2024 Agenda

The panel begins with a presentation on the latest forecast for European energy prices for 2024 and beyond.

• What does the latest forecast mean for European solar?
• How are others ensuring greater accuracy of their financial modelling when power projections are volatile?
• How should developers and investors approach negotiations when there is volatility in power price forecasts?

The UK Government has established the Solar Taskforce in collaboration with industry, tasked with putting into action the nation’s target to increase solar capacity by nearly fivefold by 2035 – this would amount to a 70GW solar market. Considering the strong appetite for solar across the British political landscape, barriers to deployment and uptake of opportunities are the only obstacle to unlocking the UK Solar market. What challenges and opportunities lie ahead for established players, new market entrants and the sector more broadly?

• With a national election on the horizon, what would a change of government mean for UK solar?
• The progress on accelerating waiting times for planning and grid connection of solar projects
• How is the UK addressing workforce shortfalls to deliver 2035 ambitions?
• With storage being a focus for the UK solar taskforce and electricity system operator, how is the co-located energy storage opportunity evolving in the UK market?
• How is the commercial and industrial rooftop solar market shaping up?
• The growing opportunities in large-scale ground-mount solar

• The LP perspective: In the current environment, how attractive are investment in European renewables projects?
• How do institutional investors view the competitiveness of renewables infrastructure in comparison to private credit, private equity, bond and stocks?
• To what extent are returns, climate pressures and ESG a driving factor in capital allocation decisions?

• What is the long-term outlook for the PPA Market in Europe?
• How are guarantees or origin (GOs) changing the economics of European PPAs?
• Considering there is an over-abundance of PV projects seeking PPAs, how are others securing PPAs?
• How are investors and developers balancing their revenue streams between merchant and PPA?

With Europe projected to be at near a TW of solar capacity by 2030, the next key bottleneck ahead is the shortfall in EPC capacity across Europe. This session brings into focus the solutions developers, investors and EPCs are bringing to the table. How is the sector planning ahead to facilitate a historic deployment of European Solar?

• The LP perspective: what do LPs consider to be the most prominent hurdles impeding greater allocation for renewables infrastructure?
• What do institutional investors want to see downstream to build greater confidence and appetite in solar investment?

• What ESG considerations do institutional and private investors have for solar beyond the project supply chain?
• As renewables serve a greater role in the European energy generation mix, concerns around land use and biodiversity for solar projects, sustainable raw materials for battery storage systems and water usage for hydrogen will only grow. How should the sector and long-term investors respond?
• How are investors using ESG to secure long-term commerciality of investments?

Spain has the largest solar pipeline in Europe with 100+ GW of projects already with grid approval. The country is now targeting 170GW of solar PV by 2030 following revisions to Spain’s National Energy and Climate Place (NECP).

• How are developers and investors preparing for the upcoming 2025 grid connection deadline? Will there be an extension?
• For upcoming grid access, what criteria must developers meet to find success?
• How are developers and investors navigating EPC shortfalls
• How are investors planning to shield their returns from price cannibalisation trends? How does this shift the long-term investment outlook in Spain?
• Capacity markets are on the horizon for Spain. How does this change the economics of hybrid and BESS projects?

• Progressing grid capacity and connection procedures to unlock expansion of RES
• Focusing investments on projects that optimize the performance of existing renewable assets and utilize the grid capacity efficiently
• Prioritising green energy producers with the expertise and technical knowledge to execute rapid renewable projects
• Growing repowering activities to increase the energy output of aging power plants
• Catalysing energy storage deployment and investment to ensure a secure energy supply

There will be 11 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 the market's solar association alongside 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. Each roundtable will focus on one of the following countries or regions:

• The United Kingdom
• Greece
• Italy
• Romania
• Poland
• France
• Spain
• Portugal
• Germany
• The Republic of Ireland
• The Nordics (Denmark, Norway and Sweden)

• Poland is experiencing an expansion of its balancing market and ancillary services - what does this mean for solar portfolios ahead?
• How are investors and developers practicing cable pooling fast tracking new development?
• As private debt floods the polish market, how does this impact the cost of capital situation in Poland?
• Will price caps be extended? What does this mean for energy prices and expected returns?
• How are developers and investors acquiring and maintaining public acceptance for PV projects in Poland?

