Solarplaza Summit | Net-Zero Buildings

Paolo Bertoldi is a senior expert in sustainable energy, climate change and energy efficiency at the European Commission. Some of his key areas of expertise include Energy Service Companies, market-based instruments, governance, environmental leadership, and ICT energy consumption. Experienced Editor-in-chief with a demonstrated history of working in the international affairs industry. Bertoldi is also skilled in sustainable energy, Corporate Social Responsibility, International Relations, and data centre, and is in charge of policy analysis for energy efficiency at the European Commission where he has served as Energy Efficiency Expert and Senior Expert for a total of 26 years. He has an engineering degree focused on energy systems and electrical systems from the University of Padova, Italy.

Chiara Delmastro holds a M.Sc in Energy and Nuclear Engineering and further specialized with a PhD in urban energy planning and energy modelling for policy-oriented scenarios analysis. She is currently working as energy analyst and modeler at the International Energy Agency, leading on buildings sector technology modeling and also acting as desk officer for the District Heating and Cooling Technology Collaboration Programme. Member of the Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for Buildings and Construction and member of the board for the Global District Energy and Climate Award.

Sjaak Voogd is Director Energy Sales C&I at Prologis, where he leads strategies and partnerships in commercial and industrial energy solutions. With a rich background spanning marketing, communications, product management and project management in B2B and B2C environments - from EV‑charging and battery storage to smart grid and load balancing initiatives - Sjaak brings a uniquely broad perspective to the energy transition.

Kahya has been creating impact with a vision for a circular and fair PV industry towards Net Zero as operational leader, technical consultant, and strategic thinker since 2004. Over these 2 decades she has gained projects and management experience in the development and execution phase as well as technical assessment of residential and BIPV systems, PV on industrial roofs, and large-scale ground mounted PV systems. Her working experience spans the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Canada and the Philippines. In her current role as Program Manager Solar she is co-developing TNO Energy Market Unit’s long-term strategic outlook of all solar research activities together with internal and external partners. Further she is co-leading the business development side of the BIPV, VIPV and X IPV propositions as well as PV & circularity. TNO is a leading Dutch Research Institute creating innovations to combat climate change.

Tjebbe  Vroon is Innovation Advisor at Stedin, specialising in energy‑systems integration, smart grids and large‑scale flexibility activation. Over the past 4 and a half years he has led capacity‑management initiatives - solving grid congestion, activating flexibility via market platforms and scaling low‑voltage flexibility such as home batteries, smart charging and heat‑pumps. He is now driving Stedin’s strategy for “grid‑conscious construction” of new housing in Zuid‑Holland, addressing how many megawatts can be integrated each year through 2030. With his blend of power‑to‑X, demand‑response and infrastructure expertise, he bridges the DSO perspective with real estate development and flexible‑load solutions.

Joachim Rupp is a seasoned executive with deep expertise across the renewable energy and cleantech space. He holds a degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from EDHEC Business School and has served in senior leadership roles at global firms including Hitachi, Samsung, Viessmann, and Detra Solar. A committed advocate of the energy transition, Joachim combines strategic foresight with hands-on exe-cution to accelerate the shift toward sustainable energy and reduce CO₂ emissions. His expertise spans M&A, post-merger integration, business development, and scaling technologies and business models across international markets. As such, he advises corporations and investors on aligning technological innovation with capital to deliver long-term impact. Beyond his professional work, Joachim is also active in environmental advocacy, most notably as co-organizer and active participant in the Journey to 0, a pan-European cycling initiative raising awareness for a fossil-free future and supporting SolarAid’s mission to bring clean, safe solar energy to off-grid communities.

Niek Theuws is Founder and CEO of Renewable Partners B.V., a leading Dutch firm that boosts real‑estate portfolio returns by 10‑30 % through smart sustainability upgrades and rental‑optimisation strategies. He has successfully kept over 500 homes in the private rental sector by combining A‑to‑Z project leadership with a genuine passion for delivering impact.

Joshua is a Consultant in the Climate & Decarbonization Team at BDO. Working across both voluntary and compliance contexts, his focus is on greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting, reporting and target setting, net-zero strategy, and transition planning. As a sustainability compliance and regulations expert, Joshua has worked closely with international climate policy, developing expertise in mandatory emission reporting requirements and carbon pricing mechanisms. This includes policy instruments such as the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS), the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), and the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD). Joshua started his career as a chemical engineer working in synthetic fuels and chemicals. He brings this highly technical perspective to his work, combined with his rounded consulting skillset developed through his now 5 years of experience in climate change advisory.

Angèle Reinders is a full professor of 'Design of Sustainable Energy Systems' at the Department of Mechanical Engineering in Eindhoven University of Technology. She aims at an optimal use and integration of sustainable energy technologies in products, buildings and local infrastructures. In this design-driven research theme improved designs of sustainable energy systems are explored and also developed by means of simulation, prototyping and testing. A strong interest exists in optimized applications of solar energy technologies in the context of buildings and mobility and affiliated energy technologies that support storage, enhanced user interactions and flexibility of sustainable energy.

