Long Duration Energy Storage Council Names Julia Souder as CEO
9 May, 2022 – BRUSSELS – The (“The Council”) announced today that energy and environmental veteran Julia Souder was selected to be the organization’s first CEO. Souder will lead the Council’s strategy and vision to enable the advancement of long duration energy storage to the center stage of the energy transition worldwide.
Souder’s core responsibilities include guiding the Council in achieving its mission while engaging with members, industry, governments, and other stakeholders to drive global adoption of long duration energy storage. The announcement follows the of directors last month.
Souder has over 20-years of experience in the energy and environmental sectors, most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Long Duration Energy Storage Association of California (LDESAC). While there, she led the education and outreach of emerging and existing long duration energy storage developers, focusing on its importance to grid reliability and meeting climate goals.
“Long duration energy storage is a critical component to building a renewable energy future,” said Souder. “Advancing innovation and accelerating deployment of long duration energy storage technologies is paramount to our global decarbonization efforts. We can’t rely solely on the technologies of the past to bring us into the future, which is why LDES is an exciting part of the clean energy story. I’m thrilled to lead the Council, which is playing a critical role in unifying efforts to decarbonize our global economy. I’m looking forward to working with our growing, global membership to educate and adopt a 100% renewable energy system with energy storage at the core. Energy storage holds the key to transition our energy needs to reach a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future.”
Souder has been a longtime advocate of clean energy technology, working extensively to support environmentally friendly technologies and equitable policies. Previously Souder held senior positions at the National Resources Defense Council, Clean Line Energy Partners, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation, the U.S. Department of Energy, and as an entrepreneur at JAS Energies LLC.
In addition, Souder serves on the board of the Treasure Island Development Authority and has served as a board member for Women in Energy and Environment, Women in Cleantech and Sustainability, and as an advisor to Peak Reliability and a member of the Truman National Security Project.
“The board feels strongly that Julia has the passion, drive, and experience to take the Council to the next level,” said LDES Council Board Co-President Michael Geyer, Senior Technical Advisor for Malta Inc. “Her expertise in long duration energy storage, transmission, grid operations, and carbon-neutral technologies makes her a natural fit for the Council. We know the enormous capabilities and benefits that energy storage holds whether mechanical, thermal, electrochemical, or chemical storage. Through the Council’s collaboration, innovation, and investment, we will see a rapid path to a decarbonized energy future.”
“Long duration energy storage technologies are attracting unprecedented attention from global governments, utilities, and transmission operators,” said LDES Council Board Co-President Frank Wouters, Senior Vice President for Reliance Industries Limited. “We are confident the Council’s work under Julia’s leadership will advance the adoption of these technologies and directly accelerate climate action to achieve carbon neutrality.”
The Council will release its next report this week on 24/7 Clean Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). Council members will be attending the Clean Energy Buyers Association (CEBA) Connect Spring Summit in Detroit, MI and the American Clean Power Association CLEANPOWER conference in San Antonio, TX from May 16-18. Souder will take part in a panel at CEBA on 24/7 Clean PPAs with Council members Breakthrough Energy, Malta, Microsoft, and Ørsted.
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About the LDES Council
The LDES Council is a global, executive-led non-profit membership organization, comprising technology providers, equipment providers, renewable energy companies, utilities, grid operators, investors, and end-consumers. It strives to accelerate decarbonization of the energy system at lowest cost to society by driving innovation, commercialization and deployment of long duration energy storage. The LDES Council provides fact-based guidance and information to governments, industry and broader society, drawing from the experience of its members which include leading energy companies, technology providers, investors and end-users. To learn more:
Media Contact:
Larissa Fair, Director of Communications, North America