Emerging Leaders Program

Educational Day

Emerging Leaders Program

31 March 2026 | San Diego

This training day is designed for new professionals, students, and trainees entering the rapidly growing field of solar PV and BESS asset management. With the North American market shifting toward larger, more complex hybrid portfolios and increasingly data-driven operations, understanding the fundamentals of asset management has never been more essential.


Through a mix of interactive sessions, case studies, and group discussions, participants will gain a clear and practical grounding in the core pillars of asset management. Topics range from due diligence and O&M best practices to the basics of financial oversight and the emerging challenges of managing hybrid assets.


Beyond technical knowledge, this day also emphasizes peer-to-peer exchange and career development. Attendees will connect with fellow newcomers, share experiences, and engage directly with seasoned industry experts who will offer guidance, answer questions, and provide real-world insights.

Tuesday 31 March 2026

Program

07:45

Registration & welcome coffee

Session Topics:
08:20

Opening & welcoming words by Solarplaza

10 min.

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Elise Hoffmann

Session Topics:
Session 1

The market challenges & opportunities at hand

08:30

Energy markets, the solar value chain, and the role of asset management

presentation

60 min.

  • Defining the solar value chain and how the role of asset management fits within it.
  • Electricity markets 101: supply, demand, and pricing.
  • Market dynamics that shape asset management priorities.

Mark Culpepper

Enfinity Global

Session Topics:
09:30

Asset management starts with due diligence

presentation

45 min.

 

 

- Technical, financial, and contractual due diligence explained.
- Common red flags in PV and BESS projects.
- How due diligence findings shape long-term asset strategies.
- Practical mini-exercise: reviewing a simplified due diligence checklist.

Jon Previtali

VDE Americas

Session Topics:
10:15

Coffee break

Session Topics:
Session 2

10:35

Technical fundamentals of PV asset management

presentation

55 min.

 

 

- Overview of plant design and critical components.
- Understanding performance metrics: PR, availability, degradation.
- Common operational challenges and maintenance strategies.
- Health & safety considerations for asset managers.

Karo Fernandez

Solar Energy International

Session Topics:
11:30

Case study exercise: Diagnozing plant underperformance

presentation

45 min.

Participants analyze a sample performance report and work through root cause identification.

Karo Fernandez

Solar Energy International

Session Topics:
12:15

Lunch break

Session Topics:
13:15

O&M best practices for long-term performance

presentation

120 min.

 

 

- Service provider management: SLAs, KPIs, and reporting.
- Preventive vs corrective maintenance: scheduling, planning, and budgeting.
- Using monitoring platforms and data to guide decisions.
- Managing warranties, spares, and spare parts strategies.
- Environmental and social considerations in O&M.
- Group discussion: practical challenges in day-to-day O&M.

Session Topics:
15:15

Coffee break

Session Topics:
15:35

Asset Management for Hybrid Assets – How to Integrate BESS

presentation

25 min.

 

 

- How hybrid systems are structured and operated.
- Key challenges: warranties, degradation, safety, and dispatch strategies.
- Additional commercial considerations: merchant risk, revenue stacking, compliance.
- What asset managers need to know to oversee hybrid portfolios.

Jason Raymond

Sunraycer

Session Topics:
16:00

Give & get: Interactive mentorship and key takeaways

Session Topics:
17:00

Emerging leader networking drinks

Session Topics:

Partners

Got questions?

We’ve got you covered — explore our most frequently asked questions about Emerging Leaders Program!

Prefer to reach out?

Send us an email; we’d be more than happy to help.

Anna Hryhoriak
Senior Events Manager

For practical questions regarding our activities:

[email protected]

José Miguel Polanco
Business Developer

For practical questions regarding our activities:

[email protected]

Domenica Rodà
Senior Project Coordinator

For practical questions regarding our activities:

[email protected]