Solarplaza Summit Italy 2022

Entrepreneur and Executive with a wide knowledge of electricity market dynamics and passionate about sustainability. Pioneer of Renewable energy sector that she joined nearly fifteen years ago holding C-level roles in two different top European companies. She runs Hazel New Energy, active in investments and advisory services in the Energy Transition sector, and she can rely on her previous wide experience as COO in the European Energy & Infrastructure sector having managed two of the biggest European renewable energy portfolios. She, in particular, has been in charge of EF Solare Italia’s (F2i group) portfolio, that she drove from the start-up phase to nearly 1GW over 300 sites and 4B€ of solar assets under management, and of Green Arrow Capital’s portfolio, where she led the operational transition to 400MW and 1.6B€ of renewable energy – wind, solar, hydro and mini-hydro, biogas and biomethane - assets under management throughout Europe. She previously held roles in Engie, Kearney and took part in a start up in the solar sector. Strongly focused and skilled in Operations, M&A processes, Portfolio Growth and Improvement, Post-Merger Integration and Technological Innovation.

Ilaria Fontana is an Italian politician from the Five Star Movement. She is a member of the Chamber of Deputies and is Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of the Ecological Transition in the Draghi Government.

Gianni Pietro Girotto has been elected to the Italian Senate under the 5 Star Movemement list in the 2013 Italian Parliamentary elections. He is the President of the 10th Permanent Commission for Industry, Commerce and Tourism, of the Italian Senate.

Mr Genoese, a German-Italian national, has been working in the energy sector for almost 14 years. He started his career in 2008 as consultant to energy utilities and the German government, playing a vital role in working out regulatory measures to avoid extreme negative electricity prices. From 2013 to 2016, he was in charge of electricity policy analysis at CEPS, a Brussels-based Think Tank, authoring numerous publications on electricity market design as well as engaging corporate and institutional stakeholders through CEPS Task Forces. In 2016/17, he contributed to ENGIE's innovation strategy as Smart Energy Systems Expert in the fields of green gas and electric, autonomous mobility. He is currently Head of Strategy at Terna in Rome. In this position, he is responsible for a range of topics which include Terna's Future Energy Scenarios, Resource Adequacy Assessments, Capacity Market auctions and the design of fit-for-future electricity markets. Mr Genoese holds a doctoral degree in Energy Economics as well as a Master's degree in Physics. From 2014 to 2020, he has been a Visiting Professor at Sciences Po in Paris.

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.

With more than 15 years of experience in the fields of photovoltaics, Andrea is currently Sales Director in Wattkraft. He holds Environmental Engineering degree followed by Master degree in  Energy Marked Development from University of Genova. Prior to join Wattkraft in 2020, he was Sales Manager in multinational companies such as Talesun, Trina Solar, Enfinity and Schuco as well he had a strong experience in the body of certifications Kiwa Group.From 2019 Andrea is part of board of directors of Italia Solare, the fast-growing Association which represents the Solar Industry in Italy.

As a member of Fluence’s Growth & Market Development team, Amir leads activities that enable new market opportunities for stationary energy storage solutions in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with a special focus on renewables plus storage and grid services. Prior to Fluence, he helped develop commercial battery storage solutions at RWE Supply & Trading. Before that, he was involved in research and business development in the energy sector. Amir holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in electronics and system engineering, respectively, and a PhD in mechanical engineering.

Lorenzo Parola is both admitted to the Italian Supreme Court and as a Solicitor of England and Wales. He is one of the leading energy and energy technology lawyers in Italy. Mr Parola advises infrastructure funds, utilities and oil majors in domestic and cross-border M&A transactions in the oil & gas, power, renewables, energy efficiency and energy technology sectors. He has a substantial track-record on permitting, contractual and regulatory issues related to the development of power projects and gas infrastructures, including CCGT and renewables plants, LNG regasification terminals, gas storages, pipelines and merchant lines. He is recognized an unparalleled expertise in industry specialty contacts such as tolling arrangements, power purchase agreements, take-or-pay gas sales agreements, pipeline transportation agreements, EPC contracts, energy efficiency contracts, physical and financial energy trading, including CO2 and green certificates trading. He is regularly instructed, either as counsel or arbitrator, in the context of national and international arbitrations pertaining to gas sales agreements and in the construction sector. He is a Visiting Professor at various masters and advanced university courses (Master Course in Energy and Finance and Master in Energy Management – Corso di Alta Formazione in Energia e Finanza and Master Energy Management of MIP – Business School Polytechnic of Milan; II Level Master in Energy Efficiency and Industrial Sustainability – Master di II livello in Efficienza Energetica e Sostenibilità nell’Industria of Turin Polytechnic; Master in Energy Resources Managament – Master in Gestione delle Risorse Energetiche of SAFE).

