Solarplaza Summit Balkans

The Industry Advisory Board empowering the event

The combined wealth of knowledge, years of experience, and high-level network of our expert advisory board members help shape our program and enhance our event. Their involvement guarantees the practical and inspirational relevance of our event in the dynamic and ever-evolving solar landscape.

Nela Vlahinić

Founder & President

XEnergy

Nela Vlahinić Lenz is the founder and president of XEnergy - Empowering Women in Energy Transition, an association of experts working for the empowerment and visibility of women in the energy industry and the promotion of renewable energy, innovative and low-carbon technologies and green finance. Nela Vlahinić Lenz is a full professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business in Rijeka and the founder and director of the postgraduate MBA program in Energy Economics. By combining this MBA and XEnergy, she has created a broad networking platform that connects all key players in the energy sector in Croatia - from energy regulators, power grid and market operators to leading energy companies.

Elena Rasheva

CEO and co-founder

Evklips Energy

Queen Mary, University of London and King's College London graduate, after post-graduate course at the Sorbonne, Elena began her career as a business analyst at American Express (UK). Before starting the "Evklips Energy" adventure, Elenagained valuable experience at Hewlett Packard Enterprise, where she worked as a financial analyst. The dream of a "greener future" becomes a driving force for the transition from large corporations towards the establish of company. To date, Evklips Energy is among the leaders in the construction of photovoltaic plants throughout Europe. In the last 6 years, the company has over 1 gigawatt of installed capacity. Evklips Energy is the investor and owner of 4 solar power plants in Bulgaria (18 MWp). With a team of over 250 professionals, Evklips Energy also offers full EPC services in Bulgaria.

Saša Jovičić

Partner

Wolf Theiss

Saša Jovičić heads the Projects, Infrastructure and Energy practice in the Zagreb office of Wolf Theiss. He has been advising a number of prominent international clients and is currently focusing on energy projects in Croatia and the region. He regularly advises clients on market entry and regulation, all stages of project development (including permitting and environmental topics, financing and project acquisition), commercial contracts and, if need be, dispute resolution in the energy sector.

Andreas Rörig

CEO

E.ON Group

Andreas Rörig is the President of the Management Board of E.ON Hrvatska, a leading company in green energy transition on Croatian market, and part of the German E.ON SE Group, one of the largest operators of European power networks and energy infrastructure. During his 16 years at E.ON, Andreas Rörig has held several management positions, including the position of Senior Vice President for Sustainability, Health, Safety and Environment. He joined the Croatian team at the beginning of 2021 and in this period the company, from previous focus on gas and electricity sales mostly from fossil fuels, made a turn towards energy solutions that contribute to the green energy transition. On a personal note, since 2021, Rörig is the honorary consul of the Republic of Croatia in the Federal Republic of Germany, in Cologne supporting the exchange between the two countries

Goran Majstrović

Assistant Director

Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar (EIHP)

Goran Majstrović is an Assistant Director and Head of Transmission and Distribution Department in the EIHP, Croatia where he has been working since 1998. EIHP is a research and energy consultancy institution. Field of Goran's interest is RES integration, transmission system planning and analysis as well as electricity market design. He served as a consultant for the World Bank, USAID, European Commission, EBRD, KfW, Energy Community, different governments, regulatory agencies, power companies, TSOs, DSOs etc. As an author he published more than 120 studies and more than 90 papers. Goran holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and serves as a lecturer at post-graduate MBA study Energy Economics at University of Rijeka, Croatia and external colaborator of European University Institute, Robert Schumann Center, Florence School of Regulation, Florence, Italy and Energy Regulatory Regional Association (ERRA), Budapest, Hungary. He is a vice-president of Croatian CIGRE Committee and a Member of the Scientific Council for Energy in the Croatian Academy of Art and Science.

