Solarplaza Summit | Portugal

Berto Martins is currently Director for Electricity Markets at EDP S.A. He is 53 years old, born and raised in Lisbon but with an academic degree completed at the Oporto University in 1990.In this same year, joined EDP to work at the National Dispatch for the Electric System and after some years moved to the System Optimization and Commercial Operations Division until 2002.When the liberalization process of the energy sector started in Portugal he moved to the team that created the Energy Management Division at EDP, implementing IT and business procedures for all Trading activities. EDP´s Electricity Markets Division is responsible for the management of the whole generation portfolio in the Iberian Market. Besides real-time optimization, these tasks include also Short/Medium Term Planning, Outages coordination, Bidding strategies on both Energy and Ancillary Services markets and real-time coordination with the Portuguese TSO.

Manuel Silva is responsible for Aquila Clean Energy’s Development and Construction team in Portugal. He has been in the renewable energies sector since 2006. Prior to joining Aquila Capital in 2019, he worked as a Director for Martifer Renewables in Portugal, where he was responsible for the development, construction and operation of wind and solar projects, mostly in Portugal and Romania. He holds a degree in Physics Engineering from Instituto Superior Técnico in Lisbon.

-

Senior Business Development Manager - Lightsource BP (2020-present); Project Development - Iberwind (2006-2020); Consultant - DHV (2002-2006); Environmental Engineer - Cimpor (1999-2002)

Civil Engineer and postgraduate in management and business strategy and MSc in information technology and management. Since 2001, he has developed projects and managed works for several construction companies, and in 2007 he joined ADENE's Building Department as a trainer and auditor, verifying the quality of energy certificates issued by qualified experts within the scope of the National Energy Certification System. He participated in several European projects as well as in some groups of the European Energy Agencies network (Rede EnR). Until 2017, he developed and coordinated several projects in ​​energy efficiency and the development of portals such as poupaenergia.pt, a tool to help consumers better understand the liberalized electricity and natural gas market and assess the savings they can obtain through switching of trader. He is currently director of the industry and energy transition area, whose main functions are the operationalization of the management system for intensive energy consumption (SGCIE), implementation of self-consumption projects and renewable energy communities, as well as the mitigation of energy poverty.

Carlos Novais Gonçalves has worked at OMIP since 2006 the Iberian Energy Derivatives Exchange, as Head of Trading. Before that, he has worked in the stock exchange with research and publications and in investment banking, including Head of Derivatives. Carlos holds a degree in Management from Universidade Católica - Porto. He is also the distinguished author of two books, Economics (“Anti-Keynes Manifest”, 2016) and Bitcoin (“Introduction in 10 steps”, 2018).

Marco has eighteen years of international experience in the management of assets, and operation and maintenance throughout various industries, including seven years in the solar industry. He has been paving his career path towards full asset management services since beginning his career with ABB, integrating its full-service team for industrial assets.Following this, Marco worked at Transdev-Veolia, focused on business and asset management for Light Rail networks in Europe. In 2010 he became founder and global Head of Martifer Solar´s O&M and Service Business, driving the strategic direction while leading a team of more than 100 employees, where he became Executive Committee Member as the representative of O&M and, accumulated with the responsibility of leading the EPC global business in 2015, until leaving the company in 2017. Martifer Solar operated in more than 20 countries as a global reputed Developer, EPC turnkey provider and one of the most relevant O&M Global Service providers for Solar assets.In 2018 he co-founded and integrated as General Manger the company MTX Solar - a provider of innovative solutions and services for the players of the solar industry, with own competences for the whole chain of value of Solar, present in two continents.Marco received his MSC in Electrical Engineering and completed an Executive MBA in Management from University of Porto Business School/IE Madrid. He speaks Portuguese, English, and Spanish, with a working proficiency in the French language.

