SolarPower Europe

Description of the organisation

SolarPower Europe, the new EPIA (European Photovoltaic Industry Association), is a member-led association representing organisations active along the whole value chain. Its aim is to shape the regulatory environment and enhance business opportunities for solar power in Europe.

SolarPower Europes Vision is to ensure that solar energy is the leading contributor to the European electricity market and energy system.

SolarPower Europe’s objectives are:

Successfully positioning solar-based energy solutions with policymakers at the European level and through national level influence so that an enabling environment is delivered for solar power growth in Europe.
Producing thought leading energy market analysis that supports the business objectives of our members and promotes solar power to policymakers and the energy sector.
Ensuring that solar-based energy solutions have access to financing and funding across Europe, through communication and exchange finance through communication with the finance community.
Effectively communicating the benefits of solar power through all relevant communication channels, with consistent messages across Europe and globally, so that our key arguments gain traction in both the media and with stakeholders.
Effective coordination of business opportunities for members through supporting the attendance of members at the best networking and business development platforms in Europe and beyond.

The main units foreseen to work on the project are the communication & technology units including team members as senior technology advisor and project officer. Members of the policy team will also significantly contribute. The two teams will jointly work on building and maintaining the link between the CHEETAH consortium and PV industry.

Main contact: Máté Heisz

+32 2 709 55 40

Role in the Project

SolarPower Europe is continuously working on to the main objectives that CHEETAH has set. Therefore, through this program it is a very good opportunity to join forces and provide mainly the link between EERA-PV and the EU PV industry. More specifically, the expectations of SolarPower Europe are to link the SEII with the activities of CHEETAH, link the research activities of SOPHIA with CHEETAH, work on quality and reliability issues, document cost reduction drivers anddefine technological trends of the PV industry.
SolarPower Europe was a leading member in the SOPHIA project (FP7-INFRA) and until recently coordinator of the Secretariat of the European Photovoltaic Technology Platform (FP-CSA), focusing mainly on the SEII: coordination of the writing of the IP, presence on the SEII team meetings, and organisation of SEII workshops. SolarPower Europe also participated in the project PV Parity (Intelligent Energy Europe) as well as a number of different EU funded projects.

Key people involved

Máté Heisz - Business Analyst

Máté Heisz has been working with SolarPower Europe since February 2017, where he coordinates the O&M and Ecodesign Task Forces and contributes to the EU-funded projects CHEETAH and Solar Bankability. Before joining SolarPower Europe, he spent four years in Tunisia, working as a Renewable Energy Advisor at the Tunisian Ministry of Energy, on behalf of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). He holds a Master's degree in International Relations from the Free University of Berlin, a Master's degree in Economics from the Corvinus University of Budapest and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Hull (UK). Beyond his native Hungarian, he is fluent in English, German and French.

Alexandre Roesch - Policy Director

Alexandre Roesch is Policy Director at SolarPower Europe (the former European Photovoltaic Industry Association). Prior to joining SolarPower Europe in 2010, Alexandre holds various positions at the French Permanent Representation to the European Union, as deputy counselor in charge of energy and as assistant to the counselor in charge of nuclear affairs. During this period, he has been involved in the negotiation team of major pieces of European legislation relevant to the energy sector, and in particular the Renewable Energy Directive. Mr. Roesch graduated from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Strasbourg) and holds a Master Degree in Environmental Law and Management.

Myrto Papoutsi - Business Development & Project Officer

Myrto Papoutsi joined SolarPower Europe (the new EPIA) in September 2012 and is currently working as a Business Development and Project Officer. She is directly involved in the management of several European projects (IEE and FP7). Prior to joining SolarPower Europe she had the opportunity to undertake the training programme of the European Commission, at the Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation (EACI). Myrto holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Management, specialised in Energy Management and Environmental Protection.

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