Aljoša Pleic

CEO

Acciona Energía Croatia

Aljoša in his 20+ years of professional experience, which started in ICT sector on management positions is sales, for last 15 is in renewable energy sector as pioneer especially in solar PV. From development and construction of first large scale PV project in Croatia in 2012, is involved in founding and establishing several Croatian renewable energy association and actively participating in opinion making and creating of RES legal framework. Since 2015 is general manager of Acciona energy Croatia, part of Acciona group, in charge of development, construction and operation of utility scale RES projects in Croatia and region.

Program Overview

Sharing knowledge and network in the Balkan PV markets

Fueled by market research, inspired by local consultation, and tailored for our professional audience, the content-rich event program takes stock of the challenges and opportunities of the Balkan PV markets.

Conference Program Solarplaza Summit Balkans

Session 1 Market Overview and Policy Framework

Session 2 Technological Innovations and Solutions

Session 3 Financing and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs)

Session 4 Energy Storage and Grid Integration

Speakers

Teodora Tompea

News Anchor

Teodora Tompea

News Anchor

Digi24

Teodora Tompea is a seasoned veteran in the television industry, with a record of nearly two decades. Currently, she is one of the main anchors for Digi24 - one of the most important TV news station from Romania, covering a range of topics daily. In addition, she also produces the only climate change TV show in Romania and is a presenter of Focus Europe, as well as is an active entrepreneur, brand ambassador and business owner. She has a PhD in Sociology from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University.

Andreas Rörig

CEO

Andreas Rörig

CEO

E.ON Group

Paul Raats

Principal Consultant for Energy Systems

Paul Raats

Principal Consultant for Energy Systems

DNV

Paul is a seasoned Project Manager and solar PV Expert with regional experience in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. He combines over 30 years of professional experience in business consulting, industrial manufacturing, product innovation and energy regulatory affairs. Paul works in solar since 2002 serving financiers, utilities, developers, manufacturers, NGO’s and governments through owner’s engineering, technical advisory and due diligence assignments, business viability studies and policy advice. His first project in solar PV was in 2002 with the Dutch regulator exploring the possibilities for grid regulation to enhancing the penetration of distributed photovoltaic systems. One of his most recent ones comprises technical advisory to the EBRD to finance landfill solar sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Although his focus is on solar, Paul gained working experience on other power system’s themes in multiple occasions, energy storage amongst them. As mechanical engineer, Paul graduated from the Delft University of Technology, The Netherlands. Before joining DNV in 2004, he worked at The Boston Consulting Group, Heineken Breweries, and he was employed by the Dutch state energy regulator in The Hague.

Kevin Strietman

Project Manager

Kevin Strietman

Project Manager

Solarplaza

Prof. Hrvoje Pandžić

Head of the Department of Energy and Power Systems

Prof. Hrvoje Pandžić

Head of the Department of Energy and Power Systems

University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing

Hrvoje Pandžić is a professor at the University of Zagreb Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. He is the Head of the Department of Energy and Power Systems and the Head of the Demand Response Laboratory. He coauthored a number of scientific publications and technical reports on energy markets, integration of renewable energy and energy storage. He holds a patent determining one-way efficiencies of lithium-ion batteries.

Marin Cerjan

Energy Expert

Marin Cerjan

Energy Expert

NGEN Group

Energy expert with over 15 years of experience and deep expertise in energy system optimization, forecasting, energy market (power, gas, LNG, coal, certificates), PPA, renewable energy, project development, energy storage and transition. Previously, spent 10 years on executive positions in two large energy companies in SE region (HEP and Petrol).

Program Overview

Sharing knowledge and network in the Balkan PV markets

Speakers

Resources

Pre-Conference Networking Event

Johann Franck

Conference Venue

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

Partners

Media Partners

Solarplaza Summit | Balkans

Program Overview

Sharing knowledge and network in the Balkan PV markets

Speakers

Resources

Pre-Conference Networking Event

Johann Franck

Conference Venue

Esplanade Zagreb Hotel

Partners

Media Partners