RE-Source Southeast 2023

The 3rd edition of the RE-Source Southeast conference – the largest regional event dedicated to corporate renewable energy sourcing and its role in the industry decarbonisation strategies – took place in Sofia on 18 and 19 of May 2023. This year’s conference featured more than 50 speakers sharing their expertise in various aspects of corporate sourcing and the event was attended by over 380 participants from Europe, Asia and America.

The forum once again brought together leading representatives from different areas in the renewable energy sector – OEMs, distributors, developers, EPC and O&M companies. Key European traders discussed what pricing and hedging strategies can be applied to long-term agreements (PPAs), while leading financial institutions outlined the current dynamics of sustainable financing for renewable energy projects and what PPAs can become bankable for both renewable energy producers and contracting companies.

Transmission and distribution grid operators, storage system integrators, and technology providers discussed the evolution of energy storage, smart grids, virtual power plants, and long-duration energy storage technologies and their applications to solve the grid flexibility challenge.

Leading companies gave vivid examples of their decarbonisation pathways and what it takes to realise a net zero strategy in the South East.

Watch RE-Source Southeast 2023 full videos

Opening remarks & Panel 1

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Keynote speech: Bruce Douglas, Eurelectric

Panel 1: Corporate procurement of renewable energy from a regional perspective:

ModeratorMariyana Yaneva, Policy & Communications Director, APSTE

Participants:

  • Nikola Gazdov, Association for Production, Storage and Trading of Electricity (APSTE)
  • Miglena Stoilova, Bulgarian Wind Energy Association (BGWEA)
  • Irene Mihai, Romanian Photovoltaic Industry Association (RPIA)
  • Dimitris Varlamis, Hellenic Association of Photovoltaic Companies (HELAPCO)
  • Svetoslav Mladenov, Turkish Photovoltaic Industry Association (GENSED)

Focus on Bulgaria: New elections, new energy strategy?

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Moderator:  Nikola Gazdov, Chairman, APSTE

Participants:

  • Angelin Tsachev, Executive Director at Electricity System Operator (ESO)
  • Ivan Ivanov, Chairman of Bulgaria’s Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (EWRC)
  • Radoslav Ribarski, Vice-Chairman of the Energy Commission in Parliament
  • Vladislav Panev, Member of the Energy Commission in Parliament
  • Zhecho Stankov, Member of the Energy Commission in Parliament

Аchieving better return on investment for RES projects. Planning and procuring strategies, quality checks and key success factors

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ModeratorArthur Claire, Head of Technology, Sinovoltaics

Participants:

  • Alex Sekulovic, Chief Operating and Financial Officer, CWP Europe
  • Maria Merdzhanova, Head of Sales Northern Europe, UK & Ireland, Jinko Solar
  • Vladimir Tabutov, CEO, hec solar
  • Martin Iliev, Managing Director, WPD Bulgaria
  • Sam Zheng, Managing Director, Huawei Digital Power South Balkans, Photomate
  • Radoslav Mikov, Partner, WolfTheiss

Taming uncertainty in energy trading. PPA pricing & hedging strategies.

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ModeratorMaria Popova, Director Carbon Neutrality and Renewable Electricity, European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET)

Participants:

  • Konstantin Konstantinov, CEO, Independent Bulgarian Energy Exchange (IBEX)
  • Dr Evangelos Gazis, Market Lead for South Eastern Europe, Aurora Research
  • Ivan Velev, Portfolio Manager, ACT Commodities
  • Milena Videnova, Managing Director, Axpo Bulgaria
  • Severin Vartigov, Country Manager Bulgaria, Enery
  • Mats Lundin, Country Manager Romania, Emergy
  • Dimitar Bartov, Managing Director, Synergon Energy

Sustainable financing for RES projects

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ModeratorRositsa Chopeva, CEO, xFigure Finance

Participants:

  • Svetlin Pislenski, Associate Director, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  • Atanas Ivanov, Public Sector Lending, Central and South East Europe Department, European Investment Bank (EIB)
  • Patrick Zeitinger, Member of the Supervisory Board, ProCredit Bank Bulgaria
  • Matej Kruspan, Chief Commercial Officer, Rezolv Energy
  • Petar Georgiev, Managing Partner, Renewable Energy Insurance Broker (REIB) 

Industry decarbonisation paths - what it takes to make a net zero strategy work in SEE

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ModeratorStefano Miriello, Policy and Business Development Advisor, RE-Source Platform

Participants:

  • Ema Popova, Industry Lead Southeast Europe, Microsoft
  • Rumen Karamihalev, Managing Director for Eastern Europe, Ovako, part of Nippon Steel Group
  • Yoanna Ilchovska, Legal and Regulatory Manager, Cetin, part of PPF Group
  • Dimitar Stanev, Deputy Director Business Development, Albena seaside resort
  • Nicholas Bitsios, Head of Brussels Office, Mytilineos

No transition without transmission…, distribution and storage

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Moderator: Mariyana Yaneva, Policy & Communications Director, APSTE

 Participants:

  • Dimitar Zarchev, Member of the Board of Directors of ENSTO-E and Director of the National Dispatch Center, ESO
  • Martin Georgiev, Executive Director National Electricity Company (NEK)
  • Peter Nemcek, Chief Technology Officer, CyberGrid
  • Anna Dimitrova, Head of Department Energy Policy, Environment and Innovation, EVN
  • Rosa Milano, Senior Sales Manager, EMEA Growing markets, Fluence
  • Teodor Bobochikov, CEO, Entra Energy
  • Faysal Pirmohamed, Senior Engineer Energy Storage, DNV

The other half. Sector coupling and renewable energy corporate sourcing beyond electricity

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Moderator: Annie Scanlan, Policy & Impact Director, RE-Source Platform

Participants:

  • Christian Pho Duc, Chief Technology Officer, Smartenergy (hydrogen)
  • Christophe Lits, Market Analyst, SolarPower Europe (PV and heat pumps)
  • Milena Tsoleva, Head of Project Management Department, ESO (EV fleets and charging infrastructure)