Section 45Y (Clean Electricity Production Credit): Section 45Y is a "tech-neutral" production tax credit for clean electricity. In plain English, it rewards electricity produced at a qualified facility that meets a greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions requirement and is placed in service after 2024. The credit is generally based on kilowatt-hours (kWh) produced and sold to an unrelated person, with special metering rules in certain cases. This page explains §45Y at a practical, high level and how it connects to transferability under IRC §6418.

OBBBA changed the timing for wind & solar

Under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, wind and solar facilities that begin construction after July 4, 2026 must be placed in service by December 31, 2027 to qualify for §45Y. Facilities that begin construction on or before July 4, 2026 are not subject to that accelerated deadline. OBBBA also added foreign-entity (FEOC) restrictions and material-assistance rules. Beginning-of-construction is governed by IRS Notice 2025-42 (which limited the 5% safe harbor). Verify current guidance before relying on these dates.

In short (60 seconds)

  • What it is: A tech-neutral, emissions-based production credit that replaces the older energy production credit regime as it phases out at the end of 2024.
  • When it applies: Generally for qualified facilities placed in service after December 31, 2024 (high level).
  • Wind & solar deadline (OBBBA): begin construction after July 4, 2026 → must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.
  • What it measures: kWh produced at a qualified facility and sold to an unrelated person; in certain metered cases, the statute allows sold/consumed/stored treatment (high level).
  • Base vs higher rate concept: IRS materials describe a base rate and a higher rate for small facilities meeting certain requirements (high level).
  • Monetization: IRS materials describe §45Y as eligible for direct payment or transfer (not to prohibited foreign entities); pre-filing registration is required.

Related pages

  • Eligible Credits — directory of the credits within §6418's scope (date-dependent post-OBBBA).
  • How It Works — transfer workflow, cash rule, timing (high level).
  • Registration Filing — pre-filing registration and registration numbers (high level).
  • Risk Compliance — diligence, excessive transfer concept, FEOC, and risk basics.
  • Glossary — key terms and definitions.

1) What is the Section 45Y credit?

The IRS describes the Clean Electricity Production Credit as a newly established, tech-neutral production tax credit that is emissions-based and flexible between clean electricity technologies. It applies to taxpayers with a qualified facility (and certain energy storage technology concepts are also described in IRS materials) placed in service after December 31, 2024. This is the post-2024 "tech-neutral" production credit framework (high level).

Plain-English purpose

Unlike older credits that were tied to specific technologies, §45Y is designed around whether a facility meets a GHG emissions threshold. That makes "how emissions are determined" a key topic in the final regulations and eCFR rules (high level).

2) Qualified facility (high level)

The statute describes a qualified facility as one that is owned by the taxpayer, used for electricity generation, placed in service after December 31, 2024, and with a greenhouse gas emissions rate that is not greater than zero (high level). Final regulations and eCFR rules provide more detail on how emissions rates are determined and how eligibility is evaluated. Note the OBBBA wind/solar timing above.

10-year credit period concept

The statute includes a 10-year period concept for when a facility is treated as a qualified facility for purposes of §45Y (high level). Always confirm the applicable-year rules using official sources.

3) What is counted: kWh sold (and the metering device case)

In general, §45Y is structured around kWh produced at a qualified facility and sold to an unrelated person. The statute also provides a special rule for certain facilities equipped with a metering device owned and operated by an unrelated person, under which electricity may be treated as sold/consumed/stored by the taxpayer (high level). The eCFR rules define "metering device" and provide standards for operation and records (high level).

Why this matters

Because the credit is computed from measured electricity, metering and sales documentation are typical diligence items. If you are buying credits through §6418 transferability, documentation quality matters. See Risk Compliance.

4) Credit amounts (high level: base rate, higher rate, and adjustments)

IRS materials describe that the credit starts at a base rate of 0.3 cents per kWh of electricity produced at a qualified facility and sold to an unrelated person, with a higher base rate (1.5 cents per kWh) for small facilities (less than 1 megawatt output) that meet prevailing wage and registered apprenticeship requirements (high level). The IRS also notes inflation adjustment applies to the rate (high level).

