Solarplaza Summit Balkans

Tuesday 21 October 2025

08:30

Registration & welcome coffee

09:15

Welcome words

presentation

15 min.

Iva Šulentić

Session 1

The Balkan solar market - policy shifts, regulatory outlook & growth potential

09:30

Keynote opening: Powering the future: storage, smart grids & the electrified balkans

presentation

20 min.

This opening keynote sets the tone for the day, offering a strategic outlook on where the Balkan solar sector is headed, its greatest opportunities, and the biggest obstacles still to overcome.

Overview of the current energy transition in the Balkans
Key policy and market trends shaping solar deployment
Regional investment climate and appetite for renewables
Challenges ahead: grid, permitting, and cross-border cooperation
The role of solar in national energy strategies
Vision for regional alignment in the renewables push

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Mariyana Yaneva

Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity (APSTE)

09:50

Market insights: Balkan solar market in numbers: growth trends & investment hotspots

presentation

20 min.

Gain exclusive insights into the numbers driving solar growth in the Balkans, as Aurora Energy Research reveals trends, capacity projections, and where capital is flowing in the evolving market.

Updated solar deployment figures across Balkan countries
Country-by-country growth comparisons
Overview of recent and upcoming renewable auctions
Emerging investment hotspots and project trends
Regional energy mix projections

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Ioanna Barouni

Aurora Energy Research

10:10

Regulatory roadmap: How policies are shaping the Balkan solar boom

panel

40 min.

Industry experts discuss the evolving policy landscape in the Balkans, diving into regulation, permitting hurdles, and the importance of harmonization for solar acceleration across the region.

Status and evolution of permitting frameworks
Legal complexities across different Balkan countries
The need for streamlined and transparent grid access policies
Transnational cooperation and cross-border energy alignment
Developer and association perspectives on regulatory challenges
Policy recommendations to unlock solar investment

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moderator

Petar Mitrovic

Karanovic & Partners

Saša Jovičić

Wolf Theiss

Naida Hausmann

Energy Community

Naida Hausmann

Lead of the Renewable Energy Task Force

Energy Community

Ms. Naida Hausmann has more than twelve years of international experience in the fields of renewable energy, sustainable development, energy modelling and electricity markets. She currently serves as a Lead of the Renewable Energy Task Force & Senior Renewable Energy Expert within the European Green Deal Unit at the Energy Community Secretariat. In this capacity, Ms. Hausmann assumes responsibility for all matters concerning renewable energy. Her primary focus revolves around providing support to Energy Community Contracting Parties in their efforts to transpose and implement the EU acquis. This includes work related to the design of market-based support schemes, systems for guarantees of origin, self-consumption, power purchase agreements (PPAs), and more. Prior to the Secretariat, Ms. Hausmann was employed at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Ms. Hausmann holds a master's degree in Electrical Power Engineering from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering at the University of Sarajevo and is a Certified Expert in Climate & Renewable Energy Finance, having completed program at the Frankfurt School of Finance & Management.

Bojan Reščec

RP Global

Andrii Antonov

Solar Steelconstruction LLC

10:50

Morning networking break

On average, at Solarplaza Summit events an impressive 94% of attendees are able to make valuable business connections. Don’t miss out!

Session 2

Advancing solar and battery technologies - unlocking efficiency & scalability

11:30

Lessons from Promina: Constructing Croatia’s largest solar PV park

presentation

20 min.

Aljoša Pleć, Country Manager Croatia at Acciona Energía, shares exclusive insights into the development of Promina—Croatia’s largest solar PV park—and the lessons shaping future large-scale solar projects.

Project Introduction: Overview of the Promina Solar PV Park and its significance as Croatia’s largest solar installation to date.
Development & Construction Challenges: Lessons from navigating permitting, land acquisition, and environmental compliance across a large-scale solar project.
Grid Integration & Infrastructure: Insights into the development of a 400 kV substation and how Promina connects to Croatia’s national grid.
Strategic Role in Croatia’s Energy Future: Promina’s contribution to Acciona’s regional portfolio and its role in positioning the company as Croatia’s leading clean energy producer.

