Solarplaza Summit | Baltics

Ruslan is CEO of Green Genius - a renewable energy company developing, building, and operating solar, biogas, wind, and green hydrogen projects. Currently, the company's projects are being developed in 8 European countries.

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With dual academic background (electrical engineering and IT), Arnis has been in electrical energy business since 1995. Having received power system operation training in the early years of his career, he has spent most of his professional years in CIO (Chief Information Officer) positions at energy companies and government of Latvia. From 2016, Arnis is with Latvian power system transmission operator AS "Augstprieguma tīkls" or AST, where he currently serves at the management board, with direct responsibility of power transmission system development, as well as digital transformation of the company.

Skirmante is a Lithuanian Photovoltaics Technology cluster coordinator and is leading R&D companies and startups to global success. For more than 10 years now Skirmante is working with the innovative B2B renewable energy segment in supporting companies in technology commercialization and business development, creating an ecosystem for cluster members. Skirmantė works as a communication point and supporting manager for companies to access various funding opportunities, partner search for international project consortiums, and support in technology transfer activities.

More than 15 Years’ experience in engineering, project management, sales, marketing, local and international business development. Skilled in Electrical Energy, Industrial automation and Renewable Energy, project planning.

Robert von Wahl holds a Master equivalent degree (Diploma) of business administration of the University of Cologne with a major of energy economics. He has 16 years of solar industry experience in different fields of activities, starting from project development, project financing, project management as well as module and inverter sales and customer support. Robert has been working in Sungrow since 2017 and been responsible for the business activities in Eastern European Union since 2020. Robert’s ultimate goal is to provide customers the best possible and reliable support together his colleagues.

I received my university degree in the field of renewables at the Kaunas University of Technology completing bachelor's studies in renewable energy and master's studies in electrical energy systems. I also completed 4 years of post-degree studies at Kaunas University of Technology and Helsinki Metropolia University where I gave lectures and proceeded with research related to the integration of solar and wind power plants into the existing energy infrastructure. In my professional practice, I count more than 10 years of experience in the field of energy in general. My carrier spectrum covers everything from being a design engineer, design division manager, asset manager, product owner and project development manager in the renewables area. In addition to academic and professional activities, I also participate in social activities related to renewable energy.

Dr Rasa Krutulyte-Ørsted is currently a head of Solar PV in Ramboll, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, where she is responsible for solar PV business development across Europe and also Asia, North Africa, and Americas. Rasa has about 15 years’ work experience in interdisciplinary international Project Management and advisory services in renewable energy business, with combined technical, business, and academic backgrounds. Rasa led many strategic and operational projects focusing on energy markets. Her passion is to support the industry transition from fossils to renewables, and to contribute to the success of this transition in the Baltics and Lithuania as her home country in particular.

PhD Paulius Zapolskis is a Partner and Head of Energy Industry Group at TGS Baltic. He has more than 15 years of legal work experience and specializes in energy law, commercial contracts, international commercial arbitration and related fields. Paulius advises companies in public and private sectors on commercial law, public law issues also represents the companies in negotiations and international commercial arbitration. Paulius provides legal consultations on issues related to oil and gas (including LNG) sectors, long-term supply contracts, project development regulatory matters, also advises developers of renewable energy resources projects and renewable energy producers. The most influential and prominent international legal directory The European Legal 500 rank Paulius as a New Generation Lawyer in energy law.

As the head of the partnership department at PVcase, a solar software company, Nerijus Paulauskas plays a crucial role in aligning external partnerships with the internal goals of the company. His focus is on expanding the addressable market and increasing product coverage throughout the utility solar asset lifecycle. With a wealth of experience in the photovoltaic industry, including 6 years in various positions at a vertically integrated photovoltaic company, Nerijus has a proven track record of successfully driving business expansion.

Vinoth Jayaraman, a master graduate electrical engineer with 12 years of experience in Solar PV industry. Currently working as a solution manager in Huawei Denmark, responsible for the utility scale PV and BESS projects, provided solution for 2 GW of PV parks in the Nordics and Baltics. I have trained more than 500 installers (in Nordics) on Grid compliance, PV system design, and installation best practices.

Renewable energy consultant and project developer with more than 10 years of experience working with renewables. 100 % renewable future is the goal.

Maarten de Jonge is a project finance specialist with fourteen years’ experience in structuring senior debt for large renewable energy and infrastructure/PPP projects. He also co-developed a risk sharing instrument that allows commercial and promotional banks to partner with EIB on smaller projects. Prior to joining EIB in 2013, Maarten held roles at various commercial and multilateral financial institutions including the World Bank, Dexia, Lloyds Banking Group and Assured Guaranty. Maarten holds an MSc in Financial Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam.

Rytis Kėvelaitis is a founder and CEO of Energy Unlimited, renewable energy advisory and development company in the Baltics. Rytis is an entrepreneur with an experience in renewable energy project management and public policy in both private and public sectors.

Alexander Esser founded and heads the dedicated Nordics & Baltics team based in Stockholm with 15 team members, offering advisory and forecasts for energy markets in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Sweden, and Norway. He has been with Aurora for 7 years and Previously, he led the continental commercial team and was part of the initial team building up the Berlin office. In his currently role, he oversaw more than 30 transactions and debt financing of wind, solar, battery and electrolyser assets and portfolios, as well as strategic projects such as the first project finance of an electrolyser for green steel in Sweden and the evaluation of capacity markets for Finland.

Educational: MA (Masters’ Degree) in Business Administration, BA (Bachelor’s Degree) in Law, PhD in Economics unfinished, graduated from Estonian School of Diplomacy. Business: started career as analyst and porfolio management in Estonian investment fund, thereafter treasurer of Port of Tallinn and Eesti Energia, since 2005 in SEB working in Structured Finance. Currently dealing with Project Finance, M&A Finance, Loan syndications and Financial Strategy. Head of team in Estonia and co-ordinator for the Baltics. Have financed wind projects for over 15 years and solar projects during the last few years.

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Jonas Urbonas, Head of Corporate Banking in Lithuania, has been actively working in the banking industry for the past 25 years and is experienced in cooperation with Corporate customers. He is a Finance professional with a Master's degree in Finance.

More than 12 years of experience in the energy sector. Since 2012, provides financial advice and project management services to the largest private and public sector electricity and natural gas consumers in Latvia, as well as renewable energy producers. Project evaluation and management, issues relating to the regulation of the circular economy, the development of EU and national policies in the energy sector.

Arnoldas Gaudiešius, Head of Large Corporates Department in Swedbank Lithuania, has almost 20 years of relationship with large local and international corporates, and broad experience in structuring financing of their investments.

Nicola Kopij Zanin is a Project Manager for Solarplaza, part of Finance & Innovation team, contributing to the company's growth in markets worldwide. Prior to joining Solarplaza, he gained experience with EU development financing, having set up his own organisation. In the past, he held positions in different industries across Italy, Poland and the UAE. Nicola holds a bachelor's degree in Economics and Business from LUISS University in Rome and a Master's degree in Finance & Investments from Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University.

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