Christina is a Senior Associate responsible for Aurora’s Iberian subscription product. She has over five years of experience working within the Energy industry, with a particular focus on Project Financing and Financial Modelling. Prior to joining Aurora, Christina worked at Bank Sabadell as Head of Energy Research within the Project Finance team, where she led the financing of many large scale projects, working with major banks, law firms and major energy companies, both in Iberia and internationally. Christina graduated from the University of Southampton with a BSc in Mathematics with Spanish (Hons), and holds further qualifications in Big Data and Financial Modelling.

João Garrido is an environmental engineer with a degree and a master's from Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. He is also Master in Business administration from AESE/IESE Business School. He has been working in the renewables sector since 2005, with special emphasis on solar energy. He has held various positions in this industry such as engineer, sales, solar panel manufacturing, energy audits and lecturing. In 2018 he created Caparica Solaris whose main activity is the development of utility-scale projects. He is also a consultant for the European Commission, namely the Innovation Fund.

-

-

-

Andrés is CEO of ISIGENERE. Born and raised in Colombia, Andrés studied Computer Science and holds an MBA by the Kellogg Graduate School of Business in USA. Andres started his career working in software startups. After his MBA he worked for the consultancy McKinsey & Company in Spain where he advised clients in strategy and technology projects. Later on he moved to Santander Bank where he led the growth of the subsidiary of the bank from 1 country and managing 80 million euros of spend, to 11 countries and 8000 million euros of spend. Now in Isigenere, Andrés is leading the growth of the company in utility scale and self-consumption projects while continuing the innovation by creating new and better versions of ISIFLOATING, its floating solar system. the pioneering company in floating solar systems since 2008 when their first floating solar system was designed and installed in Alicante (Spain).

Degree in civil engineering and an MBA in General Management (UCP, 2005). He has performed project management and coordination functions for over 20 years in construction, energy and sustainability sectors. He holds a Diploma in Advanced Studies in Climate Change and Sustainable Development Policies by the University of Lisbon (2015), senior member of the Order of Engineers, MRICS member (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors), Green Energy Finance Specialist (RENAC, Berlin 2021) and holds a Sustainable Finance Diploma by the University of Cambridge (2023).

Mónica Carneiro Pacheco is a Partner and heads the Energy & Climate Change team. With over 30 years of experience, she advises a roster of clients in the field of public law, with a special focus on energy law, PPP projects, public procurement, concessions and environment. Mónica also has extensive experience in environmental issues, providing advice at various levels in this field, including environmental licensing, monitoring minimization measures and environmental impact compensation. Mónica is individually ranked Band 1 for Energy & Natural Resources by Chambers Europe 2023 and has been ranked for the past 15 years and is ranked Leading Individual in the Hall of Fame for Energy & Natural Resources by Legal 500, 2023. She is also recommended for Projects and Project Finance, by Legal 500, 2023. Moreover, she is recognized for Energy Law, Environmental Law e Natural Resources Law, by Best Lawyers, 2022. She was also awarded Energy Team of the Year, 2019, Lawyer of the Year 2022 for Energy and Lawyer of the Year for Renewables, all promoted by Iberian Lawyer.

-

Nuno is Galp's European Power Director. Part of the Energy Management business unit, he is responsible for the optimization of the sale and purchase of electricity and guarantees of origin across short, medium and long-term markets (Intraday Trading & Dispatching, Trading and Origination). Nuno joined Galp in July 2020 as Head of Energy Management within the Renewables business unit. At that time, he was responsible for the commercial strategy underpinning the sale of electricity produced by Galp’s renewable generation assets. He later led the Market Intelligence, Structuring & Analytics team being responsible for Galp’s view on the price evolution of different commodities and for analytical models that supported internal decision-making processes. Before joining Galp, Nuno worked for Engie and AFRY having become an expert in commercial issues related to power markets in Europe, the U.S., Colombia and Brazil. In these geographies, he advised on refinancing, divestment and asset rotation transactions covering different asset classes with a total reported value of over €7bn. In 2019 and 2020, Nuno designed the Portugal solar auctions (with storage) for the Portuguese government. Nuno holds a Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering, with a minor in Energy Markets, from the University of Oporto and an MBA from IE in Madrid.

