Global Energy Storage Alliance (GESA) is Established to Advance International Collaboration on Clean Energy Policies and Programs

BERKELEY, Calif. , April 1, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The newly created Global Energy Storage Alliance (GESA) has been established as an international non-profit organization to bring together many of the world's leading energy storage and clean energy industry associations to advance education, collaboration, and proven frameworks about the benefits of energy storage. Its co-founders are the U.S. Energy Storage Association (ESA), California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA), China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA), Germany Energy Storage Association (BVES), India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE).

"As energy storage development and deployment expand around the world and the many applications and benefits become clear, it's important to bring together the leading member associations that provide industry education, advocacy and support to work together at a global level," said GESA Co-founder and Chair Janice Lin. "We look forward to creating platforms and programs that align our common interests and leverage our collective strength to become a global voice for energy storage."

In its first major international initiative, GESA, in partnership with the Renewables 100 Policy Institute, last week facilitated a series of meetings between key German and European policy makers, regulators and a delegation of energy experts and regulators from California. Meetings took place in Bonn, Berlin, and Düsseldorf (concurrent with the Energy Storage Europe Conference and Expo) where participants discussed strategies for utilizing energy storage technologies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and create a more adaptable and resilient grid infrastructure to handle the rapid deployment of renewable generation and the changing demands of the grid around the world.

The European meetings were the product of close collaboration between the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA) and the Germany Energy Storage Association (BVES). The delegation included Carla Peterman, the California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) lead Commissioner on energy storage, alternative fueled vehicles and renewable energy; Stephen Berberich, CEO of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the state's grid operator; Robert Weisenmiller, Chair of the California Energy Commission (CEC); David Hochschild, Environmental Commissioner at the CEC; Michael Picker, CPUC Commissioner; and David Olsen and Angelina Galiteva, members of CAISO's Board of Governors.

"The meetings between the U.S. delegation, European energy leaders and representatives of the various member nations of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), may be the most significant gathering of international leaders on the topic of energy storage to ever take place," continued Janice Lin. "The sharing of ideas and opportunities that will come from expanded collaboration and implementation of best practices will produce meaningful benefits for electricity users across the globe."

GESA is also actively engaged in a number of strategic initiatives, including developing a universal framework for evaluating energy storage cost-effectiveness for various applications, and also working to develop privately financeable business cases for energy storage‐backed photovoltaic (PV) and PV‐hybrid systems to reduce diesel fuel consumption, accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, increase access to affordable electricity, and stimulate economic development in developing countries.

About GESA
The Global Energy Storage Alliance (GESA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2014. Its mission is to advance education, collaboration, knowledge and proven frameworks about the benefits of energy storage and how it can be used to achieve a cleaner, more efficient, reliable, affordable and secure electric power system globally. GESA was jointly founded by the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA), the Germany Energy Storage Association (BVES), the China Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA), the India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA), the U.S.-based Energy Storage Association (ESA) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE). To learn more, please visit www.globalESA.org or contact Cedric Christensen at [email protected] or  Janice Lin at [email protected].

SOURCE Global Energy Storage Alliance (GESA)