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Siemens Financial Insight Center
Emerging trends, original points of view and cutting edge research on how financial services is leading change in today's diverse and digitally driven markets.
Battery storage: Renewable energy transition key player
Financing battery storage projects provides a pathway to decarbonization
JUNE 2023
Battery storage systems have become an essential component of renewable energy infrastructure as the world seeks to transition away from fossil fuels. It helps to ensure a reliable and consistent supply of electricity, especially in areas where renewable energy sources like wind and solar are prevalent. Many states are turning to clean energy as a critical step to decarbonizing the transportation and power sectors, which are responsible for 55% of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.
Siemens Financial Services (SFS) is at the forefront of financing battery storage projects, having financed 2,100 MW / 5,411 MWh of standalone battery storage in the Americas in recent years, along with additional capacity as part of solar plus storage projects. Most recently, SFS helped various customers including EnerSmart, Javits Center, Clearway Energy Group, and others achieve their goals.
EnerSmart is developing intelligent energy storage systems that use predictive analytics and big data to make the electric grid more reliable. The San Diego-based company required financing to provide critical battery infrastructure for energy storage in the San Diego area. SFS and the North American Development Bank (NADBank) provided a $78.2 million loan facility to finance the development and operation of EnerSmart's utility-scale energy storage projects. The portfolio will be capable of storing up to 330 MWh of electricity, the equivalent of supplying 110,000 customers for up to two hours. The projects will help integrate electricity generated by intermittent renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, displacing carbon emissions.
We are excited to partner with Siemens and NADBank on this innovative project financing that will help enable the continued growth and expansion of carbon-free, renewable energy for communities in San Diego.
Clearway is developing two utility-scale solar and storage projects in Riverside County, California, on U.S. Bureau of Land Management land. The projects will have a combined capacity of 463 MW of clean energy capacity and 186 MW of battery storage, which is enough to power 132,000 homes annually. SFS is among a club of lenders that committed approximately $1 billion to the development of the two solar plus battery storage facilities.
We appreciate the trust and support of our relationship banks to come together to form one of the largest construction finance facilities in the history of Clearway. Capital formation for renewable energy projects at this scale, and the capabilities of leading developers such as Clearway to bring such projects to fruition, will be a differentiating factor in achieving the objectives of the energy transition in the United States.
In addition to EnerSmart and Clearway, Aypa Power is another company using battery storage systems to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy. As Lead Arrangers, SFS, along with CIT, a division of First Citizens Bank, has closed an $84.5 million project financing for Aypa Power’s Wolf Tank energy storage project in Texas. Wolf Tank is a 173 megawatt-hour standalone battery storage project that will begin commercial operations in 2023.
Battery storage is an increasingly valuable component of the electricity generation mix, facilitating the integration of renewable power generation into the electric grid, ensuring dependable electricity flow. We appreciated CIT's and Siemens' support, agility, and expertise in arranging the financing for the Wolf Tank project.
Plus Power combines data-driven algorithms with standalone energy storage to address grid congestion and wholesale market volatility. They announced completion of $1.8 billion in new financing and SFS served as Joint Lead Arranger for five new standalone battery energy storage projects totaling 1,040 MW of capacity across Texas and Arizona to help stabilize the U.S. electrical grid while incorporating solar and wind energy.
Similarly, SFS participated as a Joint Lead Arranger, along with BankUnited, N.A., in the financing of two Jupiter Power standalone battery energy storage projects in Texas totaling 160 MW.
This capital will support the ongoing buildout of the largest and most diverse portfolio of standalone storage projects in the U.S. The scale highlights our first-mover advantage in bringing high-quality projects to market as well as the tremendous work by our fantastic team. We deeply value our financing partners who support the construction and operation of our wide portfolio across the U.S., enabling decarbonization and the transition to a more efficient grid.
Renewable energy integration by the C&I (commercial and industrial) and MUSH (municipalities, universities, schools, and hospitals) markets is hindered by the high up-front capital requirement associated with purchasing renewable energy infrastructure. To combat this, SFS committed $35 million to support Madison Energy Investments' portfolio of distributed solar and solar plus storage projects, representing over 200MW generating capacity in the U.S. primarily for these markets, using an Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) model. The EaaS model gives customers access to environmentally friendly, reliable, on-site energy solutions with zero upfront capital required and predictable energy costs.
We recognize the importance of critical infrastructure in shaping our sustainable future. With this debt funding, we are poised to deliver groundbreaking projects, and play an essential role in building a cleaner and more resilient world for generations to come.
Finally, the Javits Center is a great example of how battery storage can reduce energy costs and help meet aggressive solar and energy-storage targets. SFS provided debt financing to the Javits Center via its investment in Calibrant Energy*, helping them manage new energy technology through reduced costs in the form of lower $/kWh. The project includes nearly 2,500 solar panels and a 3.5-megawatt battery. The battery will allow excess generation from Manhattan's largest rooftop solar array to be stored for use during times of peak power demand, reducing energy costs and helping New York State meet its aggressive solar and energy-storage targets.
Our green roof has become a model of sustainability for buildings throughout the Empire State, and we are proud to work with the New York Power Authority to further expand our environmental impact. For more than 30 years, the Javits Center has served as an economic engine for New York, but with this project, we can continue to reinforce our reputation as an environmental beacon, serving as an inspiration to other venues nationwide.
Energy storage complements intermittent variable energy resources by absorbing excess clean renewable energy and releasing that stored energy when needed to support and sustain grid reliability. SFS is proud to finance battery storage systems for renewable energy infrastructure projects, contributing to a more sustainable world and helping to pave the way to a net-zero future.
*As of August 2024, Siemens Industry, Inc. and Siemens Financial Services, Inc. no longer maintain an ownership interest in Calibrant Energy. All parties, however, continue to collaborate, seek, and provide solutions to facilitate the energy transition.