Eduardo Famini Silva is a versatile investment banking Director with nearly 15 years of experience in business development, strategy and corporate finance. He has a track record of advising senior executives, including C-Suite, on strategic projects across M&A or major financings. Moreover, he has a holistic knowledge of the energy industry, from oil and gas to renewable energy. An experienced manager, having led a team of circa 50 individuals. A team worker, who drives performance by empowering and listening to people and who is keenly interested in the drivers and challenges of modern businesses, including areas such as digitalisation and social impact.

Rui Fernandes Falé is responsible for Business and Commercial Development at Acciona Plug. With more than 15 years of experience in the energy sector, he has worked in various companies with responsibility for Oil (heating fuels), Electricity and Natural Gas, Solar Plants for Collective Self-Consumption (Energy Communities), and Green Hydrogen businesses. Rui Holds a degree in Organisational Psychology, a post-graduate degree in Talent Management and Leadership, and an MBA (The Lisbon MBA).

Leticia is Head of Corporate PPAs, a global position in Acciona Energia. Together with the local teams, leads the negotiation and execution of PPAs with global corporate clients. She joined Acciona Energia in early 2023. Prior to joining Acciona, Leticia was Origination Manager at Sonnedix for the European markets, and she held different positions in market consultancy at DNV (former Antuko), located in Chile, where she led the business development area with focus in Spain and Latin American markets. Leticia holds a degree in laws and a Master in Stock Market and Financial Markets form IEB and Universidad Complutense de Madrid.

Duarte Rodrigues Ferreira, 52 years old, holds a Business Management and Administration Degree from Universidade Católica Portuguesa, an MBA from IESE Business School and the PADE (Programa de Alta Direcção de Empresas) from IESE Business School. He began his career in Unilever (UK/Portugal) and held leadership positions in General Electric (USA/Spain/Netherlands/Portugal); Xylem Water Solutions and Efacec. He currently leads the international expansion of Greenvolt Distributed Energy Generation BU as Global Business Unit Director.

Mariana Figueiredo is currently responsible for the Legal and Public Affairs department for Southern Europe at Eurowind Energy. In the past 15 years, before joining Eurowind Energy, Mariana made her way up to Senior Associate, having worked in several leading law firms over the years, both in Portugal and in the USA, advising local and international companies on projects and transactions in the energy sector. Mariana holds a Law degree and a Masters’ in Business Law from the Catholic University of Portugal and an LL.M. in Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources Law from the University of Houston, Law School, in the USA. Recently, she was nominated as a member of the Programme Standing Committee at the World Energy Council, where she represents Portugal. She also sits as Board Member of the Future Energy Leaders Portugal and co-founded, along with its female members, “Mulheres na Energia” – an initiative that aims to bridge the gender gap within the energy sector. She was also selected as one of the European participants in the first European Youth Energy Forum (EYEF), promoted by the European Youth Energy Network, where she currently collaborates with the implementation team for EYEF’s 2023 edition. Mariana was ranked multiple times as a “Rising Star” in Energy and Natural Resources by the prestigious international directory, The Legal 500. In addition, Mariana was equally invited as a Lecturer in the Energy Law Seminars at both Catholic University of Portugal and Nova School of Law. She has also been invited as a speaker for various energy related conferences and events and has written and published several articles.

-

Mirco Torquati is a Mechanical Engineer with a long experience in renewable energies. He has worked for fourteen years in the wind sector for an important German wind turbine manufacturer as Country Manager for the Italian Market. Since one year, he is in the solar industry with 3SUN, the Gigafactory of Enel Green Power. He has the responsibility of sales for the utility scale market in Italy and rest of Europe of 3SUN solar modules.

-

Originally from Brazil, Lorena Nieuwenhoven completed a double major degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics at the Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2019. She then deep-dived into the area of renewables and sustainability, helping expand the penetration of solar energy in the Iberian markets through her work as a Project Manager for Solarplaza. Apart from her work in the Spanish and Portuguese markets, Lorena has also spearheaded topical conferences related to Green Hydrogen and Hybrid Renewables.