Hybrid PV Power Plants II: Business Models, Economics & Case Studies

Dr. Harry Wirth, born in 1968, studied physics at the University of Freiburg, Germany, and at the Universitiy of Massachusetts, USA. He earned his PhD from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) and from Fraunhofer ISE. From January 1999 he headed the R&D department of a specialty insulating glazing manufacturer. In 2005, he returned to Fraunhofer ISE to establish the group 'Photovoltaic Modules' and to conduct the setup of the PV Module Technology Center. Since April 2023, he is director of the division 'Power Solutions' Harry Wirth is author of the report 'Recent Facts about Photovoltaics in Germany' constantly renewed since 2011, author of the book 'Photovoltaic Module Technology' and inventor of more than 20 patents related to solar energy.

Kai Becker is Chief Development Officer at Energy2Market since 2020. With his deep expertise in the renewable energy market, his focus is on supporting operators of decentralized flexibilities - such as batteries or co-location - to realize the maximum value of their assets through multi-market optimization. Previously, Kai worked in product development and origination at E.ON and Trianel, with a focus on renewables.

Claudia Günther leads the Research teams for Northwestern Europe at Aurora. In this position, she is responsible for the power market outlook for these markets, alongside strategic studies on the energy transition, covering topics evolving around electricity market design, decarbonization of the power sector, renewable energy and energy storage. She has an extensive track record of acting as an advisor on project and studies for developers, investors, utilities, grid operators and policy makers on the national and EU level.

Christian Folke is a seasoned professional in the renewable energy sector, currently serving as the Head of Technology & Innovation at Uniper Renewables GmbH since May 2023. With a robust background in project management and innovation, Christian has been instrumental in advancing large-scale battery storage, e-mobility, airborne wind energy, and smart grids. Prior to his current role, he was a Project Engineer at Uniper Energy Storage GmbH for over seven years, where he focused on renewable integration and energy storage solutions. Christian also held positions at E.ON, including Portfolio Manager at the Innovation Center Energy Storage and Technical CCS Coordinator. His extensive experience in the energy industry is complemented by his academic background and certifications in project management and leadership. Based in the Cologne/Bonn region, Christian is dedicated to driving sustainable energy solutions and fostering innovation in the renewables sector.

Claus Wattendrup is heading the European-wide solar and battery business at Vattenfall and is developing, building and operating large-scale solar and battery assets. Additionally he is the Country Head for Vattenfall UK and all its business activities. Before that Claus founded two companies and had several senior management positions, as well as working as a management and M&A consultant.

Eduard Foved Johe is a Yield Assessment and Performance Manager at ENGIE. In his role, he supports ENGIE's teams globally in developing renewable projects, focusing on design optimization, yield assessment, and performance analysis of operational assets. With multiple years of experience in the solar industry, his expertise spans from solar cell and module technologies to optimization and yield modelling of solar and hybrid projects. He began his career at ENGIE in the residential solar market and later transitioned to renewable and hybrid utility-scale projects.