News
The Energy Storage Partnership (ESP) is pleased to announce we have reached a key milestone – our Fifth Anniversary! As we begin celebrating this special occasion, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to each of our partners for their invaluable contributions to the partnership’s growth and success.
Hosted by the World Bank’s Energy Sector Management Assistance Program (ESMAP), ESP stands proudly as a global alliance of partners from diverse sectors and regions, united by its commitment to advancing energy storage solutions in developing countries for a sustainable future. To integrate variable renewable energy resources into grids, energy storage is key. Energy storage allows for the increased use of wind and solar power, which can not only increase access to power in developing countries, but also increases the resilience of energy systems, improve grid reliability, stability, and power quality, essential to promoting the productive uses of energy.
Established in May 2019, during the Clean Energy Ministerial in Vancouver, Canada, ESP has thrived and expanded thanks to the collective efforts, dedication, and shared vision of our partners.
Reflecting on our impact journey, it is remarkable to see how far we have come over five years. In the early days, our partnership comprised a much smaller group of pioneering organizations, including: South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO); Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN); European Association for Storage of Energy (EASE); The Faraday Institution; South Africa Energy Storage Association (SAESA); The National Physical Laboratory (NPL); India Energy Storage Alliance (IESA); Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE); Belgian Energy Research Alliance (BERA); Loughborough University; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL); and the Global Battery Alliance. Today, ESP counts 56 partners.
Since 2019 we have been supporting our partners on the ground—national laboratories, research institutions, and philanthropies—as they foster the innovation and technical cooperation and training crucial for the rapid uptake of Variable Renewable Energy.
The ESP supported the Battery Storage Investment Program, focused on the mobilization of over 961 million USD for battery storage projects, channeled through the Climate Investment Funds (CIFs), Canada Climate Finance Facility, and other climate funds. Closing this funding gap, the Program has contributed to over 6.1 GWh of battery storage commitments in active projects in 33 countries, and to 2.5 additional GWh of identified capacity in future pipeline. Almost 1 GWh has been or will be commissioned through various projects including in India (120 MWh), South Africa (833 MWh), Central African Republic (25 MWh), Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. Additionally, there are ongoing procurement activities in different countries including in Maldives (50 MWh) and West Africa (91 MWh).
We have also made good on our commitment to help close gender gaps in the energy storage sector. Through the Women in Energy Storage mentoring program in partnership with Global Women’s Network for Energy Transition (GWNET) we are empowering the professionalization and leadership of women. The program is now in its third cohort and counts 45 alumni who have gone on to important roles in the sector in their home countries and regions.
ESP has also published more than a dozen flagship reports and publications, offering vital guidelines and roadmaps for policy procurement, and enabling infrastructure necessary for the spread of sustainable battery storage solutions for developing countries. Invaluable connections for innovative storage projects have been forged and key knowledge exchanged at our 10 international ESP Partners Meetings.
We are therefore excited to announce that the next annual, and Fifth Anniversary ESP Meetings will take place from November 4-7, 2024, in Marrakesh, Morocco. The meetings are organized in collaboration with ESP partner MASEN. We encourage you to mark your calendars and join us for what promises to be a productive and inspiring event marking the first half decade of our transformative partnership. But first we will hold our mid-year Partner Meeting on June 25 and look forward to sharing the latest updates from our network. Together, we will continue making a difference and helping shape the clean energy transition for a livable planet.
Chandra Govindarajalu
Practice Manager, ESMAP