From the changing cost of capital environment, return expectations, market consolidation and increasing divergence in perspectives on the value of projects, portfolios and platforms, one thing is clear – there is friction in the deal-making landscape for solar.

We are joined by a diverse collection of  deal-makers sharing their perspectives of navigating the European solar and storage deal-making scene through our new format Spectrum.

Panelist throughout the session will be responding to prompts relating to their experience navigating the deal-making scene in 2024. Their agreement (and disagreement) in their experiences will for the basis of discussion. Audience participation through our Slido platform is included.

• Exploration of the financing ecosystem through pre-development through to construction
• What early financing needs do sponsors have that aren’t being met?
• What can capital providers offer in the way of early financing?
• Granular details of approaches to project financing from deal points to milestone achievements

• How has the appetite for hPPAs evolved, especially among offtakers with an interest in 24/7 energy delivery?
• Which hybrid PPA structures are finding success among key players? (i.e. shaped PPAs and blended renewable & storage premium PPAs)
• How are project sponsors navigating the intricacies of revenue modelling and managing multiple contracts?

• Utilizing blockchain to power transparency and provide unparalleled traceability in the manufacturing process.
• Embracing innovative materials like FBR silicon to drive significant carbon reduction.
• Setting new standards in sustainability with a data-driven approach to minimizing environmental impact.

This session takes a closer look at the perspectives of pension funds with billions allocated in European renewables. How has their appetite for investment in European renewables evolved?

• Comparing investment products available for pension funds, how competitive is renewables infrastructure investments in comparison to other infrastructure investments, private credit, private equity, bond and stocks?
• What level of returns are pension funds requiring from renewable infrastructure funds before considering allocating capital?
• From the perspective of institutional limited partners will Europe remain a prime destination for investment compared to other regions? In what ways has the investment case shifted in 2025?
• How are factors like ESG mandates, decarbonisation targets, and regulatory frameworks shaping asset manages’ focus areas in 2025?
• How are recent geopolitical shifts in the US, Europe and Asia affecting investor confidence and risk assessment for renewable energy projects across Europe?

There will be 10 interactive roundtables taking place simultaneously – with each roundtable focused on a specific country or region covered on the programme.

Each roundtable will be moderated by a developer and or investor with high exposure to the respective market providing first-hand insights. Each roundtable will explore the roadblocks and opportunities for investment and deployment of PV and co-located battery storage.

Each roundtable will focus on one of the following countries or regions:

• The United Kingdom – Chris Hewitt, Monika Paplaczyk & Josh Cornes
• Greece – Anastasios Papazachariou & Vassilis Zorbas
• Italy – Luca Matrone & Alessandro Cohen
• Romania – Karthik Panicker & Radu Eremciuc
• Poland – Anna Chmielewska
• France – Alejandra Perez-Pla
• Germany – Jan-Phillip Kock
• The Republic of Ireland – Conall Bolger
• Iberia (Spain & Portugal) – Peer Piske & Marta Valien
• The Nordics (Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden) – Lars Hedstrom & Cesar Torres

This is the best opportunity at the summit for delegates to identify and network with project sponsors and capital providers either already active or seeking entry into specific European solar markets.

Credit markets are becoming more important due to lower valuations and a growing need for liquidity, with more credit opportunities for funds.

Structured credit financing is increasingly common, with complex financing arrangements involving combination of senior, junior, and mezzanine debt. How are leading funds and platforms approaching structured finance?

• How are institutional investors and asset managers approaching implementation of sustainable governance and monitoring across a broad portfolio of companies and extensive value chains?
• What do investors want to see from their portfolio companies and development platforms in relation to renewables sourcing policy?
• What frameworks are available to quantify the environmental and social impact of investments?
• What considerations should procurement teams have on their radar relating to sustainable supply chain regulation?
• What does sustainability across the entire solar and storage lifecycle look like?

• In what ways are industry players moving away from classic project financing to less common financing structures like bridge-to-bond models, pre-paid PPAs, vendor loans to support renewable energy projects?
• What strategies should developers use to effectively utilize HoldCo structures and financing to enhance their returns on renewable energy projects long-term?
• How can securitisation benefit large collections of utility-scale and commercial & industrial (C&I) renewable projects, and what specific opportunities does it provide?
• How are sponsors leveraging green bonds, mezzanine, and junior debt in project financing
• When are green bonds an appealing option for financing solar or storage projects, and what steps are necessary to make this financing method more widespread for renewable energy initiatives?

• How has the investment case for renewables shifted considering European energy prices dropped below zero for a record number of hours in 2024?
• How are project sponsors approaching the structuring of PPAs to offer greater flexibility?
• What strategies are currently being deployed to protect revenues and what has been most effective for renewable portfolios with pan-European exposure? (i.e. sourcing CPPAs, short-term PPAs, hedging, virtual swaps, etc.)
• How are lenders responding to price volatility in the market? Has this impacted appetite for merchant financing?
• How are asset owners approaching management of their projects and portfolio within increasingly volatile price markets?

• Providing a strategic overview of the wide array of grid connection reforms currently underway in Great Britain
• Exploration of how the reforms are being implemented and what the main themes are
• What are the drivers behind the reforms and their potential impact on investment in British solar over the next three or more years?
• Attempt to answer the key question: What will the grid connection process look like when the reforms are complete?

Solar and BESS is an established pairing in the world of renewables co-location that will continue to dominate the profile of European project pipelines… but how far can we go in maximising the value of a single grid connection?

Is a single project featuring wind, solar, BESS and an electrolyser a pipe dream or an emerging reality?