Domestic content and energy community "adders" (high level)

  • Domestic content: IRS materials describe a 10% increase for facilities meeting certain domestic content requirements.
  • Energy community: IRS materials describe a 10% increase if the facility is located in an energy community.

These topics are fact-specific and depend on definitions and documentation. Verify current-year requirements in official sources.

No "double dipping" note (high level)

IRS materials state that taxpayers cannot claim both the production credit and the investment credit for the same facility. If you are choosing between §45Y and §48E, treat it as a planning decision and confirm details using official sources.

5) Phaseout and the OBBBA wind/solar acceleration (high level)

Under the original IRA framework, §45Y's phase-out was tied to the later of 2032 or when U.S. greenhouse gas emissions from electricity reach 25% of 2022 emissions or lower. OBBBA overrode that timing for wind and solar: applicable wind and solar facilities are not eligible if placed in service after December 31, 2027, unless construction begins on or before July 4, 2026. Other technologies (for example geothermal, hydrogen, nuclear) follow different phaseout timing. Confirm the rule set that applies to your facility type and timing.

6) How to claim §45Y (Form 7211)

IRS materials indicate taxpayers use Form 7211 to claim the §45Y credit for clean electricity produced at each qualified facility. IRS instructions describe the form as the Clean Electricity Production Credit form and emphasize facility-by-facility reporting concepts (high level).

Prevailing wage/apprenticeship (PWA) pointer

IRS instructions for Form 7211 include reminders that increased credit amounts may require prevailing wage and apprenticeship compliance and related reporting (for example, Form 7220 may be required for certain increased credit claims). Confirm requirements using the latest official instructions.

7) §45Y and transferability under §6418 (high level)

IRS materials describe that the clean electricity production credit is eligible for direct payment or transfer. The IRS also provides a separate registration page explaining that pre-filing registration is required to make an elective payment or transfer election, including obtaining registration numbers and including them on the tax return (high level). Post-OBBBA, §6418 transfers cannot be made to prohibited/"specified" foreign entities. Your site's workflow overview is on How It Works and Registration Filing.

Transferability checklist for §45Y (high level)

  • Confirm facility qualification: placed-in-service timing (and the OBBBA wind/solar deadline) and the emissions threshold concept (high level).
  • Confirm measured kWh: production and sale (or metering-device case) support.
  • Pre-filing registration: obtain registration numbers before transfer/elective pay election.
  • FEOC screening: confirm the transferee isn't a prohibited foreign entity and the credit isn't FEOC-tainted.
  • Diligence file: facility identity, meter/sales records, and any bonus/adder support (domestic content, energy community, PWA).
  • Risk awareness: buyer risk exists if credits are later adjusted; see Risk Compliance.

FAQs (Section 45Y)

1) Is §45Y technology-neutral?

Yes. IRS describes §45Y as tech-neutral and emissions-based, intended to replace the older regime as it phases out after 2024 (high level).

2) When does §45Y generally apply?

The statute and IRS materials describe eligibility for qualified facilities placed in service after December 31, 2024. For wind & solar, OBBBA requires placement in service by December 31, 2027 unless construction begins on or before July 4, 2026 (high level).

3) What does the credit generally measure?

kWh produced at a qualified facility and sold to an unrelated person; the statute also includes a special metering-device case (high level).

4) How do I claim it?

IRS materials indicate taxpayers use Form 7211 to claim the §45Y credit (facility-by-facility concept).

5) Can §45Y be transferred under §6418?

IRS materials describe the credit as eligible for direct payment or transfer, with pre-filing registration required and no transfers to prohibited foreign entities (high level).

6) Is this page tax or legal advice?

No. This site provides general informational and educational content only. See Disclaimer.

Official sources (clickable)

This page is educational. For official definitions, year-specific rules, and reporting requirements, consult the sources below.

Last updated / reviewed: June 2026. Re-check: the wind/solar July 4, 2026 begin-construction deadline and FEOC scope are moving — verify against primary sources.

Note: Educational content only — not tax or legal advice. See Disclaimer.