The post has been corrected to refer to SEPA as a research group, not advocate group.
Dive Brief:
- Grid modernization research groups the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) and SGIP intend to merge their organizations, recognizing in a statement that evolving technology and distributed resources means the deal "just makes sense." The merger would add up to 100 new member organizations to SEPA's base of 1,000.
- SGIP has focused on the technology behind distributed energy resource (DER) management, cybersecurity and the interconnected grid. SEPA, on the other hand, has backed collaboration and research in the smart grid sector.
- The boards of both organizations have approved the merger, which now goes to the full SGIP membership for a vote. The combination is expected to be complete in either the first or second quarter of the year.
Dive Insight:
Along with similar acronyms, SEPA and SGIP say they share a vision of the energy future that makes the combination ideal. The groups say SEPA’s focus on market research, conferences and events, along with SGIP's technical expertise, "will enable greater-cross fertilization of ideas and initiatives," with a focus on market and regulatory concerns.
“Within SEPA’s mission of facilitating the electric power sector’s smart transition to clean energy future, integrating SGIP’s technical knowledge is another way to serve our members," SEPA CEO and President Julia Hamm said in a statement.
The new group will operate under the SEPA brand and organizational umbrella. Previously known as the Solar Electric Power Association, SEPA also merged with the Association for Demand Response and Smart Grid, precipitating the group's rebranding under the new SEPA name last year.
SGIP President and CEO Sharon Allan said the combined group would give its members "a much broader network of experts to collaborate and consult with on their grid modernization and DER questions and efforts.”