Menno Rubbens, project developer & director Menno has been a project developer and director of cepezedprojects since 2000. In each project, he strives to incorporate a new element or aspect for the benefit of circular architecture.

Philippe is Chief Operating Officer at the Becquerel Institute, a leading advisory firm specialised in solar photovoltaics, with offices in Belgium, France, Italy, and Spain. With a decade of experience in the PV sector, he combines deep expertise in economics, markets, policies, supply chains, as well as environmental and social impacts to deliver actionable insights through consulting and applied research. Philippe holds a double academic background, with MSc in Industrial Engineering & Mangement as well as in Environmental Sciences & Management.

Paul de Ruiter is a Dutch architect and entrepreneur known for his belief that buildings should produce energy rather than consume it. In 1994, he founded Paul de Ruiter Architects in Amsterdam and gradually became an established voice in the national and international sustainability discourse. With his firm, Paul is deeply involved in BREEAM, and since 2017 he has been a member of the executive board of the Dutch Green Building Council. His architecture combines technical energy efficiency with human values such as happiness and inspiration, in order to create intelligent and sustainable buildings.

Pim Rutgers is Chief Technology Officer at Next Sense, where he drives the development of experience-driven and climate-neutral buildings powered by data insights, simulations, and AI control. With a background in Industrial and Product Design from Delft University of Technology and a minor in Computer Science from the University of Amsterdam, Pim combines technical architecture, production management, and innovation leadership to decarbonize real estate. His mission is to make every building Paris-proof and to create a future where technology, people, and nature thrive in balance.

Joanne Lijbers is a Lead AI Engineer with 8+ years turning ML/AI concepts into production-ready solutions. She's built everything from a deforestation early warning system to LLM applications for over 15 companies. Her focus is on the full stack: from prompt management and agent orchestration to deployment, monitoring, and the (cloud) infrastructure that makes these systems work reliably in your business processes.

Philip is a self-taught engineer with a background in business strategy. Originally from New York City, Philip came to the Netherlands in 2012 to pursue an entrepreneurial expedition focused on sustainable development. Philip is one of the co-founders and a board member of Metabolic, an organization which works with governments, NGOs, and corporations to tackle complex sustainability challenges. While working with Metabolic, Philip was responsible for the realization of projects like De Ceuvel - an office community which has become a globally visible showcase for the circular economy. In 2015, Philip founded Metabolic’s first commercial spin-off: Spectral, a system integration and smart energy services company based in Amsterdam. After two years of rapid development, Spectral is now preparing to scale up and to take the next steps on its mission to accelerate the transition towards 100% renewable, clean energy supply.

Dr. Bruno Bueno has been a scientist at Fraunhofer ISE since 2012, where he leads national and international research projects in energy-efficient buildings as the Subject Manager and Group Leader for Solar Building Envelopes. Before joining Fraunhofer ISE, Dr. Bueno completed a PhD at MIT, specializing in Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology, further cementing his expertise at the intersection of architecture and sustainable energy solutions. His work focuses on facade technologies, especially in the area of Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)

Manuel Thielmann is COO and Managing Partner at empact GmbH, where he leads the development and rollout of decentralized energy solutions that make buildings future‑ready through photovoltaic, storage, heat and EV charging systems. Previously at Polarstern, he earned his reputation as “Mr. Mieterstrom,” spearheading solar, heat‑pump, battery and shared EV charging projects in multi‑tenant buildings. He also served as Managing Director at Green Hydrogen Esslingen, driving the launch of the underground electrolyser in Esslingen’s “Neue Weststadt” climate‑neutral district, producing up to 400 kg/day of green hydrogen, integrated with heat‑and‑power systems to supply buildings sustainably.

Dr. Pratik Vinayak Gholkar is a sustainability scientist specializing in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), environmental compliance, and carbon footprint modeling, with over a decade of international experience across industry, academia, and regulation. He holds a PhD in Circular Economy and Sustainability Assessment from IIT Bombay and Monash University and leads high-impact LCA programs for global clients at Ecochain Technologies in the Netherlands. Proficient in advanced LCA software and AI-enhanced modeling, he ensures scientific and regulatory alignment with ISO 14040/44, GHG Protocol, and EU standards. With eight patents and multiple high-impact publications, Dr. Gholkar combines academic rigor with applied expertise to help companies meet ESG and compliance goals.

Mark Naber is a hospitality leader with over two decades of experience in hotel management and event operations. As General Manager of Postillion Hotel & Convention Centre WTC Rotterdam, he oversees one of the Netherlands’ premier venues for international conferences and events. A graduate of Hotelschool Amsterdam, Mark has previously held senior leadership roles at Radisson and Fundustry Events, where he specialized in operations, business development, and customer experience. Known for his passion for hospitality and people, Mark combines strategic management with hands-on leadership to create seamless, high-quality guest experiences across every event and partnership.

