Solarplaza Summit Future Electricity Price Europe

Wednesday 27 November 2024

Program

08:30

Registration & welcome coffee

45 min.

Session Topics:

09:15

Welcome by Solarplaza

15 min.

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Session Topics:

Session 1

Increased intermittency & growing power demand

09:30

Outlook on growing power demand the next decade

presentation

20 min.

Sylvain Cognet-Dauphin of S&P Global Commodity Insights will provide a 20-minute presentation analyzing Europe's current energy transition and recent trends in power demand. He’ll address future perspectives on demand driven by electrification, data center growth, and efficiency improvements, offering insights into how these factors are expected to shape power needs over the next decade.

Sylvain Cognet-Dauphin

S&P Global Commodity Insights

Session Topics:

The status of the European energy transition
Where does power demand stand? A review of recent trends
From electrification and data centers to efficiency: what are the perspectives for power demand?

09:50

Renewables on the rise: how Europe’s energy mix will transform by 2035

presentation

15 min.

This presentation by Simon de Clerq will explore Europe's anticipated electricity mix by 2035, focusing on the role of renewable energy and its effects on prices and market trends. He will discuss the influence of forecasting models in shaping market outlooks and emphasize key variables that could impact the accuracy and reliability of these projections.

Simon De Clercq

Aurora Energy Research

Session Topics:

How will Europe’s electricity mix have evolved by 2035, given current trends and ambitions?
What impact will the rising share of renewables have on prices and market dynamics over the next decade?
How do forecasting models shape our view of future markets, and what key factors should we look out for?

10:05

Outlook on the energy storage and flexibility markets' coming decade

panel

55 min.

The panelists will cover how storage technologies can alleviate issues related to electricity oversupply, with a focus on the economics and readiness of stand-alone and co-located storage systems. The discussion will also highlight mid- and long-term growth opportunities for asset owners and operators aiming to leverage storage investments.

Florian Mayr

Apricum

Jon Ferris

LCP Delta

Aurora del Valle

Aquila Capital

Michiel Lensink

Etpa

Session Topics:

Short-term changes to ensure storage can contribute to the problems caused by oversupply of electricity
The economics of stand-alone storage and co-located storage and their development status
Where does the opportunity lie in the mid- to long-term for asset owners and operators
Key steps for energy storage owners/operators to enable flexibility trading and identify high-value markets.

11:00

Morning networking break

Session Topics:

Session 2

The bigger picture: Geopolitics & Europe's policies

11:45

Geopolitical developments impacting the power market

presentation

20 min.

This presentation will explore geopolitical factors impacting the European power market, examining lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict, shifts in global dynamics with China, and potential U.S. policy changes post-election. The speaker will also discuss Middle Eastern instability and its lasting effects on Europe's energy landscape.

Gerard Reid

Alexa Capital

Gerard Reid

Co-Founder & Partner

Alexa Capital

Gerard Reid is a Co-founder and Partner at Alexa Capital, an independent financial services business committed to mobilizing capital towards achieving net-zero. He is also a Fellow at the Institute of the Environment at the University of Minnesota and a member of the Global Future Council on Advanced Energy Technologies at the World Economic Forum. Gerard has developed a strong reputation as a leading global expert in the energy and mobility space. A trusted authority on the energy transition, he is a published author and avid blogger, with a following of more than 200k across several platforms. He is also the co-host of “REDEFINING ENERGY” podcast, the leading energy podcast in Europe. He is focused on empowering and accelerating change by advising organizations, industry leaders and global decision-makers (business, finance and government) on the transition towards net-zero carbon emissions. His breadth of experience stems from 20 years working in the finance industry (equity research, fund management and corporate finance) with a focus on both the energy transition and the digital energy revolution the sector is going through. Prior to founding Alexa Capital, he was Managing Director and Head of European Cleantech Research at Jefferies & Co. Gerard was also a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences in Berlin, TU Berlin and Imperial College in London.

Session Topics:

What can we learn from the Energy Crisis from a market design perspective?
China: How the 'Global West' has fumbled their lead and what can we learn from China?
US elections: The spillover of the IRA and the road ahead with the new administration
Lasting unrest in the Middle-East and its implications for the European energy system

12:05

Baseload phase-out or not? A perspective on the state of European nuclear energy

presentation

20 min.

What will be the role of nuclear power in Europe's future? Yves Desbazaille will discuss capacity growth, nuclear’s potential role in securing stable energy supplies, and the long-term effects on electricity prices and system design.

Yves Desbazeille

nucleareurope

Session Topics:

Development of nuclear power capacity in the coming decades
The role of nuclear in the future energy system and a stable energy supply
The impact on electricity prices and system design in the long-run by nuclear power

12:25

Managing risks when financing new RE projects

panel

35 min.

