CalCharge Announces New Leader and World’s Largest Hub for Energy Storage Stakeholders
Alex Luce takes helm of energy storage innovation consortium, unveils
new partnership with NAATBatt International
CalCharge, the public-private partnership dedicated to accelerating
innovation in energy storage technologies, has a new leader. Alex Luce,
who was named program manager effective Dec. 1, has already helped
CalCharge partner with North America’s leading advanced battery trade
association, NAATBatt International (NAATBatt).
“As the energy storage sector continues to grow and mature, the
cutting-edge tools and resources available through CalCharge become ever
more important,” said Luce. “Partnering with NAATBatt is a great example
of how we’re continuing to expand the value proposition for our members.”
Luce brings years of technical and program-building experience to
CalCharge. With deep expertise in bringing new technologies to market,
capitalizing on synergies between like organizations, and understanding
technical aspects of energy storage, Luce will continue to develop new
opportunities and offerings for CalCharge members, with an expanded
focus on testing, safety, and standards.
Before joining CalCharge, Luce worked at the Advanced Research Projects
Agency for Energy (ARPA-E) in Washington D.C. He also worked at the
early-stage investment firm Prelude Ventures, and at SkyDeck, the UC
Berkeley startup accelerator. Luce earned his Ph.D. in Materials Science
and Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and
conducted graduate research at the Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory, where he served as co-president of the Berkeley Energy and
Resources Collaborative.
Luce will report to CalCharge president Danny Kennedy who also serves as
managing director of the California Clean Energy Fund (CalCEF). Kennedy
came to CalCEF from Sungevity, which he co-founded to get involved in
the next big frontiers in the energy transition.
“Energy storage is key to cracking the clean energy code and
decarbonizing our transportation fleet, and is essential for consumer
electronics,” said Kennedy. “Alex is the perfect person to find creative
avenues for our members to access resources, overcome challenges, and
leverage new opportunities in the fast-changing energy storage sector.”
CalCharge’s new partner, NAATBatt, supports the commercial interests of
its members by helping them identify technological and market
developments in a variety of advanced battery applications. The two
organizations plan to collaborate on resources and networking
opportunities to provide their members broader insights across the
sector.
“We’re excited about offering CalCharge as a resource to our members and
opening up NAATBatt as a resource to their members,” said James
Greenberger, NAATBatt’s executive director. In particular, Greenberger
highlights CalCharge's unique agreement that provides streamlined access
to three national laboratories.
“Gaining access to the national labs could be a huge benefit to our
members, helping to accelerate the development of ideas, technologies,
and commercialization of advanced battery technology by the private
sector,” said Greenberger.
While CalCharge draws members from around the world, it provides a
unique entrée to the groundbreaking energy-storage innovation coming out
of California. NAATBatt, which focuses on the commercialization of
advanced battery technology in multiple applications worldwide, aims to
give its members better access to the exciting developments in battery
technology coming out of California. NAATBatt and CalCharge are hopeful
about opportunities to collaborate on future endeavors, ranging from
technical and business issues to safety concerns.
“One of CalCharge’s goals is to develop and implement industry standards
and training for the safe and effective installation of energy storage
devices, and that requires support across the industry,” said Bernie
Kotlier, CalCharge board member and executive director of sustainable
energy solutions for the IBEW/NECA Labor Management Cooperation
Committee, who recognized and spearheaded the NAATBatt-CalCharge
partnership. “This partnership is the perfect way to connect the dots
and get closer to standards that ensure safety across the energy storage
sector.”
CalCharge launched in 2014 and has 28 members, which range from
start-ups to multinational corporations, research institutions, national
labs, and utilities. In addition to providing streamlined access to
three national labs, CalCharge co-founded Battery University with San
Jose State University, the world’s first master’s program in energy
storage technology.
About CalCharge
CalCharge (www.calcharge.org)
is a public-private partnership working to accelerate the development,
commercialization, and adoption of new energy storage technologies for
the consumer, transportation, and grid markets. CalCharge enables
diverse stakeholders identify barriers and develop solutions. It
operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of CalCEF Catalyst, a 501(c)(6)
trade association, and is primarily funded by dues and contributions
from members.
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