SMARTSPEND Project Virtual Event -– “Financing Clean Energy Transition in the Context of EU Recovery”

In line with SMARTSPEND’s main goal of creating more and better- designed public support for energy technology Research and Innovation, the project is organising an Online Workshop on the 30^th of September 2020, addressing in order to address the topic of financing the clean energy transition duringin the European Recovery.

During this event, clean energy innovators, national, regional and European policymakers, public and private funding experts and industry representatives will exchange inputs on the current funding schemes for clean energy in Europe and discuss what to expect in the upcoming Recovery Plan. The SMARTSPEND Online Workshop will bridge investors and clean energy innovators, bringing clarifications on the access to EU funding in Europe’srecovery period.

Diverse speakers will provide insights that can prepare energy stakeholders for this upcoming phase:

• Underlining the opportunities arising from the challenge now faced by the EU;
• Showcasing EU’s funding and financing offer for clean energy demonstration projects;
• Addressing recommendations on how to improve funding for specific energy sectors.

AGENDA

11.00 Welcome and introduction
11.05 Keynote speech
Clean energy sector and finance for R&I: emerging from the crisis to foster a green recovery
Speaker: Shiva Dustdar, Head of Division – Innovation Finance Advisory, European Investment Bank

11.15 SESSION 1

Session 1.1: Renewed clean energy investment priorities in the context of the Recovery Plan Programme
Speaker: Patrick Child, Deputy Director-General and Director of Clean Planet, DG RTD

Session 1.2: Refined funding tools for clean energy R&I Innovation Fund: Innovative demonstration projects to accelerate clean energy transition
Speaker: Roman Doubrava, Deputy Head of Unit, Land Use and Finance for Innovation, DG CLIMA

Financing innovation for the clean energy transition: Invest EU, InnovFin and others
Speaker: Nuno Quental, Policy Officer, DG RTD
Ramping up the Clean Energy Transition Partnership under Horizon Europe
Speaker: Michael Huebner, Austrian Ministry of Climate Action

Cohesion Policy Funds in the post-COVID era for innovative energy projects
Speaker: Mathieu Fichter, Policy Officer for Energy and Climate Policies, DG REGIO

Followed by Q&A
Moderator: Greg Arrowsmith, Secretary General, EUREC

13.30 SESSION 2

Session 2.1: Funding for clean energy technologies: inputs from SMARTSPEND Deliverables

Mapping report on funding instruments for energy innovation & Analysis of the industry’s funding needs
Speaker: Luca Pira, European and National Funding Expert, Zabala

Session 2.2: Panel discussion
Focus: SMARTSPEND partners and other industry representatives will interact with the audience and answer questions related to the topics discussed

Panellists

Energy Storage | Brittney Elzarei, Senior Policy Officer, EASE
Geothermal Energy | Marco Baresi, Institutional Affairs & Marketing Director, Turboden, S.p.A.
Sustainable Built Environment | Javier Bonilla, Head of Technology Observation and R & D Programme, ACCIONA
Bioenergy | Rene Venendaal, CEO of BTG Biomass Technology Group
Solar Power | Eduardo Zarza, Technical Coordinator, Plataforma Solar de Almeria
Raw Materials | Philippe Jacques, Managing Director, EMIRI
Sustainable Industry | Angels Orduña, Executive Director, SPIRE

Followed by Q&A
Moderator: Patrick Clerens, Secretary General, EASE

14:50 Closing remarks

REGISTER FOR THE EVENT

About SMARTSPEND

The SMARTPEND project is a Horizon2020 initiative that seeks to coordinate the efforts of industry, national governments and European institutions in investing in clean energy research and development. The project supports the execution of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) of the European Commission.