This panel delves into risk management strategies for financing renewable energy projects, focusing on adapting to commercially unfeasible PPAs, balancing innovative models with market exposure, and addressing conflicts between revenue strategies and investor demands for stability. Panelists will also debate the future of non-recourse financing amid the rise of merchant structures and whether corporate-level financing will become the new norm.

moderator

Edwin Koot

Solarplaza

Jan-Phillip Kock

Encavis

Siebren Zijlstra

Groendus

Siebren Zijlstra

CFO

Groendus

Siebren Zijlstra is CFO of GroenLeven. Before that Siebren assisted, as a Manager of the Business Development / M&A department of TenneT and owner of Sinne Wente, 10 years (2009-2018) in equity financing initiatives, M&A transactions and new business development / digitisation initiatives primarily with TenneT within the electricity and telecommunications sector. Siebren presents regularly as keynote speaker on strategic developments in society from a technological and capital markets perspective. The work at TenneT was preceded by setting up a Dutch office for Babcock & Brown, an Australian-based infrastructure investor. Siebren was Investment Director in Munich and Amsterdam originating and executing deals in North-West Europe (2006-2008). Prior to joining Babcock & Brown, Siebren worked within TenneT (2003-2005) in the areas finance, regulation, control, strategy and organisational development. Siebren started his professional career at PricewaterhouseCoopers, working for 5 years in the Corporate Finance division (1997-2002). Siebren holds degrees from the University Groningen, CFA Institute and INSEAD and has done edX courses on Solar Energy and Next Generation Infrastructures I / II from TU Delft.

Bastiaan Haakman

ABN AMRO Bank

Session Topics:

How commercially unviable PPAs are pushing owners to merchant structures
Business model innovation versus limiting market exposure
Strategic conflict between most promising sales strategies and investors’ needs (long-term, stable, secure cashflows)
Future of non-recourse financing in a merchant-dominated world – will financing happen on a corporate level only?

13:00

Lunch break

Session Topics:

Session 3

Grid and trading

14:30

An insight into the development of grid fees for the decades ahead

presentation

25 min.

Europe's leading TSO offers insights into the factors driving the continued rise in grid fees, particularly the impact of high voltage (HV) and extra-high voltage (EHV) tariffs. It will explore how demand can help balance costs and how different tariff projections—based on capital costs—could influence future consumer pricing, with alternative funding options potentially alleviating the financial burden.

Balthasar Klimbie

TenneT

Session Topics:

Understanding the key drivers behind the continuously rising grid fees
HV and EHV tariffs are expected to steadily climb, with higher demand helping to balance costs.
Tariff projections vary based on capital costs, with alternative funding options potentially easing the consumer impact

14:55

The outlook and impact of the market for natural gas on the price of electricity

presentation

25 min.

Leading gas expert Peter Thompson explores the European natural gas market’s outlook, including supply, demand, and pricing trends, while considering key global factors influencing future gas prices. We will also examine how natural gas continues to shape electricity prices in Europe, addressing its evolving role in the region's energy mix.

Peter Thompson

Baringa

Session Topics:

European outlook for natural gas: supply, demand, and pricing
The European gas market in the global context - key factors driving future gas prices
The future of natural gas in Europe and its influence on power prices

15:20

The future of curtailment & development of negative- and low electricity prices

panel

40 min.

This panel will discuss the growing challenges of electricity curtailment, low and negative prices, and their impact on wholesale markets and PPAs. It will examine the role of energy trading, the evolving responsibilities of off-takers, and how energy storage owners can unlock flexibility trading opportunities to maximize value in shifting markets.

André Bosschaart

Montel Analytics

Kim Keats

k4kadvisory

Jan Willem Zwang

Stratergy

Session Topics:

The changing importance of the wholesale market and PPA valuations
The increasing amount of negative price hours and its implications
The evolving landscape of energy trading and the changing role of off-takers

16:00

Afternoon networking break

Session Topics:

Session 4

Final forecasts from key stakeholders

16:45

Energy utilities' view on the changing dynamics of the electricity market

presentation

20 min.

Wilko Schuijff from Eneco will share insights into how energy utilities view the shifting dynamics of the electricity market, focusing on strategic perspectives on market leadership and long-term hedging strategies to manage volatility risks. He will discuss how utilities are positioning themselves in response to market evolution and increasing uncertainty.

Wilko Schuijff

Eneco Energy Trade

Session Topics:

Strategic perspectives on the current and future leaders of the electricity market
Utility perspective on hedging for the long-term risks of volatility

17:05

The impact of the 2035 European power market on investment decisions today

panel

45 min.

This closing panel will discuss how to ensure long-term business case viability amid low and negative prices, necessary market design changes, and the evolving risk profiles of renewable energy projects, with a focus on ensuring a sustainable and financially healthy industry.

Alfonso Rancano

Shell Group

Dr. Paul Nillesen

Strategy&

Pablo Ruiz

Rabobank

Robert Szatkowski

APG

Session Topics:

Discussing long-term business case viability in a market of everpresent low- and negative electricity prices
Market design and policy changes required for a sustainable and financially healthy industry
Transforming risk profile of RE projects and their implications on the business case

17:50

Closing networking drinks

Session Topics:

Solarplaza Summit | Future Electricity Price Europe

Registration & welcome coffee

Welcome by Solarplaza

Increased intermittency & growing power demand

Outlook on growing power demand the next decade

Renewables on the rise: how Europe’s energy mix will transform by 2035

Outlook on the energy storage and flexibility markets' coming decade

The bigger picture: Geopolitics & Europe's policies

Geopolitical developments impacting the power market

Baseload phase-out or not? A perspective on the state of European nuclear energy

Managing risks when financing new RE projects

Grid and trading

An insight into the development of grid fees for the decades ahead

The outlook and impact of the market for natural gas on the price of electricity

The future of curtailment & development of negative- and low electricity prices

Final forecasts from key stakeholders

Energy utilities' view on the changing dynamics of the electricity market

The impact of the 2035 European power market on investment decisions today