Future of Energy

Thursday 29 February 2024

Program Day 1


08:00

Registration & Welcome Coffee

60 min.

Session Topics:

Session 1

Opening of the Conference

09:00

Opening Words

30 min.

Session Topics:

09:30

A Global View on the Forces Impacting the Future of Energy

presentation

30 min.

The world has seen some radical changes in the past few years, which impacted energy systems and accelerated the renewable energy transition. How will geopolitical developments, lingering supply chain issues, and fluctuating prices of energy and materials shape the future of energy, especially in emerging markets and developing economies? And what will a potential further increase in interest rates mean for the appetite for investing in renewable energy development in the global south?

Session Topics:
  • The impact of macroeconomic and geopolitical developments on financing and developing renewable energy projects
  • Assessing the status of renewable energy
  • How rising inflation and interest rates are affecting the energy transition in emerging markets
  • Unpacking the diminishing risk appetite for emerging markets, due to higher capital costs

10:00

Key Trends from the Global South

panel

45 min.

Although there are many similarities between the renewable energy development trajectories in Africa, South East Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe, these 4 regions each have their own characteristics, challenges and opportunities. In a reporter-style session, we will take a tour around the world with a developer and an investor and bring you up to speed on the key global market trends.

Session Topics:
  • State of markets around the globe
  • Opportunities and challenges in developing and financing renewable energy projects in emerging markets

10:45

Networking Break

Session Topics:

Session 2A

Pioneer & Develop - Green Hydrogen

11:30

Green Hydrogen: A Bubble or a Game Changer in Decarbonization?

panel

60 min.

How big a part will green hydrogen play in the future of energy? Believers and criticasters will discuss different aspects of the business model, such as its feasibility, sustainability and the offtake potential for green hydrogen. Get involved in an energetic debate around the potential of green hydrogen to achieve the 2050 climate goals.

Session Topics:
  • Applications and impact: a role beyond fertilizer and industrial use?
  • Navigating the global hydrogen highway: challenges and opportunities
  • The role of developing economies in producing, transporting and consuming green hydrogen
  • The sustainability dilemma: efficiency, opportunity cost and export of energy in underserved economies

Session 2B

Scale & Accelerate - Growth of C&I

11:30

Booming Business: The Expanding C&I Segment

panel

60 min.

Though still a relatively underserved market segment for solar systems, the C&I sector will become increasingly renewable-energy hungry as governments increase incentives to deliver on decarbonization targets, and fossil-fuelled electricity prices continue to be volatile. The market segment is picking up the pace quickly. By 2026, 125 GW of C&I rooftop solar is forecasted to have been installed, making C&I solar an increasing and significant contributor to the global renewable energy supply. Join this session to stay on top of the latest market dynamics and trends in the C&I sector and learn from experienced developers.

Session Topics:
  • Finding the right model: Self-consumption vs. feeding into the grid
  • Innovations in C&I: storage, bifacial/tracking, floating. What can we expect in the coming years?
  • How to boost C&I growth: obstacles in regulation, technology and client preferences
  • Financing: challenges and solutions related to financing solar C&I

12:30

Networking Lunch

Session Topics:

Session 3A

Pioneer & Develop - BESS

14:00

Taking Charge with Energy Storage

panel

60 min.

Storage technologies like batteries are deployed to balance the intermittent nature of renewables and to support grid stability and reliability. As such storage is a vital element to the future of energy. Its contribution to the energy transition in developing economies, island states and other countries in need of clean and affordable access to energy is clear. Though the business case, however, is not yet as clear everywhere. Get up to speed with the fast developments in storage, from a technology, market and financial perspective.

Session Topics:
  • Regional market updates
  • Battery technology advancements
  • Bankability of storage projects

Session 3B

Scale & Accelerate - Merchant Markets

14:00

Moving to Merchant: Risks and Rewards

panel

60 min.

The renewable industry is moving to the next phase of market integration, in which projects will be partially or fully exposed to wholesale prices and the associated risks. This session will discuss the transition from gold-plated PPAs to merchant markets. Both financial institutions and developers will share lessons learned so far related to dealing with the risks and opportunities of merchant electricity markets.

Session Topics:
  • Differences between traditional PPAs and exposure to market risk
  • Bankability of merchant-based assets
  • How to forecast both short-term and long-term price development
  • Lessons learned from banks and developers

15:00

Networking Coffee Break

Session Topics:

Session 4B

Scale & Accelerate - Transmission & Distribution

15:45

Transitioning to the Next Chapter: Private Sector Involvement in the State Dominated Transmission and Distribution Space

panel

60 min.

T&D is vital to the future of energy. With a huge need for further grid optimization, there's ample opportunity for innovation and investment. In this sector that's traditionally dominated by state-owned companies, shifts to more private-sector involvement are finally becoming visible. How do we nurture and encourage this development, while at the same time building upon the past learnings related to financing T&D projects from state-owned enterprises?

Session Topics:
  • Where we stand now: state of the market and of innovations
  • Attracting and mobilizing private sector and private capital in grid optimization
  • Learnings from DFIs that financed state-owned enterprises in T&D
  • ESG considerations when working in T&D

Session 4A

Pioneer & Develop - Offshore Wind

15:45

Grasping the Potential of Offshore Wind Development

panel

60 min.

