Solarplaza Summit | Asset Management Europe

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Tuesday 17 October 2023

Program Day 1


08:30

Registration & Welcome Coffee

60 min.

Get yourself checked in, collect your badge, and grab some coffee!
Session Topics:
09:30

Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson

presentation

15 min.

Lorena Nieuwenhoven

Solarplaza

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Session Topics:

SESSION 1

Europe's Renewable Energy Future

09:45

Mobilizing Climate Finance: Why Big Investors Still Drag Their Feet – and What You Can Do About It!

presentation

30 min.

Manuel Adamini

Session Topics:
  • The climate forces at play
  • Why investors’ toolkits simply can’t deal with that
  • What you need to tell investors to change – readying them for your assets!
10:15

Reflecting on Europe's Changing Energy Sector

panel

45 min.

moderator

Sara Di Mario

Hazel New Energy

Stefan Müller

Enerparc AG

Harald Ott

Verbund

Tim Meyer

3Epunkt

Session Topics:
  • How energy security concerns gear up Europe's green energy transition
  • Front runners: The top 5 European solar markets
  • Impact of the changing paradigm on asset management practices
11:00

Morning Networking Break

Session Topics:

SESSION 2A

New Dynamics in O&M

11:45

Imagining the Future: Digitalization and Technical Optimization

panel

55 min.

moderator

Davide Romano​​​​

Cubico Sustainable Investments

Kristen Wagner

SolarAnywhere

Stijn Stevens

meteocontrol

Brian Riley

Ardexa

Stanislas van der Vaeren

Sitemark

Session Topics:
  • Automation: Maximizing the impact of digitization in O&M through Smart Alarms, CMMS, advanced analytics and machine learning
  • Data mining a future-proof solar asset
  • Minimizing solar site anomalies to maximize yields

SESSION 2B

Asset Management Fundamentals

11:45

How the Asset Manager's Role is Evolving in a Smarter Energy Society

panel

55 min.

moderator

Robin Hirschl

Obton

Andrea Voigt

Aream

Paul Norrish

WiseEnergy

Julia Badeda

ABO Wind

Günter Maier

GreenPowerMonitor

Session Topics:
  • Commercial Changes (New Energy Markets and Extension of Scope for Asset Managers)
  • Changes in Hardware (Components, Types of Plants, Combination with adjacent technologies and hybrid systems)
  • Changes in Software (Autonomous Operations Centers and AI)
  • Changes in Stakeholders' Requirements (ESG, Land Management and Biodiversity)
12:40

Use of advanced analytics to facilitate large-scale solar operations

presentation

20 min.

Vasco Vieira

Voltalia

Werner Coppye

3E

Session Topics:
13:00

Lunch Networking Break

Powered by

Session Topics:

SESSION 3A

Sharing O&M Best Practices through Case Studies

14:30

The Impact of Service Efforts on your Solar Assets

presentation

20 min.

Michael Paskal

Sungrow

Session Topics:
  • Safeguarding O&M performance with the additional complexities of storage
  • Flexi capacity guarantee approach
14:50

How to successfully adopt Advanced Analytics into daily O&M activities

presentation

20 min.

Julián Ascencio-Vásquez

Univers

Session Topics:
  • State-of-the-art monitoring and control tools 
  • Field experience using digital tools
  • Examples of AI tools driving the O&M next-generation 
15:10

Spare Parts Management in Times of Supply-Demand Imbalance and Supply Chain Fragmentation

presentation

15 min.

Andrea Viaro

Stäubli

Session Topics:
  • Transparency in the solar supply chain: Learnings and opportunities
  • Managing material mismatch and supply chain pressure
  • How to ensure fitting spare partsfor your PV projects
15:25

Digital Solutions for Optimized O&M

presentation

15 min.

Erik Nitschke

Amperecloud

Session Topics:
  • Next step in operations digitalization
15:40

A Practical Look at Predictive Analytics Tools to Facilitate O&M

presentation

15 min.

