Emerging Leaders Program

Educational Day

Emerging Leaders Program

31 March 2026 | San Diego

Tuesday 31 March 2026


07:45

Registration & welcome coffee

08:20

Opening & welcoming words by Solarplaza

10 min.

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Elise Hoffmann


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.

 

 

This session introduces the solar value chain and clarifies where asset management sits within it, from development through operations and optimization. It provides a concise overview of electricity markets, covering the fundamentals of supply, demand, and pricing. Participants will also examine how evolving market dynamics directly influence asset management priorities and decision-making.

Mark Culpepper

Enfinity Global


09:30

Asset management starts with due diligence

presentation

45 min.

 

 

This session demystifies technical, financial, and contractual due diligence for PV and BESS projects, highlighting the most common red flags investors and asset owners should watch for. Participants will explore how due diligence outcomes directly influence long-term asset management and value-creation strategies. The session concludes with a hands-on mini-exercise, guiding attendees through a simplified due diligence checklist to translate theory into practice.

Jon Previtali

VDE Americas


10:15

Coffee break

Session 2

10:35

Technical fundamentals of PV asset management

presentation

55 min.

 

 

This session provides a practical overview of PV plant design and its critical components, building a foundation for effective operational oversight. It explains key performance metrics, such as PR, availability, and degradation, and how they are used to assess asset health. The discussion also addresses common operational challenges, maintenance strategies, and essential health and safety considerations for asset managers.

Karo Fernandez

Solar Energy International


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


12:15

Lunch break

13:15

O&M best practices for long-term performance

presentation

120 min.

 

 

This session explores best practices in day-to-day O&M, focusing on effective service provider management through SLAs, KPIs, and performance reporting. Participants will compare preventive and corrective maintenance approaches, learn how monitoring platforms and data inform operational decisions, and discuss strategies for managing warranties, spares, and environmental and social considerations. The session concludes with an interactive group discussion on real-world O&M challenges and practical solutions.


15:15

Coffee break

15:35

Asset Management for Hybrid Assets – How to Integrate BESS

presentation

25 min.

 

 

This session explains how hybrid PV and BESS systems are structured and operated, with a focus on the practical implications for asset managers. It addresses key technical and operational challenges, including warranties, degradation, safety, dispatch strategies, and additional commercial considerations such as merchant risk, revenue stacking, and compliance. Through real-world case study demonstrations, participants will gain practical insights into effectively overseeing and optimizing hybrid portfolios.

Jason Raymond

Sunraycer


16:00

Give & get: Interactive mentorship and key takeaways

17:00

Emerging leader networking drinks

Got questions?

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Anna Hryhoriak
Senior Events Manager

For questions about the program and content of the event:

[email protected]

José Miguel Polanco
Business Developer

For questions regarding partnership opportunities:

[email protected]

Domenica Rodà
Senior Project Coordinator

For practical questions regarding our activities:

[email protected]