Solarplaza Summit Asset Management North America

Thursday 13 April 2023

Program Day 1

08:00

Registration & Early-Bird Breakfast

60 min.

Get yourself checked in, collect your badge (courtesy of Badge Sponsor SOLV Energy), and grab some breakfast bites!

Session Topics:

09:00

Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson

presentation

15 min.

Lisette Buist

Solarplaza

Session Topics:

SESSION 1

Perspective and Outlook for a Dynamic Solar Landscape

09:15

The Big Picture: The State of Climate Change and Climate Tech

presentation

30 min.

Energy futurist Ramez Naam was one of the first to forecast the decline in the cost of technologies like solar and batteries. Now he gives us the big picture on the state of climate tech globally, and what it means for the solar industry.

Ramez Naam

Planetary VC

Session Topics:

Where we are in addressing climate change
The $100 Trillion+ yet to be spent on climate technologies
The 4 main drivers of climate tech adoption
Innovations in new technologies that can aid solar developers and asset managers

09:45

Solar and O&M Market Outlook - Key Facts & Figures

presentation

30 min.

Leila Garcia da Fonseca

Wood Mackenzie

Session Topics:

Reviewing North America’s operational solar capacity
Impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on solar’s future in North America
Preliminary analysis of 2023 growth and development forecasts
Trends in technology deployment and O&M

10:15

Surfing the Wave of Solar Growth and Market Dynamics

panel

45 min.

moderator

Melissa Stark

Accenture

Zoe Berkery

CleanCapital

Brian Hayes

EDP Renewables

David Hochschild

California Energy Commission

Darrin Russell

EDF Renewables North America

Session Topics:

Managing and operating solar assets under new circumstances
Reviewing the opportunities and challenges related to the Inflation and Reduction Act
Taking advantage of hybrid opportunities
Bottlenecks in developing and connecting the US project pipeline of 1 TW renewable power

11:00

Networking Break

Session Topics:

11:00

Workforce Development Strategies

45 min.

Think Tank Session - Turning Key Challenges into Key Opportunities

This interactive session is designed for you to brainstorm in small groups and create best strategies to tackle some of the most pressing topics in the solar industry.

moderator

ShaLonda Dwight

SOLV Energy

moderator

Linda Drews

SOLV Energy

Alison Adams

SOLV Energy

Session Topics:

How to navigate labour shortage in a fast-growing industry?

SESSION 2A - Asset Management

Reinforcing the Foundation of Solar

11:45

Managing Solar Assets in the IRA Era

panel

45 min.

moderator

Alex Kaplan

S&P Global

Will Troppe

Power Factors

Manish Nayar

OYA Renewables

Jaime Carlson

SB Energy (USA)

Alison Engelhardt

U.S. Bank

Session Topics:

Challenges with new scale of demand
(Bonus) opportunities for solar deployment
The IRA's support of new technologies

12:30

Tax Equity in the IRA Era

panel

45 min.

moderator

Hilary Lefko

Norton Rose Fulbright

Gary Durden

CRC-IB

William Lee

Reunion

Kristine Sinclair

DNV

Session Topics:

Tax credit extensions and bonuses: Implications for solar financing, development and management
Transferability of tax credits: a potential solution to the short supply of traditional third-party tax equity
When ITC versus PTC makes sense
Interplay between PTC on solar and ITC on co-located storage

SESSION 2B - O&M

Reinforcing the Foundation of Solar

11:45

Operating & Maintaining Assets in the IRA Era

panel

45 min.

moderator

Erin Kivlehan

Clenera

Reegan Moen

SOLV Energy

Chioma Enechukwu

Madison Energy Infrastructure

Jared Kirk

Cypress Creek Solutions

Session Topics:

IRA’s impact on O&M contracts
Changing operations commitments on PTC funded assets
Effects of the IRA’s prevailing wage and apprenticeship requirements

12:30

Diversifying the O&M and AM Workforce

panel

45 min.

moderator

Amanda Bybee

Amicus O&M Cooperative

Cynthia Finley

IREC (Interstate Renewable Energy Council)

Sean Bucher

BayWa r.e. Operation Services

Anna Bautista

GRID Alternatives

Kamecia Mason

McCarthy Building Companies

Session Topics:

Why companies are still struggling with DEI work
Thinking strategically about retention
Key learnings from DEI programs
Leadership involvement

13:15

Lunch Break

Session Topics:

13:15

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

45 min.

