AG9 battery.Iowa considers energy storage tax credits, launches 'value of storage' study

　　According to foreign media reports, the Iowa Economic Development Authority is conducting an “energy storage value” study to determine the benefits of energy storage systems to users in the state. The recommendations were included in the energy storage report in Iowa's 2016 Energy Plan, which tentatively approved tax credits for energy storage systems. The tax credit is one of several recommendations made by the Iowa Economic Development Authority in a recent report on energy storage development. Other recommendations include targeting funding and conducting “storage value” analysis and research. “We’re working hard to promote energy storage,” said Brian Selinger, director of the Iowa Economic Development Authority’s energy team, who was involved in developing the energy storage action plan. Iowa’s 2016 energy plan emphasized the benefits of energy storage systems, such as improving Wind and solar productivity, lower energy costs, improved grid reliability, and job creation. The Energy Storage Development Report recommends that the state’s energy storage tax credit be included in proposed U.S. federal tax credits. In April this year, the U.S. House of Representatives enacted the Energy Storage Tax Incentives and Deployment Act, which will provide electric energy storage systems with the same 30% investment tax credit as solar power systems. U.S. federal tax credits are available for energy storage systems that meet certain requirements. Selinger said, "If we can get support from the federal government, it will be very helpful and will provide a good signal to promote the deployment of energy storage systems." James Burwen, vice president of the American Energy Storage Association, said that Maryland is the only state in the United States that States offering energy storage tax credits. The states of Mexico and Hawaii are exploring or implementing other incentives such as grants, rebates, feed-in tariffs and personal property tax exemptions. Selinger said Iowa officials need to better understand how energy storage systems work before recommending legislation to create a tax credit. “The Iowa Economic Development Authority will conduct a thorough study of the potential benefits, barriers and implementation pathways for energy storage,” he said. The energy storage action plan was prepared by a team organized by the Iowa Economic Development Authority, with team members from Utility and renewable energy industries, grid operators, academia and clean energy advocates. The report cites some uses for energy storage systems combined with renewable energy sources: such as providing backup power to emergency response departments. Sterling Utilities in Massachusetts deployed a 2MW/3.9MWh solar + energy storage project to provide backup power for the local police and fire departments that can last 12 days. Energy storage systems for electric vehicle charging stations are another use. Electric vehicle charging stations may create power demands that can be met and costs reduced by using battery energy storage systems. In addition, the Iowa Economic Development Authority hopes to develop and research technologies and methods for utilizing used batteries, Selinger said. Another recommendation from the panel is a “value of storage” study, similar to the “value of solar” studies being conducted in many states. Steve Falck is a senior policy advocate at the American Environmental Law and Policy Center and a member of the Iowa Energy Storage Council. He pointed out that Massachusetts conducted a study a few years ago on an energy storage system with an installed capacity of about 2MW. “Conducting this research will determine how energy storage can benefit the utility, the grid and customers,” Falck said. The Iowa Economic Development Authority is currently funding two energy storage experiments. One is an Iowa Rural Electric Cooperative installing battery energy storage systems on residential customers, hoping to understand the benefits and cost savings battery energy storage systems bring to customers and the grid. Another pilot project is an energy storage system deployed in conjunction with a university's solar power generation facility. Iowa solar and storage installer Ideal Energy wanted to see how battery storage systems could reduce peak demand.

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