Hear directly from capital providers, developers, asset managers and technical leads on strategies to navigate challenges on:

• Technical feasibility
• Planning and permitting
• Financing and bankability
• Revenue certainty and structure

The global carbon credit market’s current value is estimated at around $2 billion. This is expected to skyrocket to as much as $100 billion by 2030.

Our panel consisting of a carbon market expert and renewable energy investor takes you on an exploration on growing opportunities presented by an emerging revenue & financing stream from carbon markets.

• What is the trajectory for carbon credit demand and pricing by 2030?
• What regulatory risk do carbon markets face in a European context?
• With growing scrutiny emission reductions claimed by various projects, how can project sponsors and carbon credit buyers minimise risk of greenwashing?
• Under what conditions could a European renewable energy project produce carbon credits?

• Real-world strategies for maximising grid sharing opportunities
• What financial instruments and structures are ideals for projects sharing a grid connection?
• How are investors and project sponsors leaning on hybridization to navigate bottlenecks in grid capacity?
• How are IPPs and developers reimaging their business models in the context of grid scarcity?

• Do institutional investors place higher value on solar projects, portfolios and platforms that synergise with the agriculture sector?
• Real-world examples: How does the integration of natural capital considerations into utility-scale solar deployment impact project sponsors approaches to site selection, multifunctional land use, biodiversity enhancements and collaboration with local communities?
• How are project sponsors balancing profitability and environmental considerations?

• How are renewable platforms approaching choosing to balance their portfolios looking at project types, geographic location, and revenue models to enhance overall returns?
• What are the best practices for identifying, assessing, and managing risks associated with different types of projects and regional markets
• How are renewable platforms leveraging BESS to hedge risk across various geographies and regulatory markets?

• Are standalone PV projects losing value and the appetite of investors?
• Under what conditions does retrospectively adding BESS to PV portfolios make sense?
• How does the business case differ for retrospectively connecting energy storage vs building energy storage into the original project
• What drivers would result in investors co-signing the addition of energy storage to legacy projects?
• What flexible financing can lenders offer to enable the addition of energy storage assets on existing solar projects?

• What opportunities are available in rooftop and behind-the-meter ground mount PV for those seeking to avoid regulation and grid scarcity risk?
• What are landowners seeking from contracting partners before closing deals?
• What risks does scaling standalone rooftop portfolios across Europe present for energy capture prices?
• How are project sponsors approaching the bundling of behind-the-meter assets from the perspective of auto consumption, VPPs and enabling smarter grid?

This panel discussion will explore the complexities and strategic decisions involved in transitioning to an IPP, providing valuable insights for those navigating this evolving business model.

• Is it better to act as a developer with a focus on margin or to become an IPP with a stable, low-risk profile?
• Should IPPs take on market risk directly, or is it more prudent to work through intermediaries like energy traders?
• How have different IPPs approached vertical integration across their transition?
• What are the capital requirements and considerations needed to make the transition?
• How can IPPs structure their projects to attract low-cost finance and institutional investors in a changing market environment?
• What is the next step for IPPs?

• What should developers selling RTB projects prioritise to maximise long-term performance for future asset owners?
• How have asset managers adapted in the context of a volatile power price environment?
• What unique repowering strategies are asset managers deploying to supercharge capacity, performance at relatively minimal costs?
• How are asset owners balancing O&M and asset management interest across an asset’s lifecycle?
• What strategies, technologies and tools are asset owners deploying to improve and pro-long existing portfolios?

Join us for an in-depth case study on the Glasgow Airport Hydrogen Innovation Hub project which involves producing green hydrogen onsite, optimizing storage and refueling processes, and ensuring safe integration within the airport’s existing infrastructure. The discussion will also cover how the project is structured, role of AI in optimizing electrolyzer and storage solutions, and the ongoing work to expand this model to other regional airports.

This session is essential for anyone interested in the future of complex net-zero transitions involving hydrogen technologies, behind-the-meter project structuring, private wire solar and microgrids.

As the renewable energy sector rapidly evolves, a significant challenge has emerged: the shortage of skills and people.

This panel discussion will delve into the pressing issue of human resource constraints in the solar industry, how renewable energy companies are responding and considerations for a “Just Transition”.

In addition to hearing from industry stakeholders, we will also hear from HR specialists and head-hunters who will shed light on the current trends in recruitment within the renewable energy sector, including:

• The challenges and solutions in sourcing and retaining top talent.
• How salary trends and employment conditions are shifting in response to high demand.
• The timeframes and strategies for identifying and securing qualified candidates.

• Leveraging cutting-edge technology and efficiency innovations to optimize energy output
• Smart design principles that prioritize performance and long-term reliability
• Proactive approaches to identify and address underperformance, ensuring consistent results and maximized returns

• How are asset managers leveraging digital clones to model generation and forecast performance?
• What predictive maintenance, AI forecasting and automatic fault detection capabilities can asset managers acquire to minimize downtime?
• What is on the horizon of possibilities for smart monitoring and management of assets through AI tools?

This session will begin with quick-fire presentations from each capital provider on the equity investment, acquisition and partnership opportunities they’re currently seeking. Capital providers have been selected to cover a range of activities, European markets and investment mandates.

Transaction sizes represented range from £1 million – £3 billion.

Capital providers will then host their own roundtable where delegates can attend to discuss business 1-2-1.

Whether you’re capital raising, seeking project finance, looking to sell projects and portfolios, this will be the best opportunity at the summit for delegates to identify and network with active dealmakers in the European solar and storage space.

• Introducing the International Solar Finance Group launched at COP29 and how European investors can gain access
• What role does European debt and equity providers need to play to reduce cost of solar financing from 15% to 5% globally
• What are the high-growth markets beyond European borders investors should scope for opportunities?