2023 Previous Agenda
Interested in speaking on a panel, or giving a presentation in 2024?
Get in touch with the Large Scale Solar Central and Eastern Europe conference producer, Jo Wilkinson to discuss speaking opportunities.
09:00 -
09:05
Presentation
Speaker
09:05 -
09:10
Presentation
Speaker
09:10 -
09:30
Panel Discussion
This introductory session will detail the role and potential of solar energy in the Central and Eastern European (CEE) region, with a spotlight on Poland.
- How is Poland transitioning from coal dependency to solar, and what does the present solar energy scenario look like?
- What are the primary regulatory obstacles in integrating solar energy into Poland's grid, and how is the framework adapting?
- How can Poland guide its CEE neighbours in solar adoption and innovation?
- How is Poland addressing the socioeconomic effects of shifting to solar, particularly in terms of jobs and community integration?
- What are Poland's solar goals for the upcoming decade, and how does this align with the nation's broader decarbonisation vision?
Moderator
Director of the ZPP Energy and Climate Forum,
Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers
Speakers
09:30 -
10:15
Panel Discussion
Difficulties in obtaining grid connections slows down the growth of solar deployment in Central and Eastern Europe. This panel addresses this issue by discussing practical steps to overcome this challenge, including:
- How the private sector could improve access to the grid by developing grid infrastructure.
- How can developers effectively collaborate to make better use out of connection points?
- Navigating bureaucracies to obtain a grid connection.
- Best practice for cable pooling.
- Which technologies are available to maximise the use out of existing connection points?
Moderator
Speakers
10:15 -
10:55
Room One
Panel Discussion
Permitting processes add uncertainties as to whether projects can be developed from a greenfield stage, draining the time and resources of stakeholders involved in the development large scale solar projects. This panel discusses the best approaches to solar deployment that impact permitting across Central and Eastern Europe, including:
- How to balance the time-sensitive nature of permitting with environmental risk management.
- The best practice for working with local authorities to certify projects.
- The impact of adding technologies such as storage, wind or hydrogen to PV projects on permitting processes.
- The nuances of each country’s legal framework for permitting.
Moderator
Speakers
10:55 -
11:15
Room One
Presentation
In this session Vítor Rodrigues of Longi will lay out a roadmap, discussing the challenges for systems compatibility and presenting the future technology for the upcoming years.
Speaker
Stream 1
Stream 2
11:45 -
12:05
Room One
Presentation
About 40% of total installed power of energy sources in polish energy system are renewables today. This ratio is going to increase rapidly next years. The result of such state is that traditional, fossil-fuel-based sources, which offered stability services are not enough anymore. There is a need that renewable sources will take out part of this functionality. As RES are definitely not stable and controllable because of relation to weather conditions, they require additional equipment to participate in that task.
- This session will describe new types of “grid forming” inverters coupled with energy storages, which can support the grid or even be the main source there, and shape voltage & frequency directly.
- Innovative technology used here allows to make energy system less related with traditional power plants and is real milestone towards the decarbonization.
- The session will also include examples of applications and other factors of energy system stability.
Speaker
11:45 -
12:05
Room Two
Presentation
Covering effective PV solutions and optimisation of LCOE, this session will explore:
- Major challenges for PV deployment in Poland
- Technological developments to overcome the challenges
- How to reduce the LCOE of solar power plants?
Speakers
12:05 -
12:45
Room One
Panel Discussion
The offtake structure decided upon can impact the profitability of PV projects and the feasibility of obtaining project finance. This panel discusses the merits and drawbacks of different offtake structures like feed-in-tariff, PPAs, CPPAs, the CFD system and merchant offtake in the context of:
- The level and length of offtake agreements.
- The impact of price caps and regulations.
- The risk appetite for the merchant revenues.
- How platforms and brokers can match generators with the most lucrative offtake revenue streams.
Moderator
Speakers
12:05 -
12:45
Room Two
Panel Discussion
- Working with local communities to limit environmental impact of large scale solar projects.
- Choosing the right type of land to build solar projects on to limit negative biodiversity and water-use impacts.
- Turning good environmental risk management into a competitive differentiator for solar projects.
- How much does closer proximity to a substation increase the return on investment?
- Evaluating the technical parameters of the land, including the inclination, size and shape to decide if the land is suitable for PV.
Moderator
Speakers
12:45 -
13:30
Room One
Panel Discussion
Energy security issues in the Central and Eastern Europe have meant industrial energy users have turned towards PPAs and onsite solar to de-risk their energy consumption. This panel discusses the key issues that impact a successful renewable energy delivery strategy, including:
- Assessing and mitigating the different risks that impact PPAs.
- Whether onsite or offsite solar is appropriate and how to finance that.
- How to structure aggregate PPAs for groups of offtakers.
- The varying regulations for PPAs that differ across countries.
- Overcoming legal issues in setting up a direct connection.
Moderator
Speakers
12:45 -
13:30
Room Two
Panel Discussion
- Identifying and managing the main operational risks to solar assets.
- Using data and software to increase asset performance and reduce variability.
- Using insurance to mitigate the financial risk of poor asset performance.
Moderator
Speakers
Stream 1
Stream 2
14:45 -
15:05
Presentation
Jeziórko Case Study and the Potential of Storage Systems.
During this case study, you will learn how to plan, design, and, above all, manage the construction of a photovoltaic farm on such a large scale. You will also learn how to prepare for challenges and anticipate them before they arise. Additionally, you will gain insights into the company behind this project, its mission, and their vision of the future.
Speaker
14:45 -
15:05
Room Two
Presentation
As a top 6 PV module supplier at global shipment volume, Astronergy has huge plans to expand its manufacturing capacity, product coverage while keep supply chain transparency and lower carbon emissions across the entire value chain of a PV module.
