The Australian Solar Council has launched a new peak body for the energy storage sector, the Australian Energy Storage Council.
Chief executive of the Australian Solar Council John Grimes will also act as chief executive of the new member-based not-for-profit.
“Energy storage brings exciting new opportunities for the energy industry and for energy consumers,” Mr Grimes said. “Deployed wisely it can significantly bring down electricity costs and make the electricity network more robust, flexible and reliable.
“It is important that energy utilities engage with the energy storage sector sooner rather than later. Too often the energy sector ignores emerging technology trends and is blindsided when they are deployed widely”.
Mr Grimes said one of the first things the council would do is help to develop standards and protocols for embedding energy storage into the grid.
“The time is right for this organisation to be developed in its own right and it will be guided by its membership and the needs of the energy storage sector beyond solar applications,” he said.
Applications for energy storage include electric vehicles, domestic energy storage linked solar PV and large-scale on-grid solutions for the utility sector.
The council will represents companies including technology manufacturers, equipment providers, project developers, consultants, utilities and other energy industry leaders.
More information is available on the Australian Energy Storage Council website.