Introduction:

As technology advances and governments introduce favourable legislation, leading European utilities are looking at integrating solar energy into their power generation mix to help reach their renewable energy targets.  

Utility Scale Solar will bring together leading experts from utilities, project developers, investors and policy makers to look at how to overcome barriers to the development of commercially successful utility scale solar projects. 

• What incentives and feed-in-tariffs are required to stimulate the market?
• What is the commercial outlook for solar power generation?
• How will large-scale solar projects change the structure of power generation?
• What are the key barriers holding up market development?
• How can developers secure finance and investment for utility scale projects?
• What are the key challenges with siting, permitting and environmental issues?
• What measures can developers take to reduce set up and operational costs?
• What are the latest technological advances for CSP and PV?

Learn from leading utility scale solar experts, including:

Fabrizio Bizzarri, New Technologies & Operations, Enel Green Power, Italy
Gilbert E Cohen, Chief Executive Officer, Eliasol Energy, USA
Hansjorg Lerchenmuller, Chief Executive Officer, Concentrix Solar, Germany
Jerry Stokes, President, Suntech Europe, Switzerland
Thorsten Rauch, Abengoa Solar, Spain
Marco Pezzaglia, Renewable Energy Sources, AEEG, Italy
Miguel De Anguin, Chief Operation Officer, Premier Power, USA
Jose Manuel Nieto, International Project Manager, Acciona Solar, Spain
Luis Torres, Managing Director, SEU Market Development, SunPower, Spain
Gerrit Sames, Chief Operating Officer, SCHOTT Solar, Germany
Dr. Vivente Diaz, CPV Business Unit Manager, Isofoton, Spain
Stefano Cassella, Director of Project Finance, West LB, Italy

Delegates will learn from best practice case studies from market pioneers and gain a clear understanding of the regulatory framework, investment criteria, project development, plant operation, grid connectivity and the latest technological developments.

Key reasons to attend:

• Hear how pioneering utilities including Enel Green Power, E.ON, Endesa and Iberdrola are engaging in utility scale solar<
• earn from experiences of CSP, CPV and large scale PV projects from leading developers including Abengoa, Eliasol, Epuron and  Acciona
• Gain tips from banks and investors on how you increase the bankability of your projects
• Benefit from CSP & PV breakout sessions: Parallel tracks will ensure in-depth coverage of specific CSP and PV operational and technical issues
• Network with key utilities, developers, investors and policy makers
• Ensure you are up-to-speed with the key technologies driving the solar energy industry by attending in-depth training courses:  Solar Technologies 101 and Solar Economics
• This key event will provide you with the information and contacts you need to ensure your success in the growing utility scale solar industry.

Agenda outline:

Day One: 23 February 2010

Developing commercially successful utility scale solar projects

Keynote Session: Building Blocks for Utility Scale Solar

• What is the status of solar development across EU states?
• What incentives and feed-in-tariffs are required to stimulate the market?
• How do leading players see the future of utility scale solar?
• What is the commercial outlook for solar power generation?
• How will large-scale solar projects change the structure of power generation?
• What are the key market drivers?  What are the key barriers holding up market development?

Utility Scale Solar Business Models

• What new business models are needed to drive industry growth?
• What are the key drivers for utility action?
• How are utilities looking to engage in large scale solar – PPA’s or direct ownership?
• What are the developments in utility procurement policies?
• What are the latest developments in grid integration for large scale solar?
• How can developers increase the bankability of their projects?

Utility Scale Solar Economic Analysis

• What is the levelised cost of solar energy?  How does solar compare to other renewables?
• How do PV and CSP economics compare in the short and long term?
• What are the real costs of transmission and maintenance?
• How can plant efficiencies be increased to decrease costs?
• How do centralised large scale systems compare with decentralised grid connected systems?
• What role is utility scale residential solar installation playing in the supply chain and how can

Project Planning & Operation Case Studies

• How can developers secure finance and investment for utility scale projects?
• What are the key challenges with siting, permitting and environmental issues?
• What are the main risks associated with utility scale solar projects?
• What measures can developers take to reduce operational costs?
• How can plant performance be optimised?
• What are the major challenges in connecting to the grid system?