Think Tank Session -Turning Key Challenges into Key Opportunities

This interactive session is designed for you to brainstorm in small groups and create best strategies to tackle some of the most pressing topics in the solar industry.

moderator

Tandalea Mercer

Nextracker

Rodlann Washington

U.S. Bank

Session Topics:

Why is DEI a pressing issue in the solar industry? DEI in the perspective of recruitment, talent management but most importantly leadership.

SESSION 3A - Asset Management

Capitalizing on Growth Opportunities

14:30

Storage Asset Management

panel

45 min.

moderator

Felix Chow-Kambitsch

Aurora Energy Research

Sara Kayal

Lightsource bp

Robin Gray

Soltage, LLC

Gigio Sakota

Avantus

Michael Bohan

Tenaska Power Services

Session Topics:

Implications of the different storage business models on managing storage assets
Challenges in merchant projects vs PPA projects
Dealing with uncertainties in battery pricing and supply chains
Budgeting and financing for high augmentation costs and contingency during the full project life cycle
Adapting the role of batteries to increasing renewables

15:15

Harvesting the Double Yields of Agrivoltaics

panel

45 min.

moderator

Shannon Scarbrough

Greenbacker Capital

Nick de Vries

Silicon Ranch

Iain Ward

Solar Agricultural Services (SolAg)

Lucy Bullock-Sieger

Lightstar Renewables

Session Topics:

Scoping the different Agri-PV applications: livestock and crops
The farmers’ experiences in Agri-PV so far
Case studies from developers and farmers

SESSION 3B - O&M

Capitalizing on Growth Opportunities

14:30

Optimizing O&M Through Automation and Digitalization

panel

45 min.

moderator

Leila Garcia da Fonseca

Wood Mackenzie

Brad Johnson

Univers

Sally Starnes

Invenergy Services

Nikhil Vadhavkar

Raptor Maps, Inc.

Fernando Rodriguez Alvarado

Greenbacker Capital

Session Topics:

AI and data mining: How smart can we get?
The use of data in prioritizing O&M decisions
O&M solutions of the future
The role and future development of robotics

15:15

Optimizing Storage System Performance With Proper O&M Processes

panel

45 min.

moderator

Hugo Lapie

Prescinto

Bill Reaugh

VDE Americas

Chase Warr

Arevon Energy

Garima Kalra

NovaSource Power Services

Session Topics:

What’s needed to move to consolidation in OEM and O&M supplier contracts
Safeguarding O&M performance guarantees
Maintaining equipment warranties
Emergency response plans and how to maintain them

16:00

Networking Break

Session Topics:

16:00

Sustainability & Circularity

45 min.

Think Tank Session - Turning Key Challenges into Key Opportunities

This interactive session is designed for you to brainstorm in small groups and create best strategies to tackle some of the most pressing topics in the solar industry.

moderator

Jesse Simons

SOLARCYCLE

Michael Parr

Ultra Low-Carbon Solar Alliance

Session Topics:

How to transform the solar industry into a truly sustainable and low carbon emitting industry, with responsible end-of-life management; fostering a circular solar economy?

SESSION 4

Initiatives Towards a Firm Fundament

16:45

Turning Key Challenges into Key Opportunities

presentation

15 min.

Short recap of the key insights from today's Think Tank Sessions

Lisette Buist

Solarplaza

Session Topics:

Workforce Development Strategies
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

17:00

Roadmap for a Sustainable Domestic Supply Chain and Workforce

panel

40 min.

moderator

Sylvia Leyva Martinez

Wood Mackenzie

Erin Kivlehan

Clenera

Deepak Gupta

Nextracker

Matt Murphy

Greenbacker Capital

Kelly Weger

Qcells

Session Topics:

Perspectives on the future
Timeline for onshoring a manufacturing supply chain of clean technology
Ensuring quality along the way
Opportunities and challenges related to workforce development

17:45

Networking Drinks

Session Topics:

19:00

Networking Event

Add on / Networking pass Activity

Session Topics:

Friday 14 April 2023

Program Day 2

07:30

Early Bird (Sport) Activities

90 min.

