U.S. Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives Tax Credits and the Grant-in-Lieu of Tax Credit Program

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1 U.S. Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives Tax Credits and the Grant-in-Lieu of Tax Credit Program External Affairs Department Updated April 2011 The information contained in this document is derived from selected public sources. Ballard does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information and nothing shall be construed as a representation of such a guarantee. Ballard accepts no responsibility for any liability arising from use of this document or its contents. Nothing in this document constitutes or should be construed to constitute investment advice. Any opinions presented are subject to change without notice.

2 Introduction Fuel cell technology has been in the development phase for a number of years but is now successfully making the transition to commercialization in select application areas. For example Fuel cell products are being used to drive enhanced productivity of material handling operations, such as warehousing and distribution facilities making use of lift trucks for more information, refer to Fuel cell products are being used to extend reliability of backup power solutions for emergency and supplemental power needs for more information, refer to These, and other emerging applications, are benefiting from business case enhancements made possible through the use of fuel cell-based products, in addition to the environmentally friendly implications of fuel cell technology. In the United States, acceleration of fuel cell product adoption in the marketplace is being supported by important fiscal incentives, including investment tax credits (ITC s) and a special grant-in-lieu of tax credit program. These hydrogen and fuel cell fiscal incentives are the topic of this White Paper. In summary, the following fiscal incentives are available - A. ITC through 2106 equal to 30% of the capital cost, up to $3,000/kW, associated with business purchase of qualifying fuel cell products; and ITC equal to 30% of capital cost, up to $1,000/kW when associated with residential purchase of fuel cell products for single occupancy homes and up to $3,334/kW when for double occupancy homes; B. Grant-in-lieu of tax credit through 2011 equal to 30% of the capital cost, up to $3,000/kW, associated with the purchase of qualifying fuel cell products; and C. ITC through 2014 equal to 30% of the capital cost, up to $200,000/station, toward the purchase of hydrogen fueling equipment. (A) INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FOR FUEL CELL PRODUCTS Overview 1 The fuel cell investment tax credit (ITC) can be utilized for business or residential applications. In either case - The credit can be as much as 30% of the fuel cell product price or capital cost (subject to a maximum, or cap, described below); 2 The product must have a minimum 0.5 kw capacity along with an efficiency rating greater than 30%; The ITC is valid through December 31, The maximum value of this ITC is capped 1 Note that excess (unused) investment tax credit amounts may be carried forward to succeeding tax years. 2 The extent of capital costs beyond the cost of the fuel cell product that may qualify for the ITC, if any, is not determined at this time. U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 1

3 For a business product, the ITC cannot exceed $3,000/kW; For a residential product in a single occupancy home the ITC cannot exceed $1,000/kW; and In the case of a double occupancy residential home the ITC cannot exceed $3,334/kW. 3 In all cases, the investment tax credit is determined as the lesser of a capital cost calculation and a cap calculation (refer to example below). IRS Bulletin ( and the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association s Federal Fuel Cell Tax Incentives document contain helpful information on this topic. The latter document is included as Appendix I. Note that the IRS Bulletin is not updated to include the new, higher limit related to the fuel cell product investment tax credit. Eligibility A comprehensive list of applications that are eligible for this ITC is not available, however, congressional lawmakers intent (per written communication to the Internal Revenue Service) is that the credit should apply to a broad set of applications including stationary power, motive power and auxiliary power uses. Although a formal list does not exist, guidance provided in IRS Bulletin is that stationary and mobile power plants meeting the ITC s general criteria are eligible for the investment tax credit ( Note also that this ITC does not extend to motive power for automotive and bus applications. 4 An Example If a U.S. telecom company purchases a 5 kw fuel cell-based backup power unit at a price of $15,000, then it can claim an ITC against income tax payable in the year that the unit is placed into service. The value of the investment tax credit will be the lesser of two computations - ITC Computation Based on Capital Cost: 30% of purchase price = (.30 x $15,000) = $4,500 ITC Cap Computation: $3,000 per kw = ($3,000/kW x 5kW) = $15,000 Value of the investment tax credit to the U.S. telecom company in this example is 30% of the fuel cell purchase price or $4,500. Claiming The Credit For Fuel Cell Products To claim the business fuel cell investment tax credit, IRS Form 3468, Investment Credit must be completed (refer to Appendix II or go to The IRS may also require a completed Form 3800, General Business Credit (this can be found at Note that, in the case of a product lease, the business fuel cell investment tax credit may be claimed by the lessor of qualified fuel cell products if depreciation (or amortization in lieu of depreciation) is 3 The double occupancy ITC does not apply to married individuals filing a joint tax return. 4 A separate investment tax credit is available for fuel cell vehicles (and other alternative fuel vehicles). Due to expire at the end of 2014, this ITC scales from $4,000 for vehicles weighing at least 8,500 lbs. up to $40,000 for vehicles weighing at least 26,000 lbs. U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 2