Giovanni Mascari is a finance professional with deep international expertise in debt and equity investments in the energy and infrastructure space and more than 11 years of structured finance experience. Giovanni was formerly Head of Valuation at Quercus Investment Partners, one of the largest funds specialized in utility-scale renewable energy infrastructure investments, and member of the investment team with responsibility on evaluating and executing M&A transactions. He also served as chairman of the investment committee of an ESCo, majority owned by a family office. From 2007 to 2012, Giovanni worked for Cambridge Place Investment Management, a $9bn London and Boston-based structured credit specialist, as director within the Credit and Trading team with strong experience in the origination and analysis of UK and Southern European transactions and particular focus on distressed assets, both in securitised and whole-loans form. Giovanni graduated with honours in Finance from Bocconi University in 2002.

Eleonora Petrarca is Head of Business Development for Italy at Enel Green Power. Before covering this position, she was involved in several roles at Enel at Enel Green Power, from 2007. Most importantly, she was Enel Green Power's Europe CFO from 201e to 2016. Eleonora holds a degree in Economics from Roma Tre University.

Alessandra Toschi is managing director of BayWa r.e. Italia S.r.l. Alessandra has about 20 years of experience in renewable energies. She joined BayWa r.e. at the beginning of 2013, establishing, together with her team, the Italian branch of BayWa r.e. in Italy. Formerly, she has been working for 6 years in Babcock & Brown. Prior to joining BayWa r.e., Alessandra has been a founding partner of Hideal Partners, a spin-off of Babcock & Brown in 2009.Alessandra is a graduate of University of Bologna with a degree in Chemical Engineering.

Managing Director and founder of Studio Tecnico BFP, a leading independent engineering and consulting Italian firm with offices in Italy, Spain and active worldwide. 20 years’ experience in the renewable energy sector, acting as designer, construction manager, project manager, owner’s engineer and technical adviser for M&;A and asset management purposes mainly in PV solar and wind. In the last years Gianluca focused his activity on the technical advising for M&A transactions for green and brown field projects and operating plants. Gianluca is the designer of some of the most important and bigger PV plants in Italy and he is an expert of the authorization procedures in Italy. Gianluca holds a master degree in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnic of Bari. BFP provides design, construction support and technical consultancy worldwide on the renewable energy sector, mainly in Wind, Solar PV and Green Hydrogen, achieving several works successfully performed in Europe and Latin America mainly. BFP performed its technical services on more than 12 GW worldwide.

Alessandro Cohen is the Founding Managing Partner of Armon Capital Advisory, a financial advisory and corporate finance boutique, with a specific focus in renewable energy, clean technology, project financing and real estate transactions.Alessandro was previously director of the renewable energy division at Prothea, Head of the Institutional sales desk at Pioneer Investments and marketing analyst at Integrated Alternative Investments and at Lehman Brothers. Alessandro holds a first degree in Business & Administration and a second degree in International Finance.  

Luca Matrone is a seasoned manager with more than 23 years of corporate finance experience in the global energy space. Since 2017 he is the Head of Energy in the Global Corporate department of Intesa Sanpaolo, responsible for the coverage of approximately 400 companies operating worldwide. Luca was formerly the Head of Energy in the M&A team of Banca IMI, the investment banking arm of Intesa Sanpaolo group, that he joined in 2000. He serves as Vice-Chair in the Environment and Energy committee of the Business at OECD. Luca graduated in Business Administration from Bocconi University in 1998.

Gianluca joined NextEnergy Capital in early 2008 and he is currently responsible of the international development platform of the NextEnergy Group (Starlight). Previously he headed NextPower II, a private equity fund which was successfully exited at the end of 2021 after having invested €232 million in operating solar PV assets in Italy. Gianluca has almost 15 years of experience in the renewable energy sector, spread across different areas, from the development to the financing, construction and then technical, administrative, financial, accounting and fiscal management of solar PV assets in various jurisdictions. Previously, he worked in the investment banking industry for 6 years, across different financial institutions (Calyon, Mediobanca, Dresdner Kleinwort and lastly Morgan Stanley) and countries (Italy and UK), gaining an extensive expertise in the energy and infrastructure sector, having worked on several landmark M&A and capital market transactions closed both in Italy and abroad.

