<p>Energy storage is increasingly becoming a hot topic in the debate on how to improve efficiency reliability and price-competitiveness of electricity services as well as on how to achieve deeper integration of intermittent renewable energies.</p>
<p>This position paper lies at the core of the Energy Storage Campaign that the Alliance for Rural Electrification (ARE) launched in June 2013 that aims at informing on the added value of using batteries for off-grid renewable energy systems and as grid backup. It is also expected that the six-month technology-focussed campaign will stimulate debate between the public sector and non-state stakeholders on the existing barriers for the battery sector and alternatives that stimulate its development.</p>
<p>Recommendations:</p>
<p>Support from public authorities, particularly regulators, as well as power sector technical bodies such as rural electrification agencies and public utilities would help stimulate development in the battery sector</p>
<ul>
<li>developing and enforcing a well fitted regulatory framework is critical to ensure the market’s sustainable development and consumer’s trust</li>
<li>a well tailored framework should be complemented via awareness creation campaigns and technical assistance to the operations sector (manufacturers, installers, operators, recyclers)</li>
<li>establishing policy targets for batteries, as it is done for renewable energies, could help stimulate the sector’s development</li>
<li>the achievement of these targets should be stimulated with the establishment of specific support schemes and assistance to the financing sector</li>
</ul>
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