IPFA Continental Europe

Key Challenges in Financing and Commercialising BESS Projects

Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are playing an increasingly central role in the energy transition, while presenting new commercial, regulatory and financing challenges.  

This joint event brings together a broad audience to explore key structuring and market considerations for BESS and hybrid PV/BESS projects, including different commercialisation models, grid connection frameworks and their impact on project financeability. 

The programme will begin with a Young Leaders Event on “Bankability of Infrastructure Investments: Easements & Usufruct”, followed by a dedicated workshop with Cenvion on “Challenges, Structuring, and Requirements in the Financing of BESS Projects.” 

This will be followed by the main event, featuring a keynote address by TenneT and a first panel discussion covering key topics such as the marketing of BESS through tolling agreements versus fully merchant models (including a walkthrough of key tolling agreement considerations), flexible grid connection agreements (FCA) with grid operators and their impact on marketing and project financing, hybrid PV/BESS projects (including permitting, grid connection, and marketing via hybrid PPAs), as well as the classification of BESS infrastructure as a network under the German Energy Industry Act and the resulting implications for marketing opportunities and financing diversification. The panel will include industry representatives such as Synertics, MaxSolar, and others. 

The event will conclude with a networking session and drinks, providing an opportunity to continue the discussion in an informal setting. 

Agenda

Part 1 | Future Leaders Network Session - 3pm - 4.30pm

Welcome & Introduction

- Dr. Michael Jünemann, Bird & Bird LLP

Presentation: Legal Structuring & Bankability

- Jürgen Schlinkmann, Bird & Bird LLP

Workshop: Financing BESSS Projects

- Speaker to be announced

Mainstream & Future Leader Joint Session - 4.30pm - 6.45pm

Keynote Speech:

- Rep from Tennet 

Panel:

- Moderator: Alexandra Mützelburg, Partner Energy Regulatory, Bird & Bird LLP

- Thomas Buck, Head of Project Finance, MaxSolar

- Sebastian Sunderbrink, BESS M&A Manager, Business Development, Alpiq

- Matthias Janssen, Executive Director, Frontier Economics

- Andreas Mallin, Lawyer, Mallin Legal

Event Details

Part 1 | Future Leaders Registration: 3.00pm
Presentation begins: Legal Structuring & Bankability: 3.30pm

Part 2 | Mainstream Registration: 4.30pm
Discussion begins: 5.00pm

Networking: 7.00pm

Format: In-person joint session; Part 1 is dedicated to Future Leaders and includes a presentation followed by a workshop. Part 2 is open to everyone and includes a keynote address, panel & Q&A followed by networking drinks reception

Address: Bird & Bird LLP, Marienstraße 15, 60329 Frankfurt am Main