Page 36 - Vol 28 Issue 29 2019

energy energy storage

Why energy

storage is an

essential

ingredient in grid

modernization

If the energy industry was a of clean energy
solar system, energy storage ecosystem,” she said.
S might very well be the sun. At She said that after
least, that’s the perspective of Kelly 25 years of working
Speakes-Backman, CEO of the Energy in the private sector,
Storage Association (ESA) and featured she moved into the
luminary speaker at DISTRIBUTECH public sector to try
International in San Antonio, Texas.
to understand how Kelly Speakes-Backman,
Speakes-Backman recently talked policy impacts business CEO of the Energy
about her work at the ESA and where and profitability. And Storage Association
she sees the future of energy storage. that’s when she woke
up to energy storage.
“After having that
background for 25 years, it was manufacturers and system integrators,
Storage brings flexibility to really clear that this newly emerging implementors such as independent
inflexible assets like coal- technology of energy storage is really power producers and developers, utilities
fired power plants and firms at the center of all of it,” she said. (investor-owned and municipal co-ops)
up variable assets like wind Speakes-Backman took the reins of the and grid operators. In addition, there are
members in the services that supply the
and solar power. It can reduce Energy Storage Association in 2017 when storage industry, such as law firms and
peak system demands for there were just 3 full-time employees. financial organizations.
one building or for an entire Today the group has eight employees and
municipality. Placed along expects to add two more in the near future.
transmission lines, it could Accelerating markets “That’s what makes it so
reduce congestion for an ISO. The ESA has three main objectives, said interesting,” said Speakes-
Speakes-Backman. It accelerates markets Backman. “We have
by working through the regulatory
“It is not generation, it is not a distribution process in specific states. She said the competitors and collaborators
asset, it is not a transmission asset, but it organization also works on policies on the in the same room at the same
can act as all three,” said Speakes-Backman. legislative side “to bridge that time that it time all trying to figure out
A mechanical engineer by training, takes to make regulatory reform because how to get storage to be more
Speakes-Backman worked in many everybody knows that’s not all that fast,” ubiquitous.”
different facets of the energy industry she said.
– from solar, to natural gas, to landfill- ESA also connects its own members
gas-to-energy, to fuel cells — before with each other. Speakes-Backman said As an example, she said the group created
she accepted the role she has now. there are approximately 190 members an internal working group to address
“I have been around that whole sphere of the group today and they consist of the question of ‘who should own energy

36 | AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 28, Issue 29, 2019 Celebrating 10 years of excellence