Zosia Riesner

1.Why is this workstream important? 

The Markets and Investments workstream is crucial for the solar industry at the moment.  We face extreme energy prices and volatility along with unprecedented intervention in the markets creating uncertainty and instability.   Europe is at a turning point, recognising the need for market reform to design an energy system fit for a low carbon future.   

Solar is one of the most efficient and rapidly deployed solutions to the current energy price crisis.  Any change in market design must be handled carefully to avoid loss of investor confidence and delays in solar build out, we cannot stop or slow down whilst this market reform is considered  and if change is implemented incorrectly this will bring significant problems for the industry.  This workstream brings together the expertise and experience of the solar industry to share thinking and have a united voice to ensure that the energy market of the future creates a stable and viable system to support investment in solar.   

2. Why should companies join this workstream? 

Market design is incredibly complex and we need as much insight and expertise drawn from all over the EU in order to consider the potential implications of different approaches.  The more companies joining the workstream, bringing fresh thinking and strengthening the voice, the better for solar power in Europe.  There is a huge amount happening this year and the workstream provides a platform to help each other keep abreast of developments, to dive into topics and to debate.  Through participation in the workstream I have had my eyes opened to different perspectives and markets where Lightsource bp are not yet active, and now we are able to help shape thinking about how markets respond to different approaches and what may or may not be a good solution for the industry as a whole.   

3. What will the future of the Markets and Investments Workstream look like? 

In the short term the focus will be on the key issues we face as an industry today. These include the energy crisis and the resulting emergency market interventions, as well as the upcoming proposal to reform the European market design.  Longer term we will continue to focus the workstream on responding to developments in the market whilst also working together to be creative in thinking about the opportunities in energy markets for solar in Europe.  We hope to widen participation and continue to have good engagement from within the industry including close engagement with the RE-Source Platform to support the development of the right frameworks for PPAs.