7:30 AM

Registration & Coffee

8:45 AM

Welcome & Opening Remarks

• VADM Dennis V. McGinn, (USN, Retired), President, ACORE
• Paul Clark, Conference Manager, Euromoney Energy Events

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

SESSION 1: OPENING KEYNOTES
This opening session will lay a foundation for subsequent conference session. Listen to voices from industry leaders advocating change and impacting the evolution of the renewables market in Latin America & the Caribbean.

• VADM Dennis V. McGinn, (USN, Retired), President, ACORE
• Carlos St. James, Managing Director, Santiago & Sinclair, LLC; President, Latin American & Caribbean Council on Renewable Energy (LAC-CORE)

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

SESSION 2: MACROECONOMIC FACTORS INFLUENCING RENEWABLES IN LAC
In this session, speakers will drill deeper into the market drivers affecting investment in renewables in LAC. Critical analysis will be made on the impact of variations on policy regimes and economic influences across the region. Speakers will be asked to analyze what is really needed for this market to prosper.

• International versus regional policy structures – what can be borrowed and where can lessons be learned?
• Considering types of incentives (tendering, feed in tariffs, mandatory targets) –how policy can increase the probability of success for renewables
• Focussing on the needs of financiers and factors influencing their appetite for renewables
• Positioning renewables  in the overall energy mix and steps in boosting its uptake in the market
• Looking at competitiveness in price and opportunity across renewable technologies

Chair:

• Pablo Reyes, Director, El Centro de Estudios Estrategicos Latinoamericanos (CEELAT)

Speakers:

• Ethan Zindler, Head of North American Research, Bloomberg New Energy Finance
  
• Luis M. Bernal-Jimenez, Esq., Executive Director, Department of Economic Development and Commerce, Puerto Rico
• Hezy Ram, CEO, Ram Energy Inc.
• Álvaro Umaña, Senior Research Fellow, EfD-Central America Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center, Former Costa Rican Minister of Energy and Environment

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Networking Refreshment Break

11:00 AM - 12:15 PM

SESSION 3: SOLAR: A SUNNY FORECAST AHEAD?
Are sunny days ahead? Irradiation levels in many countries across the region are ideal for solar installations. This session will feature a panel of speakers identifying the opportunities for increased development of solar in LAC and strategizing ways to steer the market in the right direction.

• How close is the solar market to reaching grid parity – structuring policy and incentives whilst maintaining a competitive landscape
• How decreases in unit costs have influenced  the solar market – resulting factors for both manufacturers and developers
• Opportunities for PV investment in the Caribbean – finding ways to drive development forward
• Considering the intermittency of solar PV and its influences on the grid 
• Looking at opportunities for CSP in LAC – is there room for this technology to grow?

Chair:

• Roland Clarke, President, Clarke Energy Associates

Speakers:

• Salvador Escobedo, CEO, Solam
• Cristián Sjögren, Gerente General, SolarChile S.A.
• Catherine L. York, Vice President, Strategic Ventures, Global Special Situations Group    SunEdison
• Ivan Baez, Corporate Affairs Director, Walmart
• Jose Galindez, Head of Americas, SolarPack
• James Husbands, Managing Director and CEO, Solar Dynamics

12:15PM - 1:45 PM

Networking Lunch

1:45 PM - 3:00 PM

SESSION 4: BIOENERGY: DRIVING THE MARKET FORWARD
The bioenergy market in LAC faces controversy due to reliance on feedstock but it also offers an important opportunity for much needed fuels and energy supply for the region. It is also important for this market to keep competitive in the international arena. Hear from speakers discussing the following topics:

• International biofuels markets and how the LAC compares – is there potential for U.S. technology transfer?
• Renewable fuels and the potential for market standardization –advances in smart vehicles and increasing demand for biofuels
• Issues with feedstock assurance and finding ways to make bioenergy socially acceptable
• Making the transition to 2nd generation feedstock – how can this be achieved?
• Opportunities for waste to energy and biothermal for heating and cooling

Co-Chairs:

• Camila Ramos, Marketing Manager, Energies Renovavais de Brazil
• Mark Riedy, Partner, Mintz Levin

Speakers:

• Winston L. Watson, General Manager, Petrojam
• Diego Lozano, President, Campo Capital
• Mike Bowman, Strategic Initiatives Manager, Sturman Industries
• Michael Rocke, VP Business Development, CoolPlanet Biofuels
• Suzanne Hunt, Senior Advisor, Carbon War Room

3:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Networking Refreshment Break

3:30 PM - 4:45 PM

SESSION 5: WIND: SETTING HIGH TARGETS IN A COMPETITIVE MARKET
Wind energy has staked its place in LAC as a real contender to conventional energy with significant changes taking place over the last year. Speakers in this session will review the major steps the market has taken and will consider what’s on the horizon for finance in this sector.