4 allowable to the lessor with respect to the product. The lessee of qualified fuel cell products generally may not claim the business fuel cell investment tax credit. To claim the residential fuel cell tax credit, IRS Form 5695 must be completed (refer to Appendix III or go to Note that the form has not been updated to reflect the new, higher limit for double occupancy homes. (B) GRANT-IN-LIEU OF TAX CREDIT FOR FUEL CELL PRODUCTS Overview The grant-in-lieu of tax credit is for eligible fuel cell products placed into service during the period , or for products where installation begins during the period with the product being placed into service prior to termination of the tax credit. 5 This option was introduced to eliminate the need for businesses to demonstrate taxable income in order to claim the tax credit. Note, however, that for the period associated with the grant-in-lieu of tax credit program, businesses with or without taxable income can apply for the grant. Eligibility To be eligible for a grant, fuel cell products must have minimum capacity of 0.5 kw and electricity-only efficiency in excess of 30%. The grant will extend only to taxpayer entities as a result, government entities at all levels are ineligible for grants. An Example If a U.S. telecom company purchases a 5 kw fuel cell-based backup power unit at a price of $15,000, the value of the grant will be the smaller of two computations - Grant Computation Based on Capital Cost: 30% of purchase price = (.30 x $15,000) = $4,500 Grant Cap Computation: $3,000 per kw = ($3,000/kW x 5kW) = $15,000 Value of the grant to the U.S. telecom company in this example is 30% of the fuel cell purchase price or $4,500. Applying For A Fuel Cell Products Grant Fuel cell equipment must be installed in the timeframe. However, grant applications can be submitted up to October 1, The Treasury Department will issue grant awards within 60-days of receipt of an application or within 60-days of the in-service date, whichever is later. Please see Department of Treasury link ( for forms and additional information regarding this program. (C) INVESTMENT TAX CREDIT FOR HYDROGEN FUELING EQUIPMENT 5 The termination date of the investment tax credit is January 1, U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 3

5 Overview 6 Current law allows for a 30% credit up to $200,000 per hydrogen fueling station through Eligibility The hydrogen fueling ITC follows rules established under the original Qualified Alternative Fuel Vehicle (QAFV) refueling property credit, with the exception of the aforementioned $200,000 modification. 8 Specifically, the taxpayer may claim a tax credit of 30% of fueling station capital cost, up to $200,000, against the cost of any QAFV refueling equipment subject to the allowance for depreciation. The cost of QAFV refueling equipment is determined under principles of IRS code (a) and (c) ( together with the following rules The cost of a QAFV refueling property includes all costs that are required under federal tax principles to be capitalized as a cost of the QAFV refueling property. These include the cost of acquiring or constructing the QAFV refueling equipment or of converting conventional refueling equipment into QAFV refueling equipment; The cost of QAFV refueling property does not include costs that are properly allocated to land or to a building and its structural components. Costs properly allocated to land include, but are not limited to, costs related to the acquisition of land on which the QAFV refueling equipment is located and expense for permits, legal fees, project management or engineering, to the extent such expenses are related to the land; The cost of QAFV refueling equipment does not include any amount that is taken into account under IRS code 179 ( Defining Refueling Equipment QAFV refueling equipment is defined as property meeting the following conditions - The equipment is not used predominantly outside the United States (or, in the case of equipment described in IRS code 168(g)(4)(G) is equipment used predominantly in a U.S. possession) ( The equipment is a character subject to the allowance for depreciation or is installed on property that is used as a taxpayer's principal residence (within the meaning of IRS code 121) ( The original use of the equipment begins with the taxpayer; The equipment is used for o o Storing alternative fuel at the point where the fuel is delivered into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle that is propelled by such fuel; or Dispensing alternative fuel at such point into the fuel tank of a motor vehicle that is propelled by such fuel. An Example A U.S. distribution company purchases a hydrogen fueling system for use in supporting fuel cellpowered forklift trucks operating in a domestic distribution center. The complete cost of the system, 6 Excess (unused) investment tax credit amounts may be carried forward to succeeding tax years. 8 Refer to section 30c of the IRS code. U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 4

6 including installation, storage, compression, dispensing and all other qualifying equipment is $1,000,000. The value of the investment tax credit will be the smaller of two figures - ITC Computation Based on Capital Cost: 30% of purchase price = (.30 x $1M) = $300,000 ITC Cap: $200,000 Value of the investment tax credit to the U.S. distribution company in this example is equal to the cap of $200,000. Claiming The Credit For Hydrogen Fueling Equipment To claim the investment tax credit, you must complete IRS Form For additional information, refer to IRS Notice ( Note that this IRS information predates the increased cap of $200,000 for 2009 and As such, the information and examples provided therein do not reference the increased cap amount. ABOUT BALLARD POWER SYSTEMS INC. Ballard Power Systems (TSX: BLD)(NASDAQ: BLDP) is recognized as a world leader in the design, development, manufacture and sale of clean energy fuel cell products. To learn more about how Ballard is delivering the Power to Change TM.. visit U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 5

7 U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 6 APPENDIX I

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9 U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 8 APPENDIX II

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12 U.S. Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Fiscal Incentives 11 APPENDIX III

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