Solarplaza Summit Asset Management Texas

Wednesday 15 November 2023

19:00

Pre-Conference Networking Event

The Networking Event will take place in Pelons Tex-Mex Restaurant

Thursday 16 November 2023

Program

08:00

Registration & Welcome Coffee

45 min.

Session Topics:

08:45

Welcome Remarks by Solarplaza and the Chairperson

presentation

15 min.

Sid Eshuis

Solarplaza

Amanda Bybee

Amicus O&M Cooperative

Amanda Bybee

CEO

Amicus O&M Cooperative

Ms. Bybee has worked in the solar industry since 2003, first promoting renewable energy policy in Austin, TX while at Public Citizen, and then at Meridian Energy Systems, before finding her home at Namasté Solar. Ms. Bybee joined Namasté Solar in January 2006 as an early member of the team and held numerous roles over her 11 years, from technical sales & design to business development. While there, she worked to obtain a federal charter for a unique financial institution that funds clean energy products and services: Clean Energy Credit Union (www.cleanenergycu.org). This was only the 17th federal charter issued since 2010, and the first in the state of Colorado for over 30 years. She continues to serve as a volunteer on the Supervisory Committee of the credit union. Additionally, in 2016, she helped earn an award from the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative to found the Amicus O&M Cooperative (www.AmicusOM.com). The O&M Cooperative brings together a network of providers across the country to provide coordinated services for geographically distributed portfolios. She now serves as its CEO, and is committed to the mission “to ensure that solar PV fulfills its promise as a responsible and reliable energy source, for generations to come.” She obtained a BA in English and French from the University of Texas at Austin, and through solar, has found her “inner engineer.”

Session Topics:

Purpose and objectives
Themes and program
Your interactive involvement in the event
Practicalities and house rules

Session 1

Texas Landscape

09:00

Overview of The Texan Solar Market - What is New?

20 min.

Martin Anderson

Aurora Energy Research

Session Topics:

Update on installed PV capacity base and growth forecasts
Evolution of the industry after 2023
General market outlook

09:20

Navigating Curtailment, Grid Connection, and Weatherization for Efficient Energy Infrastructure

presentation

30 min.

David Kezell

ERCOT (Electric Reliability Council of Texas)

Session Topics:

Feeding the right amount of power into the grid
Issues arising from grid disruption

09:50

Exploring Opportunities and Challenges in the Texas Solar Sector: Embracing Solar Development and Diversifying Power Sources

panel

40 min.

moderator

Eric Wright

S&P Global Commodity Insights

Michael Enger

Austin Energy

Scott Macmurdo

Deriva Energy

Kara Gunn

Lightsource bp

Session Topics:

The viability and compatibility of domestic solar manufacturing (supported by IRA incentives)
Diversifying our power sources for a more reliable energy supply - Hybridization and weatherization
Solar, wind, and energy storage - what's needed to make it work together?
Solar development in diverse landscapes

10:30

Morning Networking Break

Session Topics:

Session 2

Optimizing Returns On Your Solar Assets

11:30

Navigating the Inflation Reduction Act: the Latest in Texas Regulations, Financial Incentives & Tax Credits

panel

40 min.

moderator

Brian A. Korgel

Oracle

Brian A. Korgel

Director UT Energy Institute

Oracle

Brian A. Korgel is the Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin. He directs the UT Energy Institute, the Center for a Solar Powered Future (SPF2050)—an Industry/University Research Center (IUCRC) funded by the National Science Foundation—and the Nanotechnologies area of the UT|Portugal program. He is an Associate Editor of the journal, Chemistry of Materials. He works at the intersection of nano & mesoscopic materials chemistry and complex fluids, tackling problems in energy storage, chemical transformations, energy harvesting and conversion, and medicine. He is also an artist with a courtesy appointment as Professor in the Department of Art & Art History at UT Austin, exploring collaboration, language and human-artificial intelligence/robot cohabitation. He has published more than 300 papers and has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Alicante in Spain, the Université Josef Fourier in France and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing. He has co-founded two companies, Innovalight and Piñon Technologies, and received various honors including the Professional Progress Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and election into the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Hilary Lefko

Norton Rose Fulbright

Hilary Lefko

Partner

Norton Rose Fulbright

Hilary Lefko is a Partner at Norton Rose Fulbright’s Washington D.C. office. She focuses her practice on all areas of federal income tax law, with a particular emphasis on tax controversy and renewable energy tax issues. She represents developers and investors in various energy and renewable energy projects, including transactions involving section 45 production tax credits, section 48 investment tax credits, and other renewable energy incentives. Most recently, Hilary has been advising clients on the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. She also advises US and foreign Tax planning for non-US businesses of US companies, offshore funds, domestic and international project finance and a variety of US inbound international business transactions. Earlier in her career, Hilary served as an aide to Senator Joseph I. Lieberman and to Congressman Cal Dooley. Hilary frequently represents purchasers and sellers of ownership interests in single renewables projects and portfolios of renewables projects. She also advises US and foreign Tax planning for non-US businesses of US companies, offshore funds, domestic and international project finance and a variety of US inbound international business transactions.