For many years, offshore wind was considered to be the expensive cousin of onshore wind. This has changed dramatically, as prices have continued to drop - largely thanks to technological improvements and economies of scale. Now, offshore wind is also increasingly gaining traction in emerging markets. Projections suggest that offshore wind will reach installation rates between 15 and 21 GW/year from 2025 to 2030. There is ample potential for developing countries to ride on the wave of this momentum and ramp up their local offshore markets.

Session Topics:
  • Offshore wind market development forecast
  • Specific opportunities and challenges related to offshore wind project development 
  • How to manage concerns on the impact on the environment and maritime ecosystem

16:45

Short Break

Session Topics:

Session 5

Closing the First Conference Day

17:00

The Future of Energy Envisioned

presentation

30 min.

The closure of the first conference day will inspire you with a visionary view on the future of energy.

Session Topics:

17:30

Recap of the First Conference Day

15 min.

Session Topics:

17:45

Networking Drinks & Dinner

Session Topics:

Friday 1 March 2024

Program Day 2


08:00

Registration & Welcome Coffee

60 min.

Session Topics:

Session 6

Opening of the Conference

09:00

Opening Words

20 min.

Session Topics:

09:20

A Just Energy Transition

presentation

20 min.

The global energy access gap persists, as 675 million people still lack access to electricity and over 2.3 billion people continue to rely on harmful cooking fuels. It’s become clear that the world is not on track to achieve SDG 7 (“affordable and clean energy for all”) by 2030. This lack of power hinders people, businesses, and public institutions, and reduces food security, economic opportunity, and welfare. Without significant energy access investments in the low-income markets, entire countries will be left behind in the clean energy transition.

Session Topics:
  • Impact of climate change on the global south
  • How to reach net zero while leaving no one behind
  • Recent progress and pain points in energy access for all
  • Women's participation in the energy transition

09:40

ESG and Risk Management: Effective Duo or Complex Combination?

panel

50 min.

Along with a sustainable energy transition numerous risks are arising: social issues (such as forced labor in our supply chain), rising mineral demand, the environmental impact of manufacturing materials and other risks are at the forefront of it. At the same time, the focus on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) factors is rightly increasing, due to shifts in corporate values and strategy, new regulations, and customer and investor priorities. In this session financial and renewable representatives meet and discuss how these two trends can either support or complicate one another.

Session Topics:
  • Are we improving our ESG efforts?
  • Lowering our impact on the environment: the need for recycling
  • Dealing with the increase in mineral demand
  • Human rights issues and the impact on the supply chain

10:30

Morning Break

Session Topics:

Session 7A

Pioneer & Develop - Energy Efficiency

11:00

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Effectively: Energy Efficiency

panel

45 min.

The most sustainable energy is the energy we don't use. Energy efficiency is the single largest measure to avoid energy demand in the Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario. According to IEA figures almost half of emissions reductions must come from energy efficiency. Furthermore, most efficiency measures result in cost savings to consumers, lowering energy bills. The technological solutions are already at hand. In this session we will share some operational examples, because seeing is believing.

Session Topics:
  • Understanding the potential of energy efficiency in emerging markets
  • Examples of prevailing business models behind energy efficiency
  • Latest technology trends
  • The call for private capital

Session 7B

Scale & Accelerate - Rural Minigrids

11:00

Unlocking the Full Potential of Rural Minigrids

panel

45 min.

Mini-grids are a great cost-effective solution to further electrifying rural villages. Although the opportunity is huge we don’t see them scaling up as fast as we would like yet. Challenges such as higher capex investments, and lack of a beneficial regulatory framework and structure might be at the root of this. In this session, we will discuss the key bottlenecks and potential solutions to scaling up this market segment faster. 

Session Topics:
  • Take on minigrid development programs
  • Feasible business models
  • Productive use as a means to improve the demand profile
  • How to mitigate regulatory risk 
  • Key challenges in accessing finance

11:45

Short Break

Session Topics:

Session 8A

Pioneer & Develop - E-mobility

12:00

The Economics of E-mobility

panel

45 min.

Opportunities around electric mobility are emerging in several developing countries. Electric buses and electric two- and three-wheeled vehicles can play a vital role in moving people and products in a more sustainable way and at the same time bring development benefits to urban and rural areas. In this session, we will discuss the business case for investing and developing in e-mobility.

Session Topics:

Session 8B

Scale & Accelerate - Onshore Wind

12:00

Stakeholder Management in Onshore Wind Development

panel

45 min.

Session Topics:

12:45

Networking Lunch Break

Session Topics:

Session 9

Closing the Second Conference Day

14:15

Innovating the Future Financing Landscape

panel

45 min.

Current global trends such as increasing interest rates impact risk perception and risk appetite. This leads to a need for innovative approaches to financing renewable energy project development. In this session, we will dive into the newest financing structures and look ahead at what's needed to secure the future of energy in the global south.

Session Topics:

Growing demand for green bonds
Direct financing
Result-based financing
Blended finance structures
Reducing the extremely long timelines of funding rounds
Roles of intermediaries


15:00

Surprise Act

30 min.

Session Topics:

15:30

Closing Words

10 min.

Session Topics:

15:40

Networking Drinks

Session Topics:

Need any help?

We got you. Send out an email to our team and we are here to help.

Frannie Flinterman
Project Manager

For questions about the program and content of the event:

[email protected]
Tor Jörgensen
Business Developer

For questions regarding partnership opportunities:

[email protected]
Quinta Visser
Management Assistant Energy

For questions about the program and content of the event:

[email protected]