The 2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit was held in Berlin, Germany on September 12 & 13, 2024. It provided a vital venue for discussing innovations in power purchase agreements, addressing the difficulties in corporate energy sourcing, and investigating critical tactics for reaching net-zero energy targets.  In this article, we will delve into the major sessions presented at the summit where attendees learned from the leaders in the energy sector. We will also spotlight partners of the sustainability event that played a great role in making the 2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit successful by adding resources and expertise to advance the discussions around global energy transition.

2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit: What Was Covered In the Sessions?

The net-zero energy summit covered a wide variety of subjects, emphasizing the most recent developments, obstacles, and trends in the PPA and energy-sourcing industries. So, let us see them in this section:

The Energy- and Climate Strategy 2040 of METRO – No Emissions in Own Operations

Olaf SCHULZE, Vice President of Energy Management at METRO, spoke on METRO’s 2040 strategy for zero emissions in operations. Furthermore, the speaker discussed energy programs focusing on awareness, saving, heat, and F-gas exits. Moreover, the speaker talked about green logistics, the EV100 Initiative, Greenstore & ZEUS initiatives, and energy projects like the Smaragd Initiative and green procurement. This is with on-site and off-site PPAs for risk diversification in high-risk times.

PPA Journey – Challenges and Opportunities

The director of ROCKWOOL’s Energy Category, Kenneth ROTVIG DUPONT, offered observations on its PPA experience. Furthermore, the speaker talked about the difficulties and chances that arise throughout this process, offering practical insights to avoid obstacles and speed up the process of successful implementation.

Sustainable Energy Solutions

Marc FLURY, Senior Portfolio Manager at Danske Commodities, provided insights on how to design energy solutions that meet business needs, sustainability goals, and financial targets. Furthermore, the speaker highlighted Danske Commodities’ position as a nimble trader backed by Equinor, the energy supermajor. The speaker also discussed their energy solutions concerning green hydrogen projects. This highlighted their expertise in sustainable energy at the 2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit.

From Vision to Reality: Navigating the Path to Net Zero with PPA Strategies

The global Make & Buy approach of BASF was described by Stefanie LECHLER, In-house Lawyer and PPA Portfolio Development Manager at BASF Renewable Energy GmbH. Furthermore, the speaker described customized PPA strategies used globally, such as baseload PPAs, vPPAs, and cPPAs in the US, Europe, and Asia. The speaker also discussed crucial PPA clauses and the significance of asset-related performance data, giving lessons from BASF’s experiences.

Innovative PPA Case Studies from the German Market

Arved von HARPE, Managing Director of Sunnic Lighthouse GmbH showcased two innovative PPA cases from the German market. The speaker gave insights about a Direct Wire PPA which was completed with Deutsche Bahn in the rail sector and involved connecting a PV plant to a private grid. Then, The speaker talked about a joint PPA with the SME/pharma company CODAN where the PPA was for the entire electricity provision including the power generated at the back up limits.

Mastering Energy Cost Stability with PPA Solutions

Elisabeth LUCAS, program manager for Group Energy at Orange, stressed the need for PPAs to curb energy costs and make them predictable. Furthermore, the speaker proposed that organizations need to adopt PPA Agreements with a variety of contract PPA types depending on the needs of the organization. The speaker propelled the idea of designing PPAs with a focus on purchasing renewables. This is to alleviate over-dependence on economically volatile fossil fuels and attain business sustainability.

Energy Sourcing in Scope 3

IKEA’s strategy for energy sourcing was discussed in scope 3 by Pin-Zhen SHEN, Sustainability Energy Specialist at IKEA Purchasing Services. Furthermore, the speaker concentrated on reflecting the connection between IKEA’s decarbonization plan with renewable power projects for supply partners. Additionally, IKEA’s stance on renewable energy was discussed in the presentation, along with Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), on-site solutions, and Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs).

How to Choose Your Right Renewable Energy Provider?

This panel discussion in the 2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit was on choosing the best renewable energy supplier. It was facilitated by Kenneth ROTVIG DUPONT (ROCKWOOL), Olaf SCHULZE (METRO), and Stefanie LECHLER (BASF). Furthermore, they looked at methods for analyzing provider reliability, maximizing PPA advantages, comprehending agreement customization, and rating providers. So, the panel’s goal was to offer advice on how to foster confidence and trust in PPA tactics.