Add on / Networking pass Activity

Session Topics:

09:00

Registration & Welcome Coffee

30 min.

Session Topics:

09:30

Welcome Remarks by the Chairperson

presentation

10 min.

Lisette Buist

Solarplaza

Session Topics:

Short recap of the key insights from Think Tank Session on Sustainability & Circularity

SESSION 5

Re-evaluating Revenue Strategies to Solidify Yield

09:40

Futureproofing Revenue Strategies

presentation

20 min.

Leigh Zanone

Avantus

Douglas Stiegler

Ørsted

Session Topics:

Future of fully merchant-based PV projects
The latest trends in Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)
Ramping up energy storage

10:00

Effectively Tackling Solar Asset Underperformance

panel

45 min.

moderator

Jason Kaminsky

kWh Analytics

Lynsey Tibbs

Silicon Ranch

Michael Eyman

Origis Services

Anna Waters

Omnidian

Session Topics:

What's driving underperformance, the asset or the model?
Key developments in PV plant performance modelling
Drivers of field underperformance
Trends in servicing and O&M best practices

10:45

Networking Coffee Break

Session Topics:

10:45

Stakeholder Engagement

45 min.

Think Tank Session - Turning Key Challenges into Key Opportunities

This interactive session is designed for you to brainstorm in small groups and create best strategies to tackle some of the most pressing topics in the solar industry.

moderator

Kristine Sinclair

DNV

Jacqueline Sukhlall

GreenPowerMonitor

Session Topics:

How to engage with and generate buy-in of critical stakeholders who are essential to drive the solar deployment process forward

SESSION 6A - Asset Management

Solutions and Strategies to Mitigate Asset Risk

11:30

Fortifying Cyber Security

panel

45 min.

moderator

John Franzino

GridSME

Keith Rose

Operant Networks

Loggan Purpura

SOLV Energy

Jamie Lynn Bussin

DeNexus

Session Topics:

Balancing the needs of operations, compliance, and security
Planning for upcoming compliance changes, specifically NERC CIP
Proactively implementing security programs

12:15

The Future of Solar Insurance

panel

45 min.

moderator

Sam Jensen

STANCE: Renewable Risk Partners

Isaac McLean

kWh Analytics

Sara Kane

CAC Specialty

Mauricio Paredes

U.S. Department of Energy

Session Topics:

The evolution of insurance contracts
Shift in risk sharing and impact on asset management
Valuing risk mitigating AM practices into insurance pricing

SESSION 6B - O&M

Solutions and Strategies to Mitigate Asset Risk

11:30

Mitigating Extreme Weather Risks

panel

45 min.

moderator

John Sedgwick

VDE Americas

Kristen Wagner

Clean Power Research

Nicole Thompson

kWh Analytics

Kevin Christy

Lightsource bp

Session Topics:

Fighting impact of extreme weather events with preventative measures
Strategies preventing hail incidents
Trends in durable equipment
Role of data in understanding your exposure and in quantifying impacts and risks

12:15

Vegetation Management: Cut to the Chase

panel

45 min.

moderator

Cedric Brehaut

Omnidian

Jeremy McKellep

Canadian Solar

Angela Burke

Pivot Energy

Nathan Wojcik

SWCA

Session Topics:

O&M costs and strategies: low-tech and high-tech ways to optimize results
CapEx vs. OpEx: investing upfront to reduce vegetation management costs
The role of vegetation management in wildfire and flood prevention
Beyond vegetation management: what is land stewardship?

13:00

Lunch Break

Session Topics:

13:00

Assembling Your Spare Part Supply Chain Strategy

45 min.

Think Tank Session - Turning Key Challenges into Key Opportunities

This interactive session is designed for you to brainstorm in small groups and create best strategies to tackle some of the most pressing topics in the solar industry.

moderator

Sylvia Leyva Martinez

Wood Mackenzie