Day Two: 24 February 2010

Breakout Stream A: CSP
Design, Photogrammetry, Components & Storage

• What are the latest technical developments for parabolic troughs, tower, linear Fresnel and dish/engine systems?
• What scope is there for reducing deployment costs?
• How can operational efficiencies be increased?
• What impact does economy of scale have on costs?
• What are the best practice strategies for plant operation and maintenance?
• What steps can be taken to ensure effective scale up?
• What are the most promising developments in solar storage?
• How do the relative benefits of molten salt, concrete and stone?

Breakout Stream B: Utility Scale PV
WAN PV, Thin Film, CPV Components & Storage

• What is the latest state of utility scale PV, thin film and CPV projects?
• What criteria impact the choice of technology?
• What is the commercial reality of CPV?
• What efficiencies can be reached?
• What are the latest technical innovations in PV, thin film and CPV?
• What are the challenges associated with storage and network stability?

Planning, Design and Construction

• What are the main challenges in constructing a PV, thin-film, CPV or solar thermal power plant?
• What can be learnt from early mover experiences?
• What are the new trends in plant design?
• What are the true costs of plant construction and procurement?
• How can expensive mistakes be avoided?

Balance of Plant, Operations & Maintenance

• How can system performance be measured and assessed?
• What are the key issues in operating and maintaining your plant?
• What steps can be taken to ensure effective scale up?
• How can balance of system efficiency be improved?
• What is the impact on performance of different tracking systems and how can accuracy be improved?
• What is the scope for power electronics (inverters and system controllers) to reduce costs?

Future Technology Innovation and R&D

• What future technologies and innovations will accelerate industry growth?
• What solutions will help achieve levelised solar costs?
• How can HVAC transmission grid capacity be increased?

Plus a choice of two training courses:

Solar Technologies “101” - Pre-conference, 22nd February

A 1-day primer for non-engineers.

Course objectives
Whether you are new to the industry or simply want to refresh and update your knowledge, this one-day training course will ensure you are up-to-speed with the key technologies driving the solar energy industry. You will learn about harnessing the sun's energy through silicon and thin-film photovoltaics (PV) plus through solar thermal collection and power conversion; including concentrating and utility-scale systems in both cases.  Technologies are placed in their relevant business context, ensuring that you also understand the factors which will decide their commercial success or failure.

Full details to follow.

and

Solar Power Economics - Post-conference, 25th February

A 1-day practical primer on quantifying solar power’s market competitiveness

Course objectives
Accessible to non-experts, industry newcomers and those with little or no technical or financial background, this one-day course describes and illustrates (using simple calculations and models) the factors which determine the competitiveness of solar power in current and future electricity markets. It will discuss markets for solar power, physical limits on the solar resource, influences (both technological and otherwise) on its cost, challenges in integrating solar into future grid supplies, and the comparative attributes of competing options (both renewable and fossil).

Full details to follow.

Speaking opportunities:

If you would like to speak at this event please submit a speaking proposal (presentation title, 4-5 bullet points and brief synopsis) to Dennis Liu :

E-mail: dennis.liu@greenpowerconferences.com

Sponsorship & exhibition opportunities:

Sponsor Utility Scale Solar Europe and benefit from:

• 1st class lead generation: meet companies actively working in the solar industry
• Enhanced brand profile: pre-event promotional campaign plus extensive on site branding
• Excellent publicity: gain an incredible amount of presence from on site promotion
• A cost effective marketing solution: our development team will be happy to customise a package and develop a cost effective marketing channel to generate new sales leads

Sponsorship options offering varying levels of branding and exposure are available to suit budgets and marketing aims.

Contact William Todd for further details
Tel (Dir): +971 4813 5211 | Cell: +971 5055 17234 | Fax: +44 207 900 1853

E-mail: william.t@greenpowerconferences.com