Johan Mlouka

SmartHelio

Session Topics:
  • Applying AI technology in the O&M sector for hassle-free power generation

SESSION 3B

CAM/FAM Practical Examples of Operational Success

14:30

Financial Health of your Solar Assets

panel

40 min.

moderator

David Silva

Greenvolt

Joe Miletic

Amberside Energy

Felice Basile

NextEnergy Capital

Andreas Ochsenkühn

KGAL Group

Sara Grottola

Octopus Energy Generation

Session Topics:
  • Managing underperformance in your solar asset
  • Spotting the leaks: where are your hidden losses?
  • Over/Under estimating factors: what's the impact on your plant?
15:10

Battling Labor Shortage Considering Employee Retention, Recruitment and DEI Principles

panel

35 min.

moderator

Pritil Gunjan

Guidehouse Insights

Sara Di Mario

Hazel New Energy

Christine Lins

GWNET (Global Women’s Network for the Energy Transition)

Session Topics:
  • How the limited availability of skilled workers jeopardizes asset deployment and management
  • How energy companies can retain skilled employees
  • Key success factors for an diverse, equitable and inclusive solar industry
  • Short- and long-term measures to improve your recruitment strategy
15:45

Business model optimization with module revamping and repowering

presentation

15 min.

Simon Bartl

Stern Energy

Session Topics:
  • New opportunities in a dynamic environment
  • Optimization strategies for your assets
  • Pitfalls and learnings from the field
16:00

Afternoon Networking Break

Session Topics:

SESSION 4

Renewable Energy Source (RES) Trends and their Implications for Investors

16:45

Energy Trading: Reducing Risk in your Solar and Storage Portfolio

panel

30 min.

moderator

Nicola Kopij Zanin

Solarplaza Consultancy

Stefano Cavriani

EGO Energy

Alessandro Savini

Trailstone Renewables

Antonio Domínguez

Quintas Analytics

Session Topics:
  • The importance of energy trading for storage: Tools to optimize revenues
  • Technological diversification and its implications in sustainable investing
17:15

Navigating ESG Compliance Considerations as an Asset Manager

panel

45 min.

moderator

Carlos Rey

Foresight Group

Mark Augustenborg Ødum

Better Energy

Cinzia Battaglia

re:cap global investors

Letícia Bueno

Sustainable Capital Group

Joerg Althaus

CEA - Clean Energy Associates

Session Topics:
  • Perception change: ESG requirements as an opportunity rather than a limitation
  • How following ESG best practices in your financial reporting can attract investors & foster local development
18:00

Networking Drinks

Session Topics:
18:45

Extended Networking Dinner

The networking event will take place at level 4 at Kap Europa. Reservations are required.

Session Topics:

Wednesday 18 October 2023

Program Day 2


08:30

Office Yoga Session

45 min.

Elevate your conference experience by engaging in our office yoga session, guided by a certified teacher, ensuring you enter the second day with renewed vitality and zen. Changing rooms and towels will be available. The session will be held in the Workshop Room on Level 2. Register by selecting Office Yoga during checkout, or by sending an email to [email protected]

Karsten Wittke

Karsten.yoga

Session Topics:
09:30

Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson

15 min.

Lorena Nieuwenhoven

Solarplaza

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Session Topics:

SESSION 5

Mergers & Acquisitions: Recent Advancements

09:45

The Evolution of Mergers & Acquisitions in Europe

presentation

20 min.

Josefin Berg

S&P Global

Session Topics:
  • Key factors for effective and smooth acquisition
  • The most important lessons learned
  • Challenges hindering a smooth acquisition
10:05

Mergers & Acquisitions: Practical Examples & Learnings

panel

45 min.

moderator

Josefin Berg

S&P Global

Julius Weidemann

Encavis

Francesco Girardi

Bluefield Partners LLP

Tarek Sabbagh

Octopus Energy

Lars Quandel

Dauerkraft Finance

Session Topics:
10:50

Morning Networking Break

Session Topics:

SESSION 6A

Fostering a Circular and Sustainable Solar Industry

11:45

Building Trust in AI: A Collaborative Vision for Solar PV’s Future

presentation

30 min.

