provide an overview of possible opportunities.

Why do energy storage projects need project financing?

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.

Is trading a big revenue opportunity for energy storage?

"We don’t, as yet, see trading as a big revenue opportunity for energy storage – it is driven by grid balancing.” In Texas, increasingly extreme weather events create opportunities in wholesale power markets as prices spike in line with fluctuations in supply and demand.

What is energy storage & why is it important?

That's where energy storage comes in, offering the potential for power to be held in reserve until it's needed by homes or businesses. As solar continues to ramp up – alongside wind power and other similarly intermittent green energy sources – the need for grid-scale solutions to support that growth will only increase in kind.

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.