Calcharge

CalCharge is a battery and electrochemical energy storage membership program comprised of startups and established companies, research institutions, laboratories, and other key stakeholders.  Technologies developed by CalCharge members support the electric vehicle, grid, and consumer electronics markets.

Operated by New Energy Nexus since 2012, CalCharge holds CRADAs (Collaborative Research and Development Agreements) with U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories. CalCharge LLC is the umbrella organization for CalCEF Catalyst—a 501(c)(6) non-profit.

LAUNCH

Includes collaborative events such as conferences and hackathons, focused on ideation and team formation.

ACCELERATE

Supports startups with matchmaking and commercial partnerships.

Scale Up Icon

SCALE UP

Pilot opportunities connecting proven solutions to corporate partners for demonstration projects and deployment.

PROGRAM DETAILS

Why CalCharge

To accelerate the development of a thriving California energy storage cluster, which is a key driver of global industry and market growth

Our Core Purpose

  • Bring together the innovators, end-users, and other key stakeholders in energy storage technology
  • Provide access to the resources and expertise needed to accelerate innovation and market impact for member companies
  • Develop programs and services that smooth the “innovation to installation” pathway for emerging energy storage technologies

What We Do

CalCharge provides the California cluster with the institutional framework, resources, and information that it needs to address the critical gaps impairing its growth and position as a global driver of the industry. Through its programs and services, CalCharge creates a “center of gravity” for the California energy storage cluster that enables its diverse stakeholders to collaborate, identify barriers to emerging technology success, and develop solutions that help clear the path to commercialization.

Our key program areas are:

  • Technology Assessment and Acceleration
  • Pre-Commercialization Support
  • Ecosystem Facilitation

Technology Assessment and Acceleration

Using an extremely innovative and dramatically streamlined Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA), CalCharge member companies are able to access world-class services, facilities and personnel at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to accelerate their research and development of new technologies. This innovative contract mechanism significantly reduces the time start tasks and offers better intellectual property terms than other contractual mechanisms with the labs.

  • List of Principle Investigators and their latest research in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Energy Storage Group’s website and Applied Energy Materials Group’s website.
  • Examples of energy storage research in Dr. Weker’s group and Dr. Toney’s group at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
  • Highlights of battery related activities in Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.

Pre-Commercialization Support

As the “center of gravity” for the California energy storage cluster to accelerate new technologies, CalCharge is a vehicle for forming and launching partnerships to speed up the commercialization process. An important example is matching large corporates with startups.  A corporate working with CalCharge is able to explore new technologies, business models, and emerging technologies. Startups also stand to benefit from strategic partnership and pilot opportunities. CalCharge can also help members to identify strong partners to secure technology development and deployment grants such as ARPA-E, SBIR, and other government programs.

Ecosystem Facilitation

The Bay Area Battery Summit is an annual event organized by CalCharge and one its partner national laboratories.  Founded in 2015, the summit continues to catalyze collaboration among key players in the energy storage sector. Each year, the summit focuses on one industry trend to conduct a deep-dive conversation across the day’s events.  Global leading companies and highly sought-after startups present their innovations, challenges, and areas for collaborations. The summit also allows for extensive networking opportunities to allow the ecosystem to respond with business opportunities, talents, funding, and insights.

Upcoming Events!

Bay Area Battery Summit 2020: https://bayareabatterysummit2020.splashthat.com/

Past Events:

Membership

Who should join CalCharge?

CalCharge is designed to connect the energy storage value chain across the consumer, transportation and grid markets.  If any of the following describes your company, then CalCharge membership could be right for you:

  • Emerging battery companies developing new innovations in energy storage
  • Established large companies with battery focused R&D activities
  • Major users of energy storage technologies that drive market need
  • Value chain participants connected to the California battery cluster
  • Investors with portfolio companies in the battery sector
  • Research facilities conducting basic and applied research in energy storage technologies
  • Academic institutions providing technical and professional education

Membership Types

There are three membership categories in CalCharge – General, Charter, and Partner.  The benefits and obligations of each type of membership are described below.  Depending on the type of organization, annual dues are based upon either headcount or assets under management.

General Membership

General Membership includes companies and organizations of all sizes and stages of development that wish to accelerate innovation, application, adoption, and market impact of such technologies.  Dues are based on a sliding scale and are segmented into different categories for companies, investors, academic and research institutions, government bodies, and non-profits.

General Members are entitled to the following membership benefits:

  • Access to the CalCharge Technology Acceleration, Professional Development, Commercialization Support, and Ecosystem Facilitation programs
  • Recognition on all CalCharge published materials
  • Special discounts for CalCharge events and activities
  • Use of the CalCharge name and logo for marketing and promotional activities
  • Access to the CalCharge Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) at Partner Member Labs

Charter Membership

Charter Membership is for companies with a long-term interest in the development of the cluster and in providing direct ongoing input into the development of CalCharge.  This includes critical support in developing services and strategic planning activities, as well as growing the operations of CalCharge and ensuring its effectiveness. Charter Members commit to an annual contribution for at least three years.  Charter Membership dues are based on General Membership dues.

In addition to the benefits provided to General Members, each Charter Member will also receive:

  • A reserved seat on the Leadership Council, which provides input and oversight of CalCharge programs
  • Increased insight into, and ability to interact with, Partner and General Members
  • Recognition as a Charter Member on all CalCharge published materials
  • Annual meeting sponsorship – company logo prominently displayed, special accommodations and presentation slots
  • Lead sponsorship of one CalCharge seminar or webinar of the member’s choice per year, including ability to moderate and/or serve as presenters
  • Access to CalCharge Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) at Partner Member Labs

Partner Membership

Partner Membership includes academic, research, government, or civil society organizations or institutions that have demonstrated a leadership role in supporting the development of electrochemical energy storage technologies.  Partner Members commit to a long-term strategic relationship that includes providing CalCharge and its Members access to significant institutional resources to support the development and commercialization of energy storage technologies.

Partner Memberships are structured on a case-by-case basis and are formed at the sole discretion of CalCharge.

TEAM

Danny Kennedy
CEO

Yi Ke
Program Manager

Dr. Gao Liu
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Dr. Tony Van Buuren
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Dr. Steve Eglash
SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory

PARTNER LABORATORIES

  • Web
  • Llnl
  • Slac