Valerio is a seasoned investment banker with a strong focus on client relationships and getting the deal done. In his current role as Head of Energy for the EMEA region he has the pleasure to work with very talented colleagues and clients across Europe. His expertise includes renewables, project and corporate finance, management, strategic advice and the energy transition. Valerio enjoys generating new ideas and devising feasible solutions to broadly relevant problems.

Raffaele is part of the Equity Investment Team and is responsible for the Italian market. Prior to joining Glennmont Partners, Raffaele was Head of Business Development and Alternative Investments at ACEA SpA and sat as a board member in several joint-ventures / controlled companies. Starting from scratch, he realized the renewable energy platform, completing the 2019-2022 industrial plan two years ahead of schedule, and managed the investment structuring and the sale of a majority stake of the holding company that owned the solar portfolio. Before ACEA, Raffaele was part of the Investment Team of EF Solare Italia. Raffaele holds two degrees, respectively in Economics and Political Science, a MBA from IE Business School (Spain) with an exchange at SDA Bocconi (Italy) in Finance and Investments. Lastly, he holds the Certificate in Finance at London Business School (UK).

Carlo Montella is a partner at Orrick and global Deputy Business Unit Leader of the Energy and Infrastructure practice. He is a transactional lawyer with extensive experience in project development, asset acquisitions and financings in the energy and infrastructure sectors. Carlo has strong expertise and consolidated background in assisting international sponsors, multinational energy companies, large private equity funds, project developers, borrowers and debt issuers, investment banks and other capital providers and investors who value his contribution thanks to his vast experience, practical know how and willingness to go the extra mile for his client. Carlo regularly advises on energy sector mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, development, structuring and financing of large-scale energy and infrastructure projects, both in Italy and internationally (including UK and Eastern European countries). He has a significant experience in the electric power sector, wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and other renewable energy projects and has also represented clients in transactions involving electric power and natural gas transmission.

Virginia is a recognized expert in the energy markets. She works in support of numerous strategic investment initiatives, business planning, trading optimization, risk management and analysis, contract negotiations, legal and antitrust procedures, regulatory and institutional affairs. She coordinates the E-Innovation Committee (in the 2019-2020 PPA Committee), an initiative aimed at evaluating the sustainability of investments in the energy transition and developing policy proposals, and is involved in numerous projects dedicated to innovative business models for renewables and electrical storage. You are an electrical engineer and adjunct professor of "Energy Markets and Supply Structure" at the engineering faculty of the University of Pavia. From April 2018 to June 2021 she was the Chief Executive Officer of REF-E.

He started his career as Environmental Engineer in the italian gas energy sector, first at Edison in 2000 and then in Enel in 2002 successfully modeling and optimizing the gas portfolio and supporting long term gas supply negotiations. He joined the Engie Group within the former local JV AceaElectrabel in 2007 where he was responsible for Gas Supply and Portfolio Optimization. Since 2011 he successfully contributed to the consolidation of Engie in Italy, leading Global Energy Management Italian Origination business for power, gas and environmental attributes as from 2015. He has overseen, structured and negotiated innovative contracts in third party asset management, long term virtual power plant, energy management solutions, green power. In the recent years he has taken up the challenge of the business development and sustainability, leading the negotiations and the structuring of innovative solutions on upstream and downstream PPAs, paving the way for biomethane, green gas, green hydrogen projects and leading transversally the green power European business in the global energy management.

Filippo Stefanelli is a manager with broad experience in energy field (business development, M&A, renewables, energy efficiency, trading & Origination and sales & marketing). He leads a challenging development plan of new solar capacity of over 750 MW and energy efficiency initiatives supporting ACEA Group in the implementation of its decarbonisation strategy. As Managing Director of generation and Business Development department of ACEA Group , Filippo leads business development activities and is strongly focused on ensuring efficiency at all levels and sustaining the group's innovation process.

Amanda has 8 years of experience as an economist and senior analyst with expertise in power markets. Since joining Pexapark in 2019, Amanda has provided analytics, PPA structuring and negotiation for renewable assets across Europe and the US. Amanda holds a Master in MA in Mathematical Economics from Curtin University, Australia. Prior to joining the team, Amanda worked for the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) in its operational team providing advice across a range of power market issues to both public and private stakeholders.