Ralf Tschanun

Raicoon

Susana Latorre

Munich Reinsurance Company

Session Topics:
  • A Pioneering Partnership: Learn about the synergy between raicoon's AI expertise and Munich RE's support, aimed at redefining industry standards through collaboration.
  • Innovation and Assurance: Delve into raicoon's solar performance guarantee, a testament to the potential of AI in enhancing reliability and advancing the energy transition.
  • Looking Ahead: Engage in discussions about the role of AI in optimizing solar operations and the trust-building capacity of the raicoon-MunichRE alliance, shaping the renewable landscape.
12:15

Repowering, Revamping, Recycling: What does it mean?

panel

45 min.

moderator

Tomaso Charlemont

BayWa r.e.

Lin Sun

Jinko Solar

Joanes Mandaluniz

PI Photovoltaik-Institut Berlin AG

Robin Hirschl

Obton

Pascal Stephan

Aquila Capital

Session Topics:
  • Moving from semantics to action: making the best of aging assets
  • Boosting E2E PV Lifecycle Automation
  • Fostering a circular solar economy

SESSION 6B

Re-assessing Revenue Streams

11:45

How to Effectively Manage your Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) Contract

presentation

30 min.

Imre Vass

Our New Energy

Session Topics:
  • Latest PPA trends to take into account
  • How the different PPA structures affect your AM operations
12:15

Case Study: Energy producer and Corporate Offtaker talk PPAs

panel

45 min.

moderator

Lianne van Aagten

Green Giraffe

Marco Pellegrino

Aurora Energy Research

Philipp Pfefferle

BASF Renewables

Julius Ecke

Enervis Energy Advisors GmbH

Session Topics:
  • Key success factors for effective cooperation and contracts

WORKSHOP

Project Development and Stakeholder Management

11:45

How Project Development Challenges affect proper Asset Management

75 min.

This concise, 75-minute workshop is a dedicated platform for brainstorming and idea exchange. It incorporates presentations, discussions, and Q&A opportunities to thoroughly explore the topic. With 30-40 attendees, it provides actionable insights from industry leaders and fosters direct engagement with speakers and attendees.

moderator

Carolina Nester

Sonnedix

Joerg Moellenkamp

CHINT

Stefanos Lialios

Cero Generation Limited

Carlos Javier

Elgin Energy

Sarah Webb

Anesco

Christian Boll

Ernst Burghardt Assekuranzmakler

Session Topics:
  • Finding ways to support and empower local communities 
  • How to manage and engage key stakeholders
  • Availability of land, regulatory frameworks, permitting processes, and optimal insurance options.
13:00

Lunch Networking Break

Powered by

Session Topics:

SESSION 7

A bright and sunny future: Capitalizing on solar's versatility

14:30

Optimization of Hybrid Energy Systems

panel

45 min.

moderator

Marco Alves

MTX Solar

Berto Martins

EDP Renewables

Carmen Kompatscher

Fluence

Session Topics:
  • Seeking ways to combine multiple renewable energy and energy storage technologies
  • Solving issues for hybrid solutions: regulations, access and connection to the grid
  • Outlook for wind hybridization, floating & agri-PV, green hydrogen & storage

SESSION 8

The New Solar Future Ahead

15:15

Local Manufacturing: Game-changer for the European Solar Industry?

panel

45 min.

moderator

Florian Haacke

Apricum

Thomas Nyheim

McKinsey & Company

Eliano Russo

3sun

Wojtek Swietochowski

ABO Wind

Session Topics:
  • Overall strategy for fostering a European manufacturing industry
  • Addressing global supply chain issues
  • Utilizing innovative materials and eco-friendly processes (that adhere to Environmental and Sustainability Regulations)
  • Making best use of the EU instruments aimed at boosting local manufacturing and global competitiveness
  • Gaining access to a skilled workforce
16:00

Art Meets Solar

15 min.

Shala Akintunde

The Movement Worldwide, Inc.

Session Topics:
16:15

Closing Remarks by the Chairperson

15 min.

Lorena Nieuwenhoven

Solarplaza

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Session Topics:
16:30

Closing Networking Drinks

Session Topics:

Need any help?

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

Celina Gundlach
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]
Audrey Wolff
Project Coordinator

For practical questions regarding our activities:

[email protected]