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Aljoša Pleic

Acciona Energía Croatia

11:50

Next-gen battery storage: Boosting reliability & ROI for the Balkan market

presentation

20 min.

This presentation will focus on how innovative battery storage systems can enhance reliability, performance, and profitability in the Balkan energy landscape. Learn how cutting-edge design and operational strategies can unlock the full potential of energy storage under regional conditions.

Technological innovations shaping next-generation battery systems
Strategies to boost reliability and optimize performance
Maximizing ROI through efficient design and operation
Tailoring storage solutions to the Balkan market

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Kutay Kizilkaya

Maxxen

12:10

Built for the Balkans: Overcoming technical barriers to solar growth

panel

40 min.

From grid constraints to field-level innovation—this technical panel explores how TSO's, developers, EPCs, and technology providers are overcoming integration bottlenecks and engineering more efficient, resilient solar projects across the Balkans.

Technical and design adaptations to navigate grid congestion and interconnection delays
Developer strategies for managing curtailment risk at the project level
Innovations in module and system design to maximize land use and yield
EPC and O&M approaches for boosting reliability and reducing project downtime
Role of automation, forecasting, and digital tools in optimizing system performance
Perspectives on aligning technical solutions with permitting and regulatory frameworks

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moderator

Mersiha Samardzic

Montel

Antun Andrić

Hops

Lahorko Wagmann

HERA

Elena Rasheva

Evklips Energy

Bojana Mihić

TenneT

12:50

Lunch networking break

Our new app makes it easy to send one-on-one messages, making it easy to meet with any of the 150+ attendees and 25+ speakers!

Session 3

Energy storage in the Balkans - market forecasts, business models & real-world impact

14:30

Grid forecast presentation: How ready is the Balkan grid for energy storage?

presentation

20 min.

A technical outlook from a leading TSO on the readiness of Balkan grid infrastructure to absorb large-scale energy storage and the upgrades needed to enable flexibility and long-term stability.

Current grid flexibility and bottlenecks
Forecasting future grid capacity demands
Role of storage in stabilizing intermittent generation
Technical limitations and upgrade priorities
Regulatory considerations for grid-connected storage

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Bojana Mihić

TenneT

14:50

Unlocking the value of energy storage: Batteries, revenue streams & grid benefits

panel

40 min.

Dive into the real economics of battery storage. Industry experts explore standalone vs. hybrid models, revenue stacking strategies, and what it takes to build a profitable energy storage business in the Balkans.

Revenue stacking models: current and future streams
Differences between standalone and co-located business models
ROI benchmarks and cost trends for battery projects
Regulatory gaps and support mechanisms
Asset optimization tools and aggregation strategies
Long-term value of storage in grid services

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moderator

Božidar Milošević

Milosevic | Attorneys

Apostolis Valassas

Pexapark

Megi Vrhovnik

Kelag International

Julia Sokołowska

Solas Capital AG

15:30

Afternoon networking break

Whether you are looking to connect with professionals from a specific sector or want to build relationships across the entire solar, PV value
chain our event offers a unique chance to engage with experts from across the industry.

Session 4

Financing the future - PV & storage investment, PPAs & bankability strategies

16:10

Investment insights: Where the money is: trends in PV & storage investments across Eastern Europe

presentation

20 min.

A financial snapshot of the Balkan and Eastern European markets—this session highlights where capital is flowing, key risk factors, and what investors are watching in the renewables space.

