New York allocates $280 million in incentives for energy storage projects
New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that $280 million of support is available for energy storage projects to accelerate growth within the industry and drive down energy storage deployment costs to build a sustainable and affordable market. This funding is part of a $400 million investment to achieve New York’s nation-leading energy storage deployment target of 3,000 MW by 2030, and supports Governor Cuomo’s Green New Deal, a clean energy and jobs agenda that puts New York State on a path to a carbon-neutral economy.
“While the federal administration denies the devastating reality of climate change, New York continues to invest in its future by building a more efficient clean energy system,” Governor Cuomo said. “Energy storage is vital to our resiliency work and this funding will enable us to grow the industry and create jobs while we continue on our path toward meeting the country’s largest energy storage target.”
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Market Acceleration Bridge Incentive Program will help incentivize approximately two-thirds of the state’s 1,500-MW target of energy storage by 2025, supporting a self-sustaining market for the state. Funding is available in two categories:
- $150 million for bulk storage projects: systems over 5 MW that primarily provide wholesale market energy or distribution services
- $130 million for retail storage projects: customer-sited systems below 5 MW installed alone or paired with onsite generation such as solar
Support for retail storage projects will be distributed through the Retail Energy Storage Incentive Program, a megawatt-hour block system, which is similar in design to the state’s successful NY-Sun Megawatt Block program. The Retail Energy Storage Incentive Program is divided into two regions: New York City and the rest of the state, excluding Long Island. Incentive amounts are assigned to each region and then decrease over time based on market activity by sector and region. Incentives are offered on a first come, first served basis and are calculated on the usable installed energy storage capacity in kilowatt hours. Incentives remain available until all blocks within a region/sector are fully subscribed.
Bulk storage projects have two options to receive incentive funding: A fixed incentive amount, which will decline each year through 2025, or through a utility bulk storage RFP, which will be issued later this year. Projects may only receive funding in one incentive category.
In addition to the $280 million available today, another $70 million will be allocated by NYSERDA in the future based on opportunities that have the greatest potential to support a self-sustaining storage market. An additional $53 million in Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative funds will be made available later this year for retail and bulk storage projects specifically located on Long Island.
In addition, to further stimulate energy storage deployment across the state and spur private sector investment, the New York Power Authority issued a Request for Information to identify battery storage companies interested in participating jointly in competitive solicitations or other energy storage development opportunities within New York State. The RFI is open to energy storage developers, battery integrators, or others, utilizing lithium-ion battery technology in utility-scale applications. To access the RFI, visit NYPA’s procurement webpage under the name Q19-6681MH Energy Storage Joint Opportunities. Responses are due May 13.
Source: solarpowerworldonline
