Valuable opportunity to network with representatives from California's booming storage market

Düsseldorf, March 6, 2014. A distinguished delegation of energy experts and regulatory readers from California will be attending the Energy Storage conference and exhibition in Düsseldorf. The body of delegates includes Michael Picker, Commissioner to the California Public Utilities Commission and former Senior Advisor to the Governor of California, Jerry Brown; Robert Weisenmiller, Chair of the state's primary energy agency, the California Energy Commission (CEC); David Hochschild, Environmental Commissioner at the California Energy Commission; Carla Peterman, Commissioner for matters relating to energy storage at the regulatory agency, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), Steve Berberich, CEO of the electricity grid operator, the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), Angelina Galiteva, CAISO Governor and Founder of Renewables 100 Policy Institute, and David Olsen, CAISO Governor. Energy Storage Europe is being organized by Messe Düsseldorf and takes place from March 25–27, 2014.

Press photos are available free of charge at: http://medianet.messe-duesseldorf.de/press/energy-storage/assets.html

The delegation will participate in a panel discussion entitled "The State of Energy Transformation in California, Building a Carbon-Free Future" on the first day of the conference. In addition several important side meetings are being co-organized by the Global Energy Storage Alliance (GESA), the German Energy Storage Association (BVES) and the Renewables 100 Policy Institute to discuss the role of energy storage in addressing specific technical grid implementation issues and other regulatory frameworks necessary to integrate additional renewable energy technologies into grid operations.

California is set to become the pioneer of energy storage in the USA. In accordance with state law, the CPUC recently set a new target requiring California's investor owned utilities to procure 1,325 megawatts (MW) of storage capacity by 2020.

"Energy Storage Europe provides a unique chance for attendees to forge crucial business contacts with our high-caliber guests," explains Hans Werner Reinhard, Deputy Managing Director of Messe Düsseldorf. "The event has become an important platform for market-making discussions between policy makers and regulators, innovative technology companies, developers and other business enterprises, helping the European electric power system to integrate energy storage into the grid to help solve some of our near, medium and long term challenges"

This year, Energy Storage Europe provides even more opportunities for attendees to meet and network with each other. For example, they can take advantage of a new mobile conference application to establish contact with other visitors or use a variety of meeting areas to hold business discussions free of charge. The application can be downloaded for free from www.energy-storage-online.de/1333.

800 attendees and 60 exhibitors from more than 30 countries are expected to take part, making the conference and exhibition one of the European energy storage sector's most important events. Energy Storage Europe will focus on subject matters ranging from technological innovations within the storage sector, to the energy market of the future, grid integration and the outlook for international markets. Each topic will be illustrated using a high number of concrete practical examples. This year's keynote speakers include Garrelt Duin, Minister for Economics, Energy, Industry and Commerce of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia; Hildegard Müller, Chairwoman of the General Executive Management Board of the German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW); Sven Becker, CEO of the association of municipal utilities Trianel; Boris Schucht, CEO of transmission systems operator 50Hertz; Johann-Friedrich Dempwolff, President of the Association of European Automotive and Industrial Battery Manufacturers (EUROBAT) and General Manager of Johnson Controls Power Solutions EMEA; Nicola Cosciani, CEO of Fiamm Energy Storage Solutions and Dr. Frank-Michael Baumann, Managing Director of EnergyAgency.NRW.

Further information, including the program and details of how to register, is available at: www.energy-storage-online.com

About Messe Dusseldorf*
With EUR 315m worth of sales in 2013, the Messe Düsseldorf Group maintained its position as one of Germany's most successful trade fair companies. 25,068 exhibitors presented their products to 1.2m trade visitors at events in Düsseldorf in 2013. They were joined by half a million visitors to various conventions. About 50 trade fairs are held in Düsseldorf, including 24 global leaders in five areas of expertise – machinery, plants & equipment, trade & services, medicine & healthcare, fashion & lifestyle and leisure – as well as some 80 to 100 proprietary, joint and contracted events outside Germany. Messe Düsseldorf GmbH is the trade fair company with the highest level of internationalism in capital goods exhibitions. The Group runs a global network of sales offices in 132 countries (69 international representations) as well as competence centres in seven countries. (www.messe-duesseldorf.com/)

* All figures are subject to final accounts

About World of Energy Storage
The World of Energy Storage (WES) hosts 5 conferences and trade shows on 3 continents, covering the world's top 5 renewable energy markets (North America, India, China, Europe, and Japan) with nearly 70% of global renewables generation. In 2013, 3000 leaders representing 2000 organizations chose the World of Energy Storage as their marketplace.

Powered by the 5 leading advocacy groups in the world (BVES, CESA, CNESA, and IESA), the WES conferences & trade shows provide unmatched access to key policymakers, regulators, grid managers, and the world's largest utilities. Energy Storage North America (ESNA) 2013 featured California's Commissioners leading energy storage procurement, Commissioner Carla Peterman and Mike Florio. Energy Storage Düsseldorf 2013 featured the German Minister of Environment. (www.worldenergystorage.com)

About the Global Energy Storage Alliance (GESA)
GESA is a 501c(3) non-profit organization dedicated to advancing education, collaboration, knowledge and proven frameworks about the benefits of energy storage and how it can be used to achieve a more efficient, cleaner, reliable, affordable and secure electric power system globally. GESA was co founded by the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA), the German Energy Storage Alliance (BVES), the Chinese Energy Storage Alliance (CNESA), the Indian Energy Storage Alliance (IESA) and the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE).

About the Renewables 100 Policy Institute
The Renewables 100 Policy Institute is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded in 2007 with a mission to study and advance the global transition to 100% renewable energy.(www.renewables100.org)