But how can a module supplier maintain its social responsibility during a rapid expansion? This session will share:
- How Astronergy insists on its green energy core, to keep developing in much more friendly way for greener world.
- Astronergy’s commitment to create a sustainable and net-zero carbon world.
- How Astronergy develops and expands high-reliability products to each corner of energy demands.
Speaker
15:05 -
15:45
Room One
Panel Discussion
The case for investing into solar projects in Central and Eastern Europe does not sit within a geographic silo. International investors must consider the pros and cons of Central and Eastern Europe vs the rest of the world. This session will help you make that decision by considering:
- What the investment climate and political will is for renewables in comparison to other emerging regions around the world.
- To what extent investment in Central and Eastern European solar assets can substantially diversify an international renewables fund.
- How international financial investors and international utility investors differ on approaching route to market in Central and Eastern Europe.
- Can hardware and software innovations strengthen the business case for Central and Eastern Europe?
Moderator
Speakers
Managing Director and Head of the Private Equity / Infrastructure Transaction Team,
Impax Asset Management
15:05 -
16:30
Room Two
Networking Roundtables
In these discussion groups, learn how the solar market is evolving across Central and Eastern European countries.
After introductions, you will be able to share key developments, findings, successes and challenges, and share expertise with your peers, guided by a moderator.
We will then review and share the points of each table at the end of the session. There will be one table per country.
Day One Roundtables will focus on these countries:
- Poland
- Hungary
- Czech Republic
- Croatia
- Serbia
- Slovenia
- Slovakia
Moderator
15:45 -
16:30
Room One
Panel Discussion
Deciding how much to invest in or sell a Central and Eastern European solar project for will depend on your approach to M&A. This panel considers this in the context of:
- Modelling how much power is expected to be generated and sold by a PV project.
- What OPEX is expected to run a project
- Refining M&A expectations for different countries given the varying cost, tax and financing conditions in different jurisdictions.
- Financing M&A through debt or equity.
- How to increase the value of your project with new technologies that reduce maintenance cost and improve efficiencies.
Moderator
Speakers
Head of Structured Finance and M&A – Business Development Europe,
Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV)
17:00 -
17:30
Room One
Panel Discussion
- Understanding the revenue model for solar co-located with storage.
- Deciding which energy storage technologies to use.
- Obtaining finance to fund storage and PV projects.
- Deciding whether to fund through debt or equity.
Moderator
Speakers
09:00 -
09:10
Room One
Keynote
Speaker
09:10 -
09:55
Room One
Panel Discussion
The war in Ukraine has severely damaged Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, forcing a rebuilding of it. It leads to the question of what does this mean for solar energy consumers, developers and investors operating in Ukraine and the wider Central and Eastern Europe region? This panel discusses:
- How these stakeholders can continue to support the rebuilding of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
- How the rebuilding Ukraine’s electricity market will provide opportunities for investors and developers to accelerate decarbonisation and enhance regional energy security.
- The impact of greater interconnection between Ukraine and Romania on the electricity markets of Central and Eastern Europe region.
Moderator
Speakers
09:55 -
10:15
Room One
Presentation
High prices and decarbonisation policies have led to strong investor interest in solar across the region. With installed solar capacity projected to exceed 80 GW by 2030, we address the key questions determining successful investments:
- How will European decarbonisation policy impact regional power markets?
- Why won’t wholesale prices return to levels seen before the energy crisis?
- How large is the solar investment opportunity and what will this mean for price cannibalisation?
- How can battery co-location help mitigate the risk and improve investment returns?
Speaker
10:15 -
11:00
Room One
Panel Discussion
- Given EU subsidies for the manufacturing of green technologies, where across the Central and Eastern Europe can project developers best take advantage of local supply chains.
- Understanding the different supply chain regulatory hurdles for markets across Central & Eastern Europe.
- Choosing technologies with a high bankability and resilient supply chain.
- Developing a green and ethical solar supply chain.
- The impact of the Net Zero Industry Act, Repower EU, Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework and Critical Raw Materials.
Moderator
Speakers
11:30 -
12:15
Room One
Panel Discussion
The Baltics present a fast growing market for solar. At the end of 2021, the three Baltic states had a cumulative installed PV capacity of 785 MW. However, uncertainties persist about:
- The legislation for land use for solar.
- The price expectations for projects.
- The status, value and opportunities for using energy storage as part of PV projects.
- The impact of curtailment.
Moderator
Speakers
12:15 -
13:00
Room One
Panel Discussion
By 2024, the total accumulated PV capacity is predicted to be over 22 GW in Poland. This panel discusses the main issues impacting the PV market in Poland and advises on how to seize opportunities in the market, including:
- The outlook for future grid connections, given PV’s competition with wind for connection points.
- How the development of the energy law will impact the selling of energy generated by PV.
- How to navigate local planning regulations will impact PV deployment.
Moderator
Speakers
14:30 -
15:30
Room One
Networking Roundtables
In these discussion groups, learn how the solar market is evolving across Central and Eastern European countries.
After introductions, you will be able to share key developments, findings, successes and challenges, and share expertise with your peers, guided by a moderator.
We will then review and share the points of each table at the end of the session. There will be one table per country.
Day Two Roundtables will focus on these countries:
- Romania
- Bulgaria
- Ukraine
- Austria
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Estonia
Moderator
15:30 -
16:15
Room One
Panel Discussion
- To what extent are macroeconomic conditions a barrier for smaller investors to partake in Central and Eastern Europe PV projects?
- Addressing currency risks for projects beyond the Eurozone. Are there currency hedges that will significantly mitigate risk?
- How will a changing interest rate influence financing decisions?
- Choosing which currency to finance PV projects in.
- How to structure cross-border PPAs that are impacted by macroeconomic volatility across currency zones.