Financing Europe’s Energy Transition
The Sustainable Energy Finance Association (SEFA) Official Launch Event
Join us as we launch Europe’s trade association for the sustainable energy industry, on a mission to advance the transition to a zero net carbon economy by accelerating the development and financing of sustainable energy initiatives.
About the event
We are thrilled to announce the launch of SEFA. We believe in empowering our members to transform our buildings and infrastructure into clean, efficient and intelligent power hubs that provide substantial economic, social and environmental benefits for all. Energy security can become the norm, and fuel poverty a thing of the past.
Join us on the 30th of May at the Bozar Centre for fine arts in Brussels. The event will feature a range of expert speakers from the European commission and parliament, financial funds and project developers, as well as provide networking opportunities, and interactive sessions. We will explore the current and emerging challenges and opportunities in sustainable energy policy and financing, and the impacts of the energy crisis for all stakeholders.
Who should attend?
We are looking forward to hosting individuals and organizations who are passionate about sustainable energy and interested charting a path to a zero net carbon economy. Whether you are an investor, entrepreneur, policy maker, or simply interested in learning more, we welcome you to join us.
Why should you attend? By attending the SEFA launch event, you will have the opportunity to:
Learn how innovative financing solutions can support the Europe’s energy transition, including supporting job development and tackle energy poverty.
Hear from the European Commission and Parliament about the most important policy changes impacting the built environment that have come with the Fit for 55 package.
Network and connect with like-minded individuals and organisations from the finance industry, energy service companies, policy makers, and technology providers working to advance the sustainable energy sector.
Engage in interactive sessions and panel discussions with expert speakers from a range of sectors, including finance, energy service, policy, and technology.
Agenda
3:30pm Welcome and Guest arrival
4:00pm Opening session
Introduction
John O’Rourke, Chairman of SEFA and CEO of New Energy Group
Keynote Speakers
4:15pm: Ciarán Cuffe, MEP and Rapporteur on the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD)
4:30pm: Paula Pinho, Director for Just Transition, Consumers, Energy Efficiency, Innovation and Energy security at the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER)
4:45pm: Oleksandr Dombrovskyi Chairman of Global re 100% RE Ukraine
5:00pm
Panel Discussion: Scaling the Energy Savings Market for the Built Environment: Successes, Challenges, and Future Prospects
In this first panel industry representatives from both the demand and the supply side will discuss the key barriers they are facing in scaling their businesses. A number of macro-factors such as energy price hikes, supply chain issues and labour shortage continue to disrupt the energy savings market. At the same time, ever more ambitious targets and restrictive regulations are being discussed and established on European and national levels. Finally, there will be time to share successful case studies and to touch upon emerging trends or technologies that positively impact the industry.
Moderator:
Caroline Milne, Head of Communications at Building Performance Institute Europe
Panellist:
Soren Lutken, Chair of the Global ESCO Network
Frederik Hindryckx, CEO of Vlaams EnergieBedrijf
Chris Vrettos, Financing Project Manager at REScoop
Paddy Sweeney, CEO of Retrofit Energy Ireland
5:30pm
Q&A with the audience
5:50pm
Panel Discussion: Unlocking Private Finance for the Energy Transition: Key Risks, Innovative Solutions, and the Growing Role of Compliance
Private finance is still not flowing at the required rate into sustainable energy projects. Skewed risk-return perceptions and a lack of understanding of the underlying assets still limit energy efficiency finance to an almost static set of funds and investors across Europe. This second panel will discuss the key impacts of the shift in energy price and interest rates, and the key challenges to adopting energy efficiency as a tradeable security by the financial community at large. We also look to hear how financial institutions perceive the growing pressure coming from ESG compliance and the EU taxonomy, and how they are taking the necessary steps in addressing those.
Moderator:
Laurence Marzell, Serco Belgium Probono H2020 Project Lead
Panellist
James Hooton, Managing Director at Green Finance Institute
Davide Cannarozzi, CEO of GNE Finance
Franco Hauri, Senior Investment Manager at Aquila Capital
Sumeet Manchanda, Associate Director, Lead Climate Co-Finance at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
6:20pm
Q&A with the audience
6:40pm
Concluding remarks
Jessica Stromback, Interim Executive Director SEFA and CEO of Joule Assets
7:00pm
Networking & Drinks
We believe that the launch of SEFA is an important milestone in the ongoing efforts to promote the transition to a zero net carbon economy, and we hope that you will join us in celebrating this exciting new initiative.
Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you on 30th May!