Jaime Carlson

SB Energy (USA)

Jaime Carlson

Head of Commercialization and Market Risk

SB Energy (USA)

Jaime Carlson is head of Commercialization and Market Risk at SB Energy, a climate infra-tech platform backed by Softbank and Ares Capital to develop high capacity solar and storage across the US. Prior to SB Energy, Jaime was Executive Vice President of Operations at Cypress Creek Renewables and Global Director of Finance at SunEdison’s TerraForm Group. Jaime also led M&A in the Americas for Rentech, Inc., a Blackstone-backed $550MM revenue natural resource company. Jaime served in President Obama’s first term as an advisor for finance and operations to former Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. During her three years, Jaime directly oversaw the deployment of over $35B in Recovery Act funds. Bloomberg New Energy Finance named her one of the country’s thought-leaders in Alternative Energy. Jaime received an MBA and MEM from Yale University and a BS from Tufts University. She is currently a Yale University alumni board member, Friends of the LA River board member, Aspen Institute scholar, advisor to UCLA’s Institute for Environment and Sustainability, and Truman National Security Project fellow.

Cory Magnuson

Spearmint Energy

Session Topics:

Update on the regulations and financial incentives in Texas
Laying out the different financing options for your solar project - ITC vs. PTC
Solar and storage asset evolution in the IRA era

12:10

Ensuring Optimal Performance of Solar Assets: Overcoming Key Performance Concerns in the Texan Solar Landscape

panel

40 min.

moderator

Armando Solís

Lightsource bp

Armando Solís

Vice President of Engineering, Americas

Lightsource bp

Armando joined Lightsource bp in 2019, bringing over 10 years of experience in utility-scale development and engineering in the Americas energy markets. To date, Armando has directly worked on utility-scale solar projects in over 10 countries totaling over 5GW in both development, execution, and operational stages. This experience includes various technologies such as bifacial modules, thin-film, and energy storage connected projects, as well as unique grid requirements. Armando works closely with Procurement on strategic supply partnerships as well as with Project Finance teams to represent the technical diligence to Independent Engineering firms to support successful debt financing and tax equity investment partnerships. At Lightsource bp, Armando manages teams in the US and in Brazil to deliver on all engineering needs across multiple teams and periods of project execution. Previously, Armando worked at Adapture Renewables (formerly Enerparc Inc) as well as Q CELLS (now 174 Power Global) where he started his career in the solar industry, mainly focused in international markets in Latin America and Canada. Armando holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Stanford University.

Jeff Wang

Stäubli

Joshua Rogers

American Clean Power (ACP)

Chengjiang Fu

LONGi

Session Topics:

The biggest performance issues in the Texan solar landscape
Challenges unique and specific to the Texan context

12:50

Embracing All Things Cyber: Risks, Regulatory Changes, And Next-gen Technologies (AI)

presentation

15 min.

Keith Rose

Operant Networks

Session Topics:

Recent renewable cyber incidents
NERC-CIP updates
AI Data security

13:05

Renewing Solar Parks: Retrofit Anti-reflective Coating Solution (ARCA®) to Boost Solar Park Performance

presentation

15 min.

James Wolfe

Covestro Solar Coating Solutions B.V.

Session Topics:

13:20

Lunch Networking Break

Session Topics:

Session 3

How O&M Practices Must Adapt to an Unstable Energy Grid

14:20

Texan Challenges and O&M best practices

panel

40 min.

moderator

Alison Adams

SOLV Energy

Josh Corbitt

Origis Services

Benjamin Needham

KerTec

Benjamin Needham

Professional Services Consultant

KerTec

Prior to joining KerTec, Needham’s journey of land stewardship began with a Bachelor of Science degree from Oklahoma State University in Horticulture with emphasis in Turfgrass Management and a minor in Soil Science. He then spent time at a few of the Nation’s Top 100 Golf Clubs— Karsten Creek (Stillwater, OK) and The BROADMOOR East & West Courses (Colorado Springs, CO)— before relocating to sprawling cow-calf ranches in the Texas panhandle, serving as both Ranch Foreman and Senior Land Manager. Needham now serves as a Professional Services Consultant working with KerTec’s Administrative Team in business development and environmental consulting. Throughout the country, KerTec’s team of experts and technicians use science-based methodology and solutions for the three main timelines of a project: pre-construction, construction, and post-construction/O&M. KerTec offers consulting expertise regarding plant and soil science, in-house implementation of erosion control strategies and stabilization techniques in the field, as well as managing the vegetation and soils for the life of the project (mechanical, grazing, robotic, and chemical). In his free time, Needham enjoys spending time with family and friends, whether grilling and hosting get-togethers with his wife, Anna, at their home in Edmond, OK, or out on the golf course.