Investment trends across the solar and storage sectors
Region-specific risk-return profiles and bankability factors
Investor appetite and deal flow observations
The role of blended finance and DFIs
Key drivers for unlocking private capital
Outlook for institutional and corporate investment

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Olimpija Zaevska

Elson Solutions

Olimpija Zaevska

CEO / Energy Investment Planning Specialist

Elson Solutions

Olimpija Hristova Zaevska founded Elson Solutions in 2020 as a consultancy focused on investment planning, dual energy and technological green transition, green finance, and sustainable investments across the Western Balkans and beyond. Holding a PhD in International Business and Economics from Copenhagen Business School, she has been engaged as Green Finance and Climate Risk Expert at the EIB, and worked on international finance mobilization, decarbonization strategies, and just energy transition investment platforms for North Macedonia's Ministry of Energy, EBRD, and LuxDev in Kosovo. Ever since her early roles as an international economy advisor in government, Olimpija has been driving the coordination of multi-million donor funds, investment plans for renewable energy sources, and promoting green energy frameworks in Eastern Europe. She will share investment insights on trends in PV & storage investments across Eastern Europe, highlighting where the money is flowing and how to capitalize on emerging opportunities in the renewable sector.

16:30

Outlook on PPAs & electricity prices: Navigating the future market dynamics

panel

40 min.

Banks and investors unpack the future of PPAs in the Balkans—covering merchant exposure, pricing volatility, and how cross-border deals and financial innovation can reduce long-term market risk.

Current trends in PPA structures and pricing
Merchant risk vs. contracted revenue security
Investor and lender perspectives on PPAs
Cross-border PPA potential and regulatory feasibility
Electricity market forecasts and hedging strategies
Tools for managing volatility and securing long-term revenues

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moderator

Karlo Jadanić

PwC

Ante Krečak

Erste Bank

Darko Šepić

Adris

Simone Dell’Atti

European Investment Bank (EIB)

Simone Dell’Atti

Principal Advisor

European Investment Bank (EIB)

Simone Dell’Atti is Principal Advisor at the European Investment Bank (EIB), the EU’s climate bank, where he leads the structuring and execution of limited recourse financings supporting the energy transition and sustainable infrastructure across Europe. With over 20 years of experience in both commercial and development banking, he focuses on delivering bankable solutions for capital-intensive projects in renewable energy and climate resilience. His recent work includes EIB operations in offshore and onshore wind, utility-scale solar PV, and climate adaptation infrastructure. These operations often combine public and private financing and involve a range of contractual structures, including merchant risk, PPAs and hybrid models. Simone’s focus aligns with the EIB’s core priorities under the European Green Deal and REPowerEU, supporting investment in decarbonisation, energy security and cross-border integration. He contributes to structuring projects in complex markets, including Croatia, with an emphasis on reducing long-term market and revenue risk. Simone holds a Master’s in Corporate and Investment Banking from SDA Bocconi, Italy and an MSc in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi University, Italy.

Hrvoje Jazvic

EBRD - European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

17:10

Closing remarks

presentation

5 min.

Iva Šulentić

17:15

Closing networking drinks

Solarplaza Summit | Balkans

Welcome words

The Balkan solar market - policy shifts, regulatory outlook & growth potential

Keynote opening: Powering the future: storage, smart grids & the electrified balkans

Market insights: Balkan solar market in numbers: growth trends & investment hotspots

Regulatory roadmap: How policies are shaping the Balkan solar boom

Advancing solar and battery technologies - unlocking efficiency & scalability

Lessons from Promina: Constructing Croatia’s largest solar PV park

Next-gen battery storage: Boosting reliability & ROI for the Balkan market

Built for the Balkans: Overcoming technical barriers to solar growth

Energy storage in the Balkans - market forecasts, business models & real-world impact

Grid forecast presentation: How ready is the Balkan grid for energy storage?

Unlocking the value of energy storage: Batteries, revenue streams & grid benefits

Financing the future - PV & storage investment, PPAs & bankability strategies

Investment insights: Where the money is: trends in PV & storage investments across Eastern Europe

Outlook on PPAs & electricity prices: Navigating the future market dynamics

Closing remarks