Speakers

  • Adam White

    Director
    RECS International

    Adam White is the Director of RECS International, a non-profit foundation representing renewable electricity producers and consumers who use guarantees of origin. At RECS International, Adam leads on 

    • Giving organisations and individuals the knowledge, motivation and confidence to buy 100% renewable energy. 
    • Advocating for the development and implementation of relevant national and European legislation, and 
    • Supporting members and other stakeholders engaging in renewable energy markets. 

    Before joining RECS Adam worked for the WWF European Policy Office as Senior Research Coordinator on Climate and Energy, and before coming to Brussels Adam worked as a researcher for elected members of the UK Parliament and the London Assembly. 

    Presentations
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information (more speakers t.b.a.)

    Monday 29 November 2021 14:00-16:00 Pre-conference C: An introduction to standard contracts for EAC markets

    Wednesday 1 December 2021 10:30-11:30 Session 7A – Time stamping: how can it help accelerate demand for renewables?

  • Alberto Pototschnig

    Professor and Deputy Director
    Florence School of Regulation

    Part-time Professor and Deputy Director (World of Practice)
    Florence School of Regulation, Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies European University Institute, Florence

    Director, DFC-Economics, Milan

    Alberto Pototschnig is part-time Professor and Deputy Director for the World of Practice at the Florence School of Regulation – European University Institute, where he has been teaching on energy regulation and market design since 2004. Since October 2020, Alberto is also a Director of DFC-Economics, a consultancy outfit providing independent economic analysis and advice on complex business and regulatory issues.

    From 2010 to 2019 he was the first Director of the EU Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER). Before joining the Agency, from 2006 to 2010, Alberto was a Partner in Mercados EMI, a Madrid-based international consultancy specialising in the energy sector, where he served as CEO and Deputy Chairman. He previously worked at the Italian Transmission System Operators (from 2003 to 2005), served as the first CEO of the Italian Electricity Market Operator (from 2000 to 2003) and in the Italian Energy Regulatory Authority (AEEG, from 1997 to 2000), with his final position being Director of Electricity Regulation. Alberto started his professional career in 1989 with London Economics, an international economic consultancy, where he was eventually in charge of the industrial economic advisory practice. Between 2003 and 2005 Alberto also acted as an adviser to the Italian Government on environmental and climate policy issues.

    Alberto holds a Degree in Economics from Bocconi University in Milan and an MSc in Econometrics and Mathematical Economics from the London School of Economics, University of London.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Andreas Gunst

    Partner
    DLA Piper

    Andreas is a widely recognised expert on renewable energy certificate trading and mass-balancing, renewable energy PPAs, biogas supply agreements, and GHG allowance and offset agreements. Notably, he advised RECS International on its new Certificate Agreement & associated guidance and the European Federation of Energy Traders on the development of its Corporate PPA, the new Certificate Master Agreement  & Appendix, and the UK Allowance Appendix. Andreas has also advised many donor organisations - among them EBRD, World Bank, ADB, GIZ and Energy Community - on sectoral reform and the implementation of renewable energy auctions and implementation of emissions trading and renewable energy certificate schemes.  

    Presentation
    Monday 29 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Ben Gerber

    President and Chief Executive Officer
    Midwest Renewable Energy Tracking System, Inc. (M-RETS)

    Benjamin Gerber is the President and Chief Executive Officer of M-RETS. Under his leadership M-RETS developed and successfully implemented an industry leading environmental attribute registry. Initially this allowed M-RETS to increase its footprint from 15 states and Manitoba to all North America. The M-RETS platform brings unprecedented innovation to the industry as well as access to data in pioneering ways such as hourly production data and peak period production data. Under his leadership, M-RETS achieved the first of its kind hourly REC claim in collaboration with Google, where it was a focus on the Google Cloud Blog.   

    M-RETS recently launched a renewable thermal tracking system. This first of its kind system in North America facilitates market transparency, liquidity, and prevents double counting by issuing a unique, traceable digital certificate for every dekatherm produced by a renewable thermal technology. M-RETS users retire certificates to comply with state policy or to serve the voluntary market and to ensure that certificates are not double-counted. 

    Ben attended the University of Michigan where he graduated with a degree in political science. He graduated from William Mitchell College of law and is admitted to the Minnesota State and Federal Bar. Ben is a sought-after speaker on issues related to environmental commodities as well as innovation in the utility sector. He has been published by energy news outlets such as Utility Dive, Greentech Media, and Forbes and appeared as a guest on local and national media and conferences to discuss renewable energy, decarbonization, and the role of technology and innovation in the utility sector.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Dania Piccioli-Cappelli

    Director Marketing and Communication
    Nvalue

    Dania holds a Master degree in Economics from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland and joined Nvalue in 2010 as Portfolio Manager. Dania actively contributed to the company development through the years. The team of Nvalue is today characterized by 30 professionals spread in the offices of Amsterdam, Zürich, Lugano and Varna.

