Energy storage tripartite contract

Should a PPA be used in energy storage contracts?

While several provisions of these PPAs are appropriate for energy storage contracts, there are issues unique to energy storage that warrant special consideration. This article discusses 10 issues that deserve careful analysis when drafting offtake contracts for energy storage facilities.

How do energy storage contracts work?

For standalone energy storage contracts, these are typically structured with a fixed monthly capacity payment plus some variable cost per megawatt hour (MWh) of throughput. For a combined renewables-plus-storage project, it may be structured with an energy-only price in lieu of a fixed monthly capacity payment.

Does a power contract cover energy storage?

In the context of a solar project, the power contract covers both the solar and energy storage systems, as they are typically treated as a single system. There is a natural synergy between the two.

Who owns the energy in an energy storage tolling agreement?

In an energy storage tolling agreement, the seller develops, owns, and operates the energy storage system, while the offtaker supplies charging energy. Therefore, the energy in the system belongs to the offtaker.

What are the operational limitations of energy storage?

Operating Limitations: Energy storage resources may be subject to operational constraints that do not affect traditional generation projects. For example, certain battery technologies will degrade more quickly if the state of charge is not actively managed within a certain range.

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.