Solarplaza Summit Energy Storage North America

Tuesday 29 October 2024

19:00

Pre-Conference Networking Event

Join us at the Pre-Conference Networking Event, a solar-powered soirée that will energize connections and conversations before the Solarplaza Summit Energy Storage North America. Let's gather under the sun's glow to spark new partnerships and savor delicious bites while discussing the future of sustainable energy.

The Networking Event will take place at InterContinental Houston

Wednesday 30 October 2024

Program

08:30

Registration & Welcome Coffee

45 min.

Start your day with checking in and coffee, igniting your journey into solar innovation and networking excellence.

09:15

Welcome by Solarplaza

presentation

15 min.

Official opening of the conference, setting the agenda and expectations.

Sandy Nijhuis

Masters in Moderation

Session 1

Setting the Stage for Energy Storage in North America

09:30

Future-focused: Current and Upcoming Trends in North American Energy Storage

presentation

20 min.

Explore the latest trends shaping the energy storage landscape in North America. This presentation will cover technological advancements, market dynamics, and regulatory updates, providing insights into what the future holds for the industry.

Tiffany Wang

S&P Global Commodity Insights

09:50

Keynote Presentation: How the Upcoming U.S. Elections Could Shape the Future of Energy Storage and Trading

presentation

20 min.

Join Chris Seiple, Vice Chairman of Wood Mackenzie, for an insightful keynote on how the 2024 U.S. elections may reshape the energy storage and trading landscape. This session will explore potential policy shifts, regulatory impacts, and market dynamics driven by political outcomes. With deep industry knowledge and close political ties, Chris will offer expert analysis on what the future may hold for federal and state energy policies, making this a must-attend presentation for all stakeholders in the sector.

Chris Seiple

Wood Mackenzie

Chris Seiple

Vice Chairman

Wood Mackenzie

Chris is the Vice Chairman of Wood Mackenzie’s Power & Renewables division where he is responsible for senior stakeholder engagement, thought leadership and advising on the strategic direction of Wood Mackenzie’s business. Chris travels extensively and regularly presents to senior industry, policy, and financial community stakeholders on Wood Mackenzie’s analysis across the value chain of the power industry. Chris brings to this role 30 years of global power industry experience. The first part of his career he led strategy consulting work for power companies and investors at Cambridge Energy Research Associates (now part of IHS/S&P). He then moved into finance as the Senior Vice President of investment strategy at GE Energy Financial Services (EFS) underwriting debt and equity financing of power related investments and then later managed a portfolio of power plants and a merchant transmission project owned by EFS. He then led the power organization at Genscape where he expanded Genscape’s real-time power markets monitoring business into analytics and software service businesses through both organic growth and acquisitions. Chris came to Wood Mackenzie through its acquisition of Genscape and now works with Wood Mackenzie’s 250 power & renewables researchers across the globe. Chris is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Muhlenberg College with degrees in Russian Studies and Political Science and holds a Master of Energy Management and Policy from the University of Pennsylvania and the Institut Français du Pétrole. He has completed executive leadership development programs at the University of Cambridge and at GE. He is based in Boston and has lived and worked previously in Europe.

10:10

Navigating the U.S. Regulatory Landscape and IRA Updates for Energy Storage

panel

40 min.

Dive into the complexities of the U.S. regulatory environment and recent updates from the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) relevant to energy storage. This session will provide critical insights into compliance, policy incentives, and strategic opportunities. Additionally, the session will delve into pressing topics like the interconnection challenges that are delaying energy storage deployment, recent reforms to streamline grid access.

moderator

Chris Seiple

Wood Mackenzie

Chris Seiple

Vice Chairman

Wood Mackenzie

Andrea Herman

Latham & Watkins

Shelby Stults

AES Clean Energy

José María Lujambio

CCN

José María Lujambio

Energy Practice Director

CCN

Since 2014, José María Lujambio has coordinated the energy practice of the law firm of Cacheaux, Cavazos & Newton, and in 2018 he was appointed as a Partner. Based in Austin, his work has included regulatory advice and negotiation of various types of electricity contracts for U.S. companies doing business in Mexico. Clients include utility-scale and onsite power plant developers using solar, wind, and cogeneration technologies; qualified suppliers and traders in the Wholesale Electricity Market, as well as end users from the manufacturing industry. Likewise, he has advised natural gas and oil products’ trading and logistics companies, both in regulatory and transactional aspects. From 2009 to 2012, Lujambio was the General Legal Counsel of the Mexican Energy Regulatory Commission, leading the implementation of the 2008 reforms on renewables and gas. From 2005 to 2009, he worked as attorney at the Legal Counsel’s Office of Mexico’s President. In 2014, José María obtained an LL.M. with energy concentration from UT Austin, and in 2002 a Law degree from ITAM in Mexico City. In 2013 he coordinated the energy agenda of the think tank CIDAC. He has published several articles and often speaks in business and academic forums. He currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Mexico’s major solar association ASOLMEX.

10:50

Developer’s Guidebook: Market Strategies, Integration Challenges, and Future Outlook

presentation

20 min.

Developer's perspective uncovering key market strategies for optimizing storage profitability, best practices for integrating storage with renewables, and insights into financial and risk management, along with emerging trends and innovations shaping the future of energy storage.

Joseph Nasser

Avantus

11:10

Morning Networking Break

Expert Meetings: an opportunity to book a quick 10-minute meeting with our esteemed speakers.

Book your timeslot now!

Session 2

Market Integration and Technology Innovations

12:00

Standalone and Co-located Storage with PV: Business Cases and Bankability in North America

panel

40 min.