    Dania is part of the executive board of Nvalue AG and she covers several areas of responsibility within the group. Dania is responsible for the company's products in the Swiss Market and is member of the Strategy Committee. Moreover she leads the Marketing and Communication department within the Group. 

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 11:30-12:30 Session 2A - Procurement models: from single trades to PPAs, how different contracts can accelerate demand

  • Eva Klesse

    Team Lead Account Management
    KlimaInvest

    Eva Klesse leads the Account Management Team South of KlimaInvest and develops sustainable solutions for energy suppliers and corporate clients. Her focus is the transition to renewable energy and raising awareness for reducing emissions.

    Since 2015 Eva works at KlimaInvest, a leading player for renewable energy in Germany, with the strategic focus for guarantees of origin, innovative renewable power, climate-neutral gas and other carbon offsetting products.

    Eva holds a Master of Science in Sustainability Science and gained experience in international projects with GIT Development Services in Latin America and the German-African Business Association in Hamburg/Africa. Today she is part of the RECS International Board and a market expert for renewable electricity in end-customer products

    Presentation
    Wednesday 1 December 2021 10:30-11:30 Session 7B - GO developments in Europe's biggest economy

  • Gunnar Steck

    Executive Advisor Wholesale Markets
    Eurogas

    Gunnar Steck has held a variety of strategic, legal and regulatory roles in production, trading and supply as well as in transmission companies. From senior management positions in government and regulatory affairs, he has helped companies and associations to understand the impact of regulatory change, to implement changes effectively, and to represent their interests in designing energy market rules.

    Gunnar has worked for RUHRGAS Transport (Europe’s biggest TSO, now Open Grid Europe), E.ON Energy Trading and UNIPER Global Commodities. From 2013 to 2017 he chaired the European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET) Gas Hub Development Group.

    In 2018 Gunnar founded ENQUIDITY, a boutique consultancy firm supporting authorities, industry associations and companies in energy regulation and market design. Since 2019 he is advising Eurogas on EU policy initiatives relevant for Gas Wholesale Markets. He is a fully qualified lawyer and holds a Master in Political Science.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Hannah Hunt

    Impact Director
    RE-Source Platform

    Hannah is the Impact Director for the RE-Source Platform, where she coordinates the Platform activities in efforts to advance corporate renewable energy sourcing across Europe. She was previously Senior Manager in Business Development at REsurety, working to empower renewable energy buyers through better risk management. Her background also includes renewable energy policy and regulatory advocacy at the American Wind Energy Association.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Ilona Bruens

    Head of CertiQ
    CertiQ

    Ilona Bruens leads CertiQ, the Dutch Issuing Body for electricity and renewable heath. Since 2020 full disclosure is in place in the Netherlands, so CertiQ experienced its first full year certifying also non-renewable electricity. Prior to CertiQ, Ilona worked 12 years within CertiQs mother company, TenneT TSO. She developed ideas to keep a right balance to ensure a reliable, sustainable and affordable energy system and brought these ideas further to policymakers, politicians and regulators.

    Ilona studied Business Administration at the University of Nijmegen, Financial Law at the Erasmus University and Accountancy at VU Amsterdam.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Joan Collell

    Business & Strategy Leader / CCO
    FlexiDAO

    Joan Collell is the Business/Strategy Leader & CCO at FlexiDAO, a leading software provider in the energy sector. Collell has experience leading a high-growth energy startup and over five years working within the technology industry. His expertise excels in startup strategy, sales, and marketing, where he adopted these skills from working with global brands like Bain & Co., Google, and Henkel.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Katrien Verwimp

    Coordinator Sector Integration
    Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB)

    Katrien coordinates the sector integration program in the Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB), which prepares for maximum reliability and cost-efficiency of energy attribute certificate systems for all energy carriers. She manages strategic projects for the association, currently representing AIB in the REGATRACE and CertifHy Projects. She is coordinator of the EECS Gas Scheme Group and chairs AIB’s Professional Reviewers Group.

    She was project leader of the FaStGO Project, which, as a service to DG ENER, in 2020 developed a kick-off draft for the revision of the EN16325 standard on guarantees of origin, considered further infrastructural upgrades for the cross border transfer of GOs and developed updates to the residual mix methodology. Before 2020, she worked with VREG, being the Flemish regulator, issuing body and disclosure competent body as ‘Coordinator – origin of energy’.

