COURSES

Professional Development Workshop | 3-6 & 6-9 May 2010, Barcelona, Spain

Solar energy is one of the fastest growing segments of the global energy market, with forecasts for up to $100 billlion in project investment opportunities worldwide over the next 3-4 years. This timely event designed specifically for corporate developers and financiers will provide equity and debt investors with a unique, in-depth view of solar PV technology. Combining technical training with expert commercial perspectives on the market, this workshop promises to open new doors for successful investment.

With abundant sunshine and a thriving PV market, the workshop will be held near the Catalan capital of Barcelona, Spain. In this hands-on workshop, participants from private equity firms, commercial banks and investment funds will be working with PV equipment and learning from industry-leading faculty. The three-day course include a mix of case studies, lectures and practical simulations covering: 

• Detailed comparisons of PV technologies
• Drivers for increasing efficiency and decreasing cost
• Challenges in the scale-up of cell and module production
• Fundamentals of site selection, design and installation
• Simulation and the due diligence process
• Economic metrics for investment benchmarking
• Government policy and policy risk assessment
• Strategies for operations managemen

Benefits

Course participants will be hosted in a luxurious Catalan farmhouse recently restored for use by business groups.  All bedrooms offer en-suite bathrooms and modern décor.  The site itself offers expansive views of the Pyrenees foothills and is within easy reach of several historic landmarks. All meals during your stay will be provided by a local catering company, offering a delicious mix of international cuisine and local wines. Transfers to/from Barcelona airport are also included.  

Specifically geared toward experienced investors, the workshop is strictly limited to 15 people. The unique setting and small group format offers to participants:

• Valuable networking and industry relationship-building
• Commercial insights about solar energy technologies 
• Unique exposure to technical innovations in solar PV
• Practical, hands-on learning that will improve transaction identification and assessment 

About the Course Organizer

ActiveEarth Training Ltd has been delivering workshops on sustainability issues to business leaders and other professionals since 2007. As a successful social enterprise, 25% of profits from this course will fund ecological learning projects being developed by the Active Earth Foundation, a UK registered charity. For more information about the Active Earth Group, please visit: www.ActiveEarth.net

The Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) is one of the world’s leading providers of training and education in renewable energies and energy efficiency. RENAC has for many years been disseminating its expertise on solar PV technologies to industry professionals, both within Germany and internationally. For more information about RENAC and examples of past training workshops, please visit: www.renac.de

Dates and Pricing

For the spring 2010 session, participants can choose from:

• Session 1: Monday 3 May (morning) – Thursday 6 May (morning)
• Session 2: Thursday 6 May (afternoon) – Sunday 9 May (afternoon)

The price for the course for individuals is 2950,- Euro inclusive of all meals, accommodation, transport and course instruction.

Registration should be made by email no later than 1 March 2010 to solar@activeearth.net. Please contact us for discounts on bookings taken before 1 February 2010. We also offer a reduced fee to companies  booking  two or more participants. Past events with these instructors have sold-out and we encourage interested to participants to register early.

Please note that bookings for the course are managed by the ActiveEarth Group’s travel company ActiveEarth Travel which provides participants with financial protection. Upon confirmation of registration, we will provide guidance on flights and Trains to/from Girona/Barcelona. Travel is to be arranged and paid for by each course participant. We are happy to assist with arrangements for participants who wish to arrive with families or would like to add vacation days to their trip to explore the nearby mountains and coastline.

Faculty

Olga Papathanasiou

was previously a scientist at the Institute for Crystal Growth (IKZ) and a technical expert at Johanna Solar Technology GmbH and PVflex Solar GmbH. She is currently associate editor at Photon International. Olga holds a PhD in process technologies from TU-Berlin and has conducted extensive research on process technologies for thin-film and polycrystalline manufacturing.

Gerard Reid 

is currently the European Head of Ardour Capital Investments International. He has a distinguished career in financial investment in the renewable energy sector with firms including Oikovest GmbH and First Berlin F.S.B. He currently teaches solar PV financing strategies to the Masters in Solar Technology Program at the Fraunhofer Institute, one of the leading solar research institutes in the world. Gerard holds a Bachelor of Business Studies, a Masters of Arts, and a Higher Diploma in Education, all from Trinity College, Dublin. 

Charlie Donovan

has led teams in public and private sector organizations including the US Environmental Protection Agency and the Enron Corporation. He was most recently the Head of Investment Structuring in the alternative energy division of BP plc. Charlie holds a bachelor degree from the University of Washington, a MBA from Vanderbilt University, and is currently undertaking a DBA at IE Business School in Madrid. 

Korbi Hort

is a Director at ActiveEarth Training Ltd. He applies nature-based experiential coaching and Ecopsychology to help organisations and individuals understand sustainability on a deeper level. Korbi will facilitate a personal introduction and the closing of the course.