The Romanian Ministry of Energy has partnered with the European bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to set up a Romanian Contracts for Difference (CfD) with the first round taking place in 2023 with an allocation of 1.5GW for solar and wind. This panel with provide an inside look into the realities of doing business in Romania from challenges relating to the bankability of PPAs, attracting corporate offtakers, merchant-busy models and the market opportunity ahead.

In May 2023, the EU enshrined a legally-binding target to raise the share of renewable energy in the EU’s overall energy consumption to 42.5% by 2030 which would require doubling the share of renewables in the EU’s energy mix. This target will be impossible to meet without significant renewable deployment in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The CEE region currently generates only 25% of electricity from renewables compared to 55% from fossil fuels presenting a real risk to the region being left behind in the European energy transition. Forecasts estimate CEE countries can deploy 130 GW of solar by 2030 through regional collaboration on interconnection and aligning national renewable plans with EU policy.

• What investment opportunities does the region offer?
• What do investors need to see in the region to attract greater flows of investment?
• What is the current reality on the ground experienced by pathfinding investors and developers?

The appetite for co-location of renewables assets with storage continues to grow as developers and investors seek greater returns, mitigate curtailment, embrace merchant risk and realize the role storage will facilitate in strengthening European grids.

• What markets are ripe for new solar and storage development in 2024?
• How do you actively manage and balance the operation of the generation plant and storage facility?
• What strategies are others using to maximise their revenues by participating in different power markets?
• What digitalisation and automation tools are plant managers using to actively manage the plant and sell power?

• Under what conditions are green bonds an attractive financing method for a solar or storage projects? What is needed to mainstream this method of financing renewable projects?
• How should developers leverage HoldCo structures/financing to maximise returns?
• How are others leveraging underutilised financing structures such as bridge-to-bond models, pre-paid PPAs, vendor loans and merchant financing
• What flexible capital is available for developers seeking to transition to Independent Power Producers (IPPs)?
• What bridge financing solutions can developers use to provide liquidity for construction risk and delays in long-term funding?

The Italian market is in transition – from its energy generation mix to its grid and revenue markets. Italy’s updated National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) targets 65% of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 – 58GW forecasted for solar. Italy has a saturation of projects in the southern region despite energy demand being concentrated in the north. The Italian grid operator has committed to invest €21 billion over the next decade on a ‘hypergrid’ project. The project will secure five new electricity ‘backbones’ increasing power exchange between southern and northern region by 30 GW.

• How do investors and developers navigate grid connection challenges during this transitionary period?
• Is storage the transitionary solution to integrate new power generation into the grid?
• As coal is phased out by 2025 and natural gas dominates Italy's energy generation mix, what does this mean for energy prices in the future?
• What opportunities does a heating up PPA market provide for investors, traders and corporates?

• The EU is targeting 42% of H2 used in industry and transport to be sourced from renewables by 2030. How does this change the offtake market outlook for hydrogen produced by solar generation?
• When is co-locating hydrogen more economically viable than other energy storage?
• What subsidies are available for green hydrogen + solar projects?
• What do the revenue streams for solar + hydrogen projects look like?

Germany continues to lead the way in solar deployment in Europe. German installed solar capacity remains the highest in Europe with 2.74 GW put into operation in Q1 2023. This puts the nation on track to hit the target of 215GW of installed solar and 80% of electricity generation from renewables by 2030. Similarly, the corporate PPA market continues to mature as the number of rooftop and ground-mounted PPA has seen significant growth.

• How has the German response to Russian gas imports impacted the investor perspective on the market?
• How does the changes to renewable feed-in tariff structures and the removal of the EEG surcharge impact project economics ahead?
• As several GW of merchant solar PV parks above 10MW sit in the project pipeline, how is the merchant market evolving?
• Is a contracts for difference (CfD) model on the horizon in Germany? What would this mean for solar?
• Germany’s 2023 PV Strategy seeks to re-establish domestic large-scale solar power module production capacities. What opportunities does this present for investors and developers?

With solar assets expected to last for 30-40 years, effective long-term asset management prevents underperformance, stranded assets and maximises returns from plant operation and project exits.

