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. Brian Selinger, head of the energy team at the Iowa Economic Development Authority who participated in developing the energy storage action plan, said, "We are working hard to promote energy storage development." Portland General Electric's large-scale storage deployment at the Smart Power Center in Salem, Oregon. Energy Systems Iowa’s 2016 Energy Plan emphasizes the benefits of energy storage systems, such as increasing wind and solar productivity, lowering energy costs, improving grid reliability, and creating jobs. 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. In addition, MidAmerican Energy, the state's largest utility, deployed a 1MW/4MWh battery energy storage system at the substation at the end of 2018, hoping to understand how the energy storage system affects peak demand and how it can be used in conjunction with renewable energy generation facilities. Selinger said, "Utilities want to ensure that energy storage systems are economically viable. They are trying to understand how to manage the grid and energy loads, as well as the economic and environmental impacts of energy storage systems." As recommended in the report, the Iowa Economic Development Authority and the Iowa Energy Center are considering approving proposals that include an energy storage component. These funds are provided in the form of grant and loan funds. Selinger stressed that more pilot projects are needed. He pointed out, "The main obstacle affecting energy storage deployment is a lack of experience and understanding. Many people are worried that the cost of adopting new technologies on the grid is too high, and this is a learning curve."

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