Solar PV Markets: International Experiences

Ronald Upmann studied journalism and communication sciences at the Free University of Berlin (FU) and has been working in association management, strategy and communications for over 20 years. He has many years of experience in press relations and publishing, having gained experience at the online service platform AOL, an e-commerce start-up, a sports image press agency and several internet agencies long before the boom in internet communication. He has also been working for the BSW and its predecessor association, the UVS, since 2001 and therefore knows the development of the German solar industry, the market and its association like few other players. As part of development cooperation, Mr Upmann has worked on international development cooperation solar PV projects and initiatives on behalf of various organisations such as GIZ, German chamber and sequa, for example in India, South Africa, Namibia, Pakistan and Jordan. Mr Upmann's areas of expertise in international projects lie in quality assurance and association development and, policy advocacy & strategy.

Mechanical Engineer from Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá, member of the Colombian Solar Energy Association (ACOSOL) and Board of Directors Representative. Master in Business Administration, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Master in IT Business, Erasmus University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Expert in transmission substations and equipment for thermoelectric plants. Founder and developer of the Erasmus brand of multimeters and clamp meters. Founder and developer of a calibration laboratory for measuring instruments. Designer and developer of specialized training courses for the electrical and photovoltaic solar energy sector, through the company Energía y Movilidad. Designer and developer of courses on renewable energy and its applications in transportation. Speaker on solar energy at universities, professional associations, environmental groups, and other stakeholders in renewable energy. Solar Academy: Courses on solar energy for both off-grid and grid-connected systems. Specialization in Marketing and lecturer in Industrial Marketing, Universidad de los Andes. Adjunct Professor of Railway Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de los Andes. Lecturer in Environmental Marketing, Department of Industrial Engineering, Universidad de los Andes. Developer of a marketing plan to establish a business unit for boat rentals, Vetus den Ouden N.V., distributor of boat accessories. Published articles in Mundo Eléctrico magazine. Participant in renewable energy events organized by IPSE and UPME. Has worked in the energy efficiency sector for more than 30 years as co-founder of the companies ERASMUS and Energía y Movilidad.

Originally from Belgium, Lennart began his international career with a move to Brazil, and after several subsequent placements abroad settled in London in 2017. His solar career started in 2008, as CEO of Krannich Solar in the Benelux. He gained further expertise at SMA in Germany and the United States, providing inverters and solutions for utility-scale projects,and later joined LONGi, a leading Chinese module manufacturer. Lennart has an in-depth knowledge of working with utility-scale asset owners, including investors and developers. Today, he represents the Global Solar Council, uniting the voice of the global solar industry with governments, policymakers, and businesses.

Gustavo Vajda is the General Manager LATAM at Recurrent Energy. Gustavo played a key role in establishing Canadian Solar-now Recurrent Energy-as a market leader, with over 4 GWp in development and nearly 8 GWp in pipeline. He has 20 years of experience in energy project development and management, with previous leadership roles at Alstom Grid and CPFL Energia. Gustavo also serves on the Board of ABSOLAR, Brazil's leading PV solar association. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Energy Markets from Unicamp, along with MBAs in Finance and Project Management.

Rodrigo Longo é analista de pesquisa sênior da Aurora Energy Research, especializado no mercado brasileiro de energia elétrica com foco em energia renovável, armazenamento de energia e modelagem de mercado. Ele trabalhou em uma ampla gama de projetos estratégicos, incluindo armazenamento de baterias (BESS), hidrogênio verde, co-localização de energias renováveis e armazenamento, mercados de capacidade, avaliação de PPA e o impacto do tempo e do clima nos mercados de eletricidade.