Swarup Mavanoor

SenseHawk

Session Topics:

Automation: Maximizing the impact of digitization in O&M
Utilizing data mining, AI and robotics to future-proof your solar assets
Weather forecasting: How to prevent and mitigate risks and additional costs (hail case study)
Taking vegetation management and biodiversity conservation into account for sustainable solar development

15:00

Addressing Skilled Labor Shortages and Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Solar Industry

panel

45 min.

moderator

Amanda Bybee

Amicus O&M Cooperative

Amanda Bybee

CEO

Amicus O&M Cooperative

Janell Hills

IREC (Interstate Renewable Energy Council)

Eboni Taylor

ConnectGen

Adewale OgunBadejo

GRID Alternatives

Adewale OgunBadejo

Vice President of Workforce Development

GRID Alternatives

Originally from the East Coast, Adewale moved to Southern California in 2007. Initially he worked at California State University, Dominguez Hills for the California African American Political & Economic Institute, a non-profit research organization that disseminated information into the Greater Los Angeles community. During the course of his employment, he took up the study of photovoltaics at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. It was at that time that he learned about and became involved with GRID Alternatives. Since then he has developed a passion for solar energy and all the possibilities its uses create. “To be able to stay involved in building healthy and sustainable communities keeps me grounded as an individual, while staying connected to humanity at large.” “I am excited about the future; I’ve found something in which I am passionate about, that I can build a career in, while helping to save the environment. Just as important is the fact that I am also empowered to help others in a way that that benefits us all. As a Workforce Development Manager, GRID Alternatives provides me with a great opportunity, not only in which to learn and grow, but also to give back.”

Session Topics:

The IRA’s impact on labor force development
Key success factors for an diverse, equitable, and inclusive solar industry

15:45

Afternoon Networking Break

Session Topics:

Session 4

Future-proofing Your Solar Assets

16:25

Maximizing Returns across Renewables and Storage Portfolios Using AI-based Asset Performance Management

presentation

20 min.

Charlene Lee

Fluence

Session Topics:

Common challenges in maximizing value from renewables and storage assets
Digital techniques that help asset owners connect, analyze, and optimize asset performance

16:45

Sustainable Strategies: Future-proofing Texan Solar Assets Across All Lifecycle Stages

panel

40 min.

moderator

Ornella Nicolacci

CEBA

Lauryn Bush

Ørsted

Hesston Klenk

The AES Corporation

Adam Saghei

We Recycle Solar

Session Topics:

Squeezing the most out of aging assets
Fostering a circular solar value chain

17:25

Closing Remarks by the Chairperson

10 min.

Amanda Bybee

Amicus O&M Cooperative

Amanda Bybee

CEO

Amicus O&M Cooperative

Session Topics:

17:35

Networking Drinks

Session Topics:

Solarplaza Summit | Asset Management Texas

Registration & Welcome Coffee

Welcome Remarks by Solarplaza and the Chairperson

Texas Landscape

Overview of The Texan Solar Market - What is New?

Navigating Curtailment, Grid Connection, and Weatherization for Efficient Energy Infrastructure

Exploring Opportunities and Challenges in the Texas Solar Sector: Embracing Solar Development and Diversifying Power Sources

Optimizing Returns On Your Solar Assets

Navigating the Inflation Reduction Act: the Latest in Texas Regulations, Financial Incentives & Tax Credits

Ensuring Optimal Performance of Solar Assets: Overcoming Key Performance Concerns in the Texan Solar Landscape

Embracing All Things Cyber: Risks, Regulatory Changes, And Next-gen Technologies (AI)

Renewing Solar Parks: Retrofit Anti-reflective Coating Solution (ARCA®) to Boost Solar Park Performance

How O&M Practices Must Adapt to an Unstable Energy Grid

Texan Challenges and O&M best practices

Addressing Skilled Labor Shortages and Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Solar Industry

Future-proofing Your Solar Assets

Maximizing Returns across Renewables and Storage Portfolios Using AI-based Asset Performance Management

Sustainable Strategies: Future-proofing Texan Solar Assets Across All Lifecycle Stages

Closing Remarks by the Chairperson