BRUSSELS, Belgium (Friday 28th March 2025): Today at SolarPower Europe’s annual gathering of members, two new Board Vice-Presidents were elected, alongside the election of seven new Board Directors.
Walburga Hemetsberger, CEO of SolarPower Europe (she/her), said: “It’s a pleasure to have such a strong, committed Board at SolarPower Europe, reflecting the energy of our sector. Together, the SolarPower Europe team will be continuing their hard work to deliver the solar-driven, flexible, energy transition.”
SolarPower Europe’s two new Vice-Presidents Francisco Beirão (Lightsource BP) and Susannah Wood (Statkraft)join the continuing mandate of the Association’s leadership; President, Aristotelis Chantavas (Enel Green Power) and Vice-President, Alexandra Sombsthay (Akuo Energy).
Following elections, the current SolarPower Europe Board composition is as follows (Except where otherwise specified, the positions held by Board Members are Director of the Board of SolarPower Europe):
Newly-Elected
| Re-Elected
| Continued Mandate
| ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Juanma Fernandez (Sonnedix)
| Karsten Schlageter (ABO Energy)
| Aristotelis Chantavas, President (Enel Green Power) | ||||
Duarte Bello (EDP) | Susannah Wood, Vice-President (Statkraft)
| Alexandra Sombsthay, Vice-President (Akuo Energy) | ||||
Alexander Zahariev (Sunotec)
| Jörg Ebel (IBC Solar) | |||||
Philippe Faine (ENGIE)
| Celine Tran (BayWa r.e.) | |||||
Francisco Beirão, Vice-President (Lightsource BP)
| Fredrik Adrén-Sandberg (RWE Renewables) | |||||
Christian Pho Duc (Smartenergy Group)
| ||||||
Katharina Eickleberg (SMA Solar Technology)
| ||||||
Pia Alina Lange (Trina Solar)
| ||||||
Iker Calvo Parra (Iberdrola)
| ||||||
Thomas Rührlinger (Fronius International)
| ||||||
Christian Westermeier (Wacker Chemie)
| ||||||
José Donoso, National Association Committee Chair (UNEF)
| ||||||
Nikola Gazdov, National Association Committee Vice-Chair (APSTE)
|
The SolarPower Europe Board structure includes a ‘minimum seat’ structure, ensuring that at least four seats of 20 seats are reserved for representatives from solar manufacturing companies. Three of these Director roles are reserved for companies headquartered in Europe. The current companies represented in these roles are Fronius International, SMA Solar Technology, Wacker Chemie, and Trina Solar.
Similarly, four SolarPower Europe Board seats are held for ‘small’ companies (defined as less than € 1 billion turnover). Within the current Board configuration, seven companies fit this category: IBC Solar, Akuo Energy, Smartenergy Group, Fronius, Sonnedix, ABO Energy, and Sunotec.
SolarPower Europe recognises the valuable contribution of National solar associations in its work, by allocating two seats on its Board for Chair and Vice-Chair of SolarPower Europe National Association Committee. These seats are voted on within the National Association Committee, affirmed by the General Assembly, and currently filled by José Donoso of the Spanish Solar PV Association (UNEF) and Nikola Gazdov of the Bulgarian Association for production, storage and trading of electricity (APSTE).
Read more about SolarPower Europe’s membership here.
Questions? Get in touch.
Bethany Meban
Head of Press and Policy Communications
Header Image
(L-R): Juanma Fernandez (Sonnedix), Francisco Beirão (Lightsource BP), Duarte Bello (EDP), Walburga Hemetsberger (SolarPower Europe), Susannah Wood (Statkraft), Alexander Zahariev (Sunotec), Philippe Faine, (ENGIE), and Karsten Schlageter (ABO Energy)
© SolarPower Europe 2025
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