Daan van Put is Project Leader Energy Flexibility at Sweco, where he supports commercial and industrial clients in electrifying their operations and integrating sustainable energy solutions. With a strong background in consultancy and project management within the renewable energy sector, Daan combines technical, financial, and contractual expertise to develop innovative projects that overcome challenges like grid congestion. His work spans battery systems, flexible energy management, solar, and charging infrastructure, helping organizations transition toward a more resilient and efficient energy future.

Victor Fonseca is Senior Associate for Real Estate at GRESB, where he leads research, engagement, and strategic partnerships to advance standards and product development. As an embodied carbon expert, he contributes to shaping global ESG and climate frameworks that drive sustainability across the built environment. With a background in Civil Engineering and a Master’s in Architectural Science (High-Performance Buildings), Victor brings an analytical and problem-solving mindset to addressing one of the greatest challenges of our time: the transition to sustainable real assets and the fight against climate change.

Dr. Pierluigi is a seasoned expert in Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) with over 15 years of experience in research, education, and project management. Currently, he leads the Innovative Envelope/BIPV Team at the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI). Holding an M.Sc.Eng. and Ph.D. in Building Engineering/Architecture, Dr. Pierluigi combines technical expertise with a deep passion for the intersection of technological innovation, energy, and architectural quality. He has been an integral part of the Swiss BIPV Research team at SUPSI for nearly a decade, spearheading R&D initiatives, pilot constructions, and sensitization projects on solar architecture both within Switzerland and internationally. Dr. Pierluigi’s career includes contributions to over 100 published papers on BIPV and related topics, leadership roles in innovation projects, and active involvement in international standardization committees such as CENELEC and IEC. As a member of Task 15 IEA-PVPS and other expert groups, he plays a pivotal role in advancing solar architecture research and education globally. Beyond academia, Dr. Pierluigi has a strong professional background as an architect and project manager, with notable projects. His dedication to multidisciplinary collaboration has led to innovative developments in solar architecture and advanced training initiatives. He’s co-founder of Sun Appeal, an innovation unit for strategy consulting. With a proven track record in competitive research and innovation management, Dr. Pierluigi continues to drive progress in BIPV technologies and sustainable building practices, bridging the gap between engineering, architecture, and energy solutions.

Koen Mulders is Co‑Founder and CEO of the cleantech scale‑up Currentt, and a seasoned business leader with over two decades of experience launching and scaling global hardware/software ventures at companies such as Versuni and Philips.

Pieter studied Industrial Design Engineering with a master in Strategic Product Design at Delft University. He worked in startups abroad and as project manager within the field of renewable energy and recycling industry. PV has been a common thread throughout his career; from a graduation thesis on small solar home systems in Sub-Saharan Africa till his current position at the Green Village where he contributes to accelerating sustainable innovations in the field of energy generation. At The Green Village, knowledge and educational institutions, businesses, governments and citizens research, experiment, validate, demonstrate their sustainable innovations. The Green Village is a low-regulation “open-air laboratory” on the TU Delft Campus with a focus on the built environment.

Kevin Verpaalen has been with Kameleon Solar since 2015 and played a key role in the transformation of the company by introducing color to the product line. This shifted the focus entirely to customized, colored Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) solutions, making Kameleon Solar a leading player in aesthetic solar energy integration. Since his appointment as CEO in 2022, Kevin has further accelerated the innovation and growth of the company, including the recent acquisition of Solar Visuals. Recently, Kameleon Solar expanded its mission: in addition to beautifying solar panels on the outside, the company is now committed to a more responsible use of materials. By reducing the ecological footprint and sourcing materials exclusively from ethically responsible sources, Kameleon Solar is working towards a more beautiful and sustainable future for solar energy. In addition to his work at Kameleon Solar, Kevin is a board member at BIPV Nederland, where he focuses on communication and raising awareness around BIPV. He played an important role in setting up the first BIPV Award, an initiative to reward and stimulate innovation and excellence within the sector. With his broad expertise in sustainable architecture, aesthetic solar energy solutions , printing and circular design, Kevin contributes as an advisor to the Solarplaza Summit Net-Zero Buildings.

Paul is a specialist in the energy transition for buildings and industrial estates, with a passion for sustainable energy generation, smart energy sharing, and innovative business models.

Dee Yon Chng (pronounced Dion) is a project manager for Solarplaza spearheading the following events in chronological order: Agri-PV 2023, Floating-PV 2023, Energy Storage Spain 2023, Romania 2024, France 2024. Prior to Solarplaza she helped co-found a "floating" coaching company, and worked as sustainability consultant. She is a strong believer in knowledge sharing around sustainability topics, with 10 years of chairman experience in facilitating a collaborative and fruitful discussion.