Digitalization and Employee Sensitization as Key to Wilo’s Sustainability Strategy

The sustainability strategy of Wilo Group was introduced by Cebastien FOUMOUO TSAKOU, Head of Energy Management & Digital Building Solutions, as the company’s overarching strategy. The speaker looked at how energy management systems affect sustainability initiatives, how digital technologies help conserve resources, and how staff engagement boosts production energy efficiency. The talk focused on how these components supported Wilo’s overarching objectives for sustainability and resource efficiency.

Renewable Energy Procurement: An Off-taker Perspective

The sustainability and decarbonization objectives of LyondellBasell were outlined by Merijn VOETEN, the company’s Renewable Energy Manager for Europe. Furthermore, the speaker talked about the importance of purchasing renewable electricity for their NetZero journey, the difficulties associated with purchasing renewable energy for businesses, and how corporate PPAs fit into LyondellBasell’s larger power procurement plan. Moreover, the presentation provided implementation strategies for renewable energy solutions from the viewpoint of a significant industry participant.

Introduction to Shell Scenarios

Martina DE LUCA, Head of Electricity Origination Shell Energy Europe and Africa at Our New Energy offered a view on the energy transition, evaluating electricity consumption and historical price. Furthermore, the speaker gave an overview of Shell Energy’s competencies and distinctive advantages in assisting sectors throughout the energy shift. So, participants learned about Shell’s outlook on the changing energy scene and its plans for addressing upcoming energy-related issues.

On-site/Near-site PPA as Part of the Sustainable Energy Supply Concept of ThyssenKrupp Steel

Dennis Becher, the head of energy strategy at Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe AG provided specifics on the company’s intentions for supplying sustainable energy. There was a focus on on-site and near-site Power Purchase Agreements (PPA). Moreover, the discussion provided insights into the real-world use of localized renewable energy procurement for industrial operations. This is because it examined the company’s energy strategy and how PPAs aided in achieving their sustainability objectives.

Market Insights: Sourcing Offshore Wind PPAs and Dealing with Negative Prices in Solar PPAs

Mikkel KRING, Partner at Our New Energy, discussed the advantages and drawbacks of offshore wind power purchase agreements. Using case studies of European markets, the speaker addressed issues related to timing, size, pricing, and tenor. In addition to discussing appropriate risk-sharing strategies between buyers and investors, the speaker examined the growing issue of negative pricing in solar PPAs. Additionally, the insights were invaluable in understanding the intricate details of renewable energy procurement.

VPPA 2.0: Democratizing Utility-Scale Clean Energy Through Aggregated Corporate Procurement

Presenting on Virtual Power Purchase Agreement (VPPA) 2.0, Jim Boyle, CEO & Chairman of Sustainability Roundtable, Inc., emphasized how aggregated corporate procurement can democratize access to utility-scale sustainable energy. The discussion included tactics, advantages, and difficulties of cooperative clean energy purchase models as it looked at creative ways to increase the adoption of clean energy among companies of all sizes.

Navigating the Landscape of Renewable Energy: Tactics for Tackling PPA Risks

This brainstorming session at the 2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit focused on the business risks present with PPAs. The session also went through the advantages PPAs reflect in the renewable energy sector. Participants presented different ways and examples of dealing with PPA-related issues. The session was actionable with empirical evidence including best practices from leaders in the industry to address PPA terms and the risks inherent to them.

Case Study

The net-zero energy summit incorporated a case study conducted by Katharina WINTER, Act Renewable’s PPA Advisory Service’s head who enhanced one’s knowledge of PPAs.

2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit: Who Were the Partners for the Event?

The summit’s partners were essential in advancing the conversations by offering expertise, resources, and support. In this section, we will look at the key partners that aided in the 2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit’s success:

Equinor – Gold Sponsor

Global energy giant Equinor is dedicated to creating long-term wealth in a low-carbon future. It has the largest market share on the Norwegian continental shelf with its headquarters in Stavanger, Norway. Their goal is to transform natural resources into human energy and social advancement. Equinor’s operations are that of oil and gas, renewable energy, and low-carbon solutions with operations in 30 countries worldwide. By the year 2050, the organization targets full attainment of net zero status. 