• What strategies, technologies and tools are asset owners deploying to improve and pro-long existing portfolios?
• When do you repower and how can you extend a project’s life without redeveloping?
• Is it too early to consider recycling and decommissioning practice?
• How to accurately assess the value of assets in the secondary market?

The UK's and Europe's energy transition is not feasible without the inclusion of corporate, commercial and industrial sectors. This panel explores where the expectations of offtakers, project sponsors and funders align and where it doesn't. Points of discussion include what offtakers are seeking in their long-term partners, where power producers are finding success in landing PPAs, the role for solar in decarbonisation of commercial and industrial sectors, and who should own what risks across the development, installation and O&M of projects?

This session will begin with quick-fire presentations from each investor on the investment, acquisition and partnerships opportunities they’re currently seeking. Investors have been selected to cover a range of activities, European markets and investment mandates. The audience will then split into smaller roundtable discussion groups where investors and developers can discuss business 1-2-1. Each round table will be hosted by an investor and developers will move around the room.

The Irish Government has committed to reaching 80% renewables share in the energy generation mix by 2030. The Government is supporting the deployment of generation through the auction-based Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS). The RESS will package between €7.2bn to €12.5bn in supports. The latest allocation of RESS (RESS 3) is scheduled to conclude Q4 2023. RESS 3 includes allocation for both solar and hybrid solar and storage projects. An electricity storage policy framework for Ireland is on the horizon causing appetite for storage and hybrid solar to heat up. This session explores the investment tail and headwinds ahead for Ireland.

Greece is on track to auction 4.1 GW of RES projects between 2023-25 with approximately 3 GW expected to be awarded to solar projects. Additionally, tenders are on the table for storage too. The allocation of 1,000 MW of power capacity and 2 GWh of large-scale storage capacity is expected to take place 2023 Q4. At the top of the priority list for Greece is grid connection and a roadmap for grid enforcement and development has been made for the coming years. This session explores what’s next for Greek solar including tenders, a growing appetite for corporate PPAs, the impact of Green Pool scheme, attitude of Greek banks to merchant prices and the road map for grid connection ahead.

With forecasts predicting two-thirds of installed solar by 2025 will be ground mounted, ‘eligible land’ for solar projects is increasingly becoming a hot commodity in France. This is leading to an increase in solar projects with low-land use and land repurposing at the core of their design. This panel explores how these developments in the French market is re-shaping the investment and development opportunities French solar has to offer.

Rooftop portfolios have ballooned across the UK and mainland Europe. Private wire and microgrid designs are continuing to capture the interest of investors and corporate offtakers alike due to power prices and land constraints. This session explores what innovation is taking place in European on-site solar generation, what is needed to unlock barriers to deployment and how can debt providers provide a step-change to enable growth?

M&A trends in European solar and storage provide a glimpse into the overall health and dynamics of the capital market. What should the sector expect in 2024 around valuation and pricing, shifting appetite on technologies, capital availability, investor expectations around solar and storage assets, evolution of development platforms, implications of European joint ventures and the impact of changing regulatory environments on market confidence.

This panel brings together industry experts, investors, and developers to explore the financing strategies, market trends, and policy recommendations that will shape the future of solar projects in the Nordic region.

• Overview of current projects and investments in the Nordic solar market
• Market split: residential, commercial & industrial (C&I) and utility sectors
• Addressing challenges related to regulations, permitting, and grid integration
• Challenges and opportunities in structuring PPAs to attract financing
• Anticipated policy changes and their potential impact accelerating solar energy deployment in the Nordics

The EU Commission has now unveiled the Green Deal Industrial Plan which is widely viewed as an initial response to the US Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) seeking to reduce bureaucracy, boost skills, facilitate trade and supply greater funding for the green transition. What does this all mean for European Solar?

• How will the IRA impact European supply chains and ambitions for domestic manufacturing hubs?
• What opportunities and challenges has the IRA created for UK and EU partners?
• What risks does the IRA introduce to investors with extensive European exposure?
• What lessons can be learned from the US’s approach to investment and finance of solar and storage?

Portugal has garnered significant attention as an attractive solar market for investors and developers. As Portugal races to become a 20GW solar market by 2030, what strategies are investors and developers deploying to get projects off the ground and secure attractive returns?