Examine the business cases for standalone and co-located storage with photovoltaic systems. This panel will cover economic feasibility, risk factors, and warranty considerations, highlighting examples and challenges faced in North America.

moderator

Sandy Nijhuis

Masters in Moderation

Edward May

EIP Storage

Nick Maynard

Arevon Energy

Nick Maynard

Vice President, Engineering

Arevon Energy

Nick Maynard has been with Arevon for nearly four years and has more than 15 years of experience in engineering, construction, and the project management of large commercial and utility-scale photovoltaic & BESS projects in the United States and Guam. His experience in renewable energy includes engineering, finance, and construction support for greenfield development and merger and acquisition projects. Before joining Arevon, Nick led the design, installation, and commissioning of approximately 2.0GWdc of solar PV projects, amounting to approximately $2 billion in capital. Since joining Arevon, Nick has engineered another 1.5GWdc of PV and 760MW of BESS in California, Nevada, and Indiana. As the Senior Director of Engineering, Nick’s responsibilities include executive reporting, the establishment of processes and procedures, fatal flaw analysis, negotiation of EPC technical language, review of QA/QC reports, cold and hot commissioning, and owner engineer’s support. Nick obtained a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado.

Pooja Shah

DNV

12:40

AI-Driven Energy Trading: Unlocking the Full Potential of BESS

presentation

20 min.

Discover how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing energy trading and maximizing the potential of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). This presentation will showcase AI applications in optimizing trading strategies and improving market efficiency.

Cedric Brehaut

Stem

Taylor Evans

esVolta

13:00

Lunch Networking Break

Expert Meetings: an opportunity to book a quick 10-minute meeting with our esteemed speakers.

Book your timeslot now!

Session 3

Financial Insights and Market Dynamics

14:30

Risk Management Workshop: Identifying and Solving Top Challenges Together

40 min.

In this highly interactive workshop, attendees will collaborate to identify the most pressing risks facing the energy storage industry, ranging from regulatory hurdles and financial uncertainties to operational and technological challenges. Led by our event host, Sandy, participants will work in small groups to brainstorm solutions and visually map out strategies using provided materials.

Each group will present their findings, and participants will vote on the top risks and best solutions using Slido. The session concludes with a collaborative discussion where the most voted ideas are shared, ensuring that everyone leaves with actionable strategies and practical insights to navigate and mitigate risks in energy storage projects effectively.

moderator

Sandy Nijhuis

Masters in Moderation

Bill Kost

Marsh

Alison Brown

Flux Energy Systems

15:10

Beyond the Megawatt: Innovative Guide to Diverse Revenue Streams

panel

40 min.

Learn about innovative approaches to diversifying revenue streams in energy storage. This session will cover new business models, potential revenue sources, and strategies for maximizing profitability in the energy storage market.

moderator

Vanessa Witte

Galehead Development

Caileen Kateri Gamache

Norton Rose Fulbright

Adam Hise

Ascend Analytics

Carlos St James

VOLA Lithium

Casey Keller

Caerus Commodities

15:50

Afternoon Networking Break

Expert Meetings: an opportunity to book a quick 10-minute meeting with our esteemed speakers.

Book your timeslot now!

Session 4

Lessons learned: How to Make it Work?

16:40

Next Decade of Energy Storage: A Collaborative Dialogue with Industry Experts

40 min.

Join us for an engaging, interactive session where top industry leaders share their bold predictions for the future of energy storage. After initial insights from the panelists, the audience will participate in collaborative table discussions, contributing their perspectives on the outlook of the next decade. Panelists will then react to the audience's feedback, fostering a dynamic exchange of ideas. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to shape the future of energy storage together.

moderator

Vanessa Witte

Galehead Development

Tao Kong

Luminous Energy

Tao Kong

Managing Partner

Luminous Energy

Tao Kong is a seasoned renewable energy executive passionate about driving the transition to a decarbonized future. As Managing Partner of Luminous Energy Renewables, he is dedicated to developing and deploying large-scale renewable energy projects, including Wind, Solar, and Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). Tao currently manages a BESS pipeline totaling over 8,000 MWh, which he has successfully developed with his team. This portfolio demonstrates his expertise in project development, market analysis, and strategic partnerships. Prior to joining Luminous Energy Renewables, Tao served as COO of Alcen Inc., a leading renewable energy developer. During his tenure, he successfully oversaw the development and deployment of 2,400 MW of renewable energy assets, demonstrating his strategic acumen and operational excellence. Beyond his professional achievements, Tao is deeply committed to environmental sustainability and social equity. He believes that a future powered by renewable energy is essential to addressing climate change and ensuring a prosperous and equitable world for all. Through his work at Luminous Energy Renewables, Tao is actively working to make this vision a reality.

Patrick Allen

Hanwha Convergence USA

Alon Mashkovich

enSights

17:20

Closing Remarks

10 min.

Sandy Nijhuis

Masters in Moderation

17:30

Closing Networking Drinks

Solarplaza Summit | Energy Storage North America

Registration & Welcome Coffee

Welcome by Solarplaza

Setting the Stage for Energy Storage in North America

Future-focused: Current and Upcoming Trends in North American Energy Storage

Keynote Presentation: How the Upcoming U.S. Elections Could Shape the Future of Energy Storage and Trading

Navigating the U.S. Regulatory Landscape and IRA Updates for Energy Storage

Developer’s Guidebook: Market Strategies, Integration Challenges, and Future Outlook

Market Integration and Technology Innovations

Standalone and Co-located Storage with PV: Business Cases and Bankability in North America

AI-Driven Energy Trading: Unlocking the Full Potential of BESS

Financial Insights and Market Dynamics

Risk Management Workshop: Identifying and Solving Top Challenges Together

Beyond the Megawatt: Innovative Guide to Diverse Revenue Streams

Lessons learned: How to Make it Work?

Next Decade of Energy Storage: A Collaborative Dialogue with Industry Experts

Closing Remarks