Shell Energy – Silver Sponsor

Shell Energy offers more and cleaner energy solutions across its worldwide portfolio, assisting companies in creating a better energy future. They provide energy producers, dealers, wholesalers, and major industrial clients with cutting-edge, adaptable, and customized goods. Shell Energy is a leader in energy management and consumption innovation. It offers a wide range of low-carbon solutions such as Guarantees of Origin and corporate Power Purchase Agreements (cPPAs), both in-person and virtually.

Act Renewable – Bronze Sponsor

Act Renewable is an independent advising firm. It helps multinational corporations in Europe and Asia make the switch to renewable energy sources. Furthermore, they facilitate stakeholder alignment and strategic transaction methods. This is by developing a thorough awareness of the consequences of transition for their customers’ enterprises. Moreover, their PPA advice services make use of their in-depth knowledge of the renewable energy markets. This is seen by their nimble approach, recommendations that find the support of data, and wealth of negotiating ability. Act renewable functions on its own, free from competing interests in either the process or the result.

Sunnic – Bronze Sponsor

A Hamburg-based subsidiary of ENERPARC AG, Sunnic Lighthouse GmbH provides customized services related to renewable energies. With a primary focus on green electricity from German solar facilities, its solutions span from direct marketing and power delivery to hedging activities via power purchase agreements. Their trading portfolio as of July 1, 2023, comprises green electricity sourced from around 3,400 megawatts of installed plant capacity. It comprises approximately 2,400 solar plants and 1,000 megawatts of wind power.

Our New Energy – Bronze Sponsor

Our New Energy (ONE) is a global provider of energy services that facilitates and expedites the shift to green energy. The company provides custom services to producers of renewable energy, asset owners, industrial off-takers, and energy providers. With mandates in many nations and a history of over 5GW of PPAs for unsubsidized assets, ONE provides customers with effective industry-leading solutions. This is by providing a unique perspective into market possibilities, developments, and trends.

Enel X Advisory Services – Business Development Sponsor

Enel X Advisory Services helps more than 350 customers globally—including half of the Fortune 100—achieve their decarbonization objectives. They create specialized decarbonization plans by utilizing an integrated strategy that combines knowledge and digital technologies. Their comprehensive offering includes the computation and monitoring of emissions, the creation and implementation of decarbonization plans, the use of tactics and initiatives aimed at reducing emissions, and the handling of both required and optional emissions reporting.

Energiekontor – Premier Networking Sponsor

Energiekontor is a renewable energy company. It has been there since 1990 and was founded in Bremerhaven, Germany. When it comes to its core activities, it consists of engineering, building, and management of wind and solar farms. This consists of both offshore and onshore. Energiekontor manages approximately 40 wind and solar parks with operating capacity rated at approximately 390 megawatts in aggregate. The business intends to build wind and solar parks in all of its target areas at market rates without the help of government subsidies.

Statkraft – Premier Networking Sponsor

Statkraft is Europe’s largest provider of renewable energy and one of the major global energy players. The organization uses Guarantees of Origin and PPAs to provide situational green electricity solutions. Their sustaining achievement won them the 2023 Schaeffler Award. They were also the 2020 Daimler Supplier Award winners before this. Additionally, over 6000 people work at Statkraft in more than 20 nations.

Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. – Presenting Partner

Sustainability Roundtable, Inc. SR Inc. works to be the most reputable strategic adviser in the world for corporate decarbonization. It brings business and life into harmony. Furthermore, SR Inc. has been providing membership-based strategic consulting and support services to executives at over 100 Fortune 500 and global growth firms for more than fifteen years. So, executives can lead their organizations to more sustained high performance. This is by setting goals, accelerating progress, and reporting outcomes with the assistance of SR Inc.

To Sum Up

A plethora of information on the changing energy market was provided at the 2nd Net Zero Energy Sourcing & Power Purchase Agreements Summit. The program gave business executives and sustainability specialists useful knowledge. This is by focussing on obtaining renewable energy, creative PPA tactics, and the difficulties in reaching net-zero emissions. The summit’s wide range of sessions, together with the backing of important industry players, fostered a collaborative and innovative atmosphere. This advanced the discussion of how companies might take the lead in the world’s energy transformation. If you want to be a part of such sustainability events, make sure to check out the upcoming ones!