    On behalf of this AIB member, from 2013-2015 she was in AIB the co-chairperson of working group systems, who guards the AIB IT infrastructure, and in 2018 and 2019 she was the chairperson of AIB working group Internal Affairs (currently renamed to EECS Unit), who maintains and develops the rules in the European Energy Certificate System. She had a leading role in the design of legislation for implementing article 19 of REDII, including developing GOs for gas, hydrogen and for heating and cooling, and was project leader for the implementation of it.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Liesbeth Switten

    Secretary General
    Association of Issuing Bodies (AIB)

    Liesbeth Switten holds a master degree in law from Leuven University, and degrees in environmental law, urbanisation and in international association management. She started her career in leading law firms, such as Baker & McKenzie where she was a member of the environmental and energy team. After 7 years she joined the Flemish energy regulator VREG as a legal supervisor.

    She has been involved in renewable energy certification for over 15 years with several roles in the AIB since 2006. She was AIB’s legal and strategic advisor, professional reviewer and she chaired the organisational change process and the professional reviewers’ group, thereby securing the quality assurance of the EECS© system throughout the AIB members.

    In 2020 Liesbeth became secretary general of AIB, taking over from its leader of 20 years and she was tasked with rolling out an entirely new organisation model amid the Covid-19 pandemic and with guiding the expanding association towards the energy transition and implementation of the EU Renewables Directive 2018/2001. 

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 14:00-15:00 Session 3A - How full disclosure can accelerate demand for renewables and help cut emissions

  • Lucy Hunt

    Manager, Energy
    WBCSD

    Lucy Hunt is the renewable power lead at the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), a global, CEO-led organization of over 200 leading businesses working together to accelerate the transition to a sustainable world. Lucy manages the REscale project at WBCSD, convening ambitious companies from the full renewable value chain to collaborate on solutions to accelerate the deployment of renewables, with particular focus on increasing corporate procurement of renewable power. Before joining WBCSD in 2018, Lucy spent four years working on low carbon technology and energy efficiency projects at the Carbon Trust.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 14:00-15:00 Session 3B - The post-Brexit world

  • Mike Hatert

    Head of Renewables
    First Climate Markets

    Based in Frankfurt, Germany, Mike Hatert is Head of Renewables at First Climate and manages all sales activities in the DACH region. A proven energy specialist, Mike graduated as an engineer, is a certified manager for energy economics and holds a certification as an energy manager from chamber of industry and commerce. Mike has over 15 years of professional experience in the energy industry, previously working in manager and senior positions for Deutsche Bahn, ENTEGA and con|energy.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Saptarshi Pal

    Senior Originator
    Statkraft

    Saptarshi Pal is a Senior Originator at Statkraft, where he works in the Global Environmental Markets division. He has over 10 years of experience in various environmental markets, including carbon allowances & offsets, energy efficiency certificates and energy attribute certificate (EAC) schemes. Currently, he is based in London and focuses on UK’s voluntary and compliance renewable energy certificates schemes. He is also on the Board of RECS International since 2016.

    Saptarshi has a MSC in Environmental Sciences & Policies from the University of Manchester, and a MBA from London Business School.

     

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Stefanie Königsberger

    Project Manager
    AGCS Biomethane Registry Austria

    Stefanie is a project manager at AGCS Biomethane Registry Austria, operated by AGCS Gas Clearing and Settlement AG, in addition to her role as an Executive Board Member at ERGaR, European Renewable Gas Registry. She has international working experience in the fields of Anaerobic Digestion, Renewables and Environment, Bioeconomy and Biorefinery, Event and Project Management.

     

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 Speaker information

  • Steven Vanholme

    Program Manager
    EKOenergy

    Steven Vanholme is Programme Manager of EKOenergy, the international non-profit ecolabel for renewable energy. EKOenergy promotes renewable energy in over 40 countries and cooperates with a fast growing number of energy companies and corporate energy consumers worldwide. See www.ekoenergy.org  for more information.

    Prior to joining EKOenergy, Steven worked at the University of Ghent (Belgium) and was a policy officer at the main Belgian environmental organisation, Natuurpunt.

    Presentation
    Wednesday 1 December 2021 10:30-11:30 Session 7C - EAC standards that support the energy transition and climate action

  • Wouter Vanhoudt

    Director Europe
    Hinicio

    Master in Commercial Engineering Business Informatics & Master of Finance Vlerick Management School.

    Project Coordinator for European Commission / FCH JU supported Standard on Green H2 Certification (CertifHy).

    Chair and Board of AIB Gas Scheme Group. 

    Former General Manager  Schreder Gulf LLC in Abu Dhabi (3 years). Worked one year in China. 16+ years work experience. Speaks Dutch-English-French. Based in Brussels.

    Presentation
    Tuesday 30 November 2021 15:30-16:30 Session 4A - Certification of hydrogen and other non-fossil gases