• Including wind in the energy auction system – what is the reaction from the industry so far and how might this affect development moving forward?
• How to attract the capital necessary for large wind development given project oversubscription and the retraction of the debt market
• Looking at complexities and overcoming obstacles throughout the course of the development process  (land acquisition, PPA’s, logistics, the grid)
• Considering challenges to wind development due to transmission connections

Chair:

• Roger Stark, Partner, Ballard Spahr
• Guilherme Ballvé Alice, Co-Head - Investment Banking, Standard Bank

Speakers:

• Adrian Katzew Corenstein, General Manager, Mexico & Central America, Vestas
• Mikael Backman, Market Development Director – Americas, Wartsila Power Plants
• Richard Romero, Vice President, Finance, AEI
• Matthew Olive, Vice President, Sales, Goldwind

4:45 PM - 5:00 PM

SESSION 6: EXECUTIVE REVIEW: SUMMARY OF DAY ONE
This session will close the first day. The panel of speakers will review the sessions on the first day and draw out key points to take away from these discussions.

5:00 PM

Close of Conference Sessions

7:45 AM

Registration Opens

8:50 AM

Opening Remarks

• Marsha Irving, Conference Producer, Euromoney Energy Events
• Bill Holmberg, Co-Chair, Board of Directors, LAC-CORE

9:00 AM - 9:30 AM

SESSION 7: OPENING KEYNOTES
This opening session will put senior level representatives leading the renewables market in Latin America & the Caribbean under the spotlight to review the action they are taking in this market.

• Marcelo Tokman, CEO, Vestas Latin America

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM

SESSION 8: RENEWABLE FINANCING: TECHNOLOGY RISK COMPARISON
Renewable technologies and their viability in accessing finance differ due to their associated development and operation risks. This panel discussion will look through the eyes of the financier across the renewable energy technology spectrum to identify the different opportunities and setbacks they have comparatively in the region.

• Contrasting risks associated with different renewable energy technologies – looking at wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal and small hydro
• What financiers see – finding ways of mitigating risk and allocating risk between the different parties involved in renewables projects
• Considering sources of capital and their risk portfolios – what can different financiers take on?
• Measuring risk and reaping reward – striking a healthy balance

Chair:

• Michael T. Eckhart, Managing Director, Global Head of Environmental Finance and Sustainability, Citigroup

Speakers:

• Anandi Jauhari, Co-Founder and Senior Partner, Emerging Energy & Environment
• Daniel Petrie, Vice President – Helm Banca de Inversión and General Manager – Century Energy Corporation
• Kenneth Westrick, President & CEO, Westeva
• Mark Grobmyer, Co-Founder & Senior Advisor, SEAF Clean Tech Fund

10:30 AM - 11:00 AM

Networking Refreshment Break

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

SESSION 9: BEYOND THE BANKS: ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF CAPITAL
With banks slowing down their activities in the market, opportunities for alternative financial players are abundant. This session will consider the contributions that equity players bring to the market. It will also introduce new financial players considering renewables in their portfolio.

• Comparing debt and equity markets – are equity players taking on more risk and claiming a bigger stake in the renewables market in LAC?
• Looking at the potential for new financial players to enter the market – who, what, where?
• How renewables fare in comparison to other investment options in financiers portfolios – what developers need to know in order to attract capital
• Innovative ways of structuring deals – what alternative options are there for raising capital? 
• Options for financing community based energy

Chair:

• John Paul Moscarella, Senior Managing Director and Principal, CleanTech Fund, Emerging Energy & Environment
• Greg Tan, Partner, Shearman & Sterling

Speakers:

• Rob Peterman, Senior Manager, Global Clean Technology, Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV)
• Rogerio Ramos, Head of Clean Energy Funds, Multilateral Investment Fund
• Leo Williams, Executive Director, Williams & Associates Investments Ltd

12:00PM - 1:30 PM

Networking Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

SESSION 10: RAISING CAPITAL: THE DEVELOPER’S PERSPECTIVES
Finding the financial solutions to your business needs is pivotal in getting projects off the ground. This session features developers who will share their experiences in raising capital. Speakers will discuss the following success stories and best practice solutions:

• What are the challenges for developers in raising capital for projects in LAC?
• Making projects attractive to the financial community – experiences of raising capital for projects and considering financiers requirements
• Considering potential for M&A in the market – finding strategic partners for your business
• What opportunities are there for developers seeking capital by listing on the stock market – where and when to list?

Chair:

• Pamela McDougall, Managing Director, Power & Utilities - Project Finance, Scotia Capital

Speakers:

• Enrique Herrera, Founder & CEO, Aluz Clean Energy
• Cindy Thyfault, Founder & CEO, Westar Trade Resources
• Pablo Eguiluz, Project Finance Manager, Inkia Energy

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Networking Refreshment Break

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

SESSION 11: THE DEBT CRISIS: REACTIONS FROM BANKS TO RENEWABLES
With knock on effects from the European debt crisis also being felt throughout LAC, liquidity from the lending community to support renewable energy has all but dried up. The boom for renewable energy in the region has also become lacklustre with many projects oversubscribed. This session will look at the perspectives of both multilateral, bilateral and commercial banks and how they foresee opportunities in this market over the coming year.

• A short history of how the renewables market has evolved and how banks have worked to compliment this development
• The response of banks to policy decisions in the market and how this influences financing
• What are the differences of opinions between multilaterals / commercial banks on renewables?
• What conditions do banks require in order to make projects financially viable?

Chair:

• Carlos St. James, Managing Director, Santiago & Sinclair, LLC; President, Latin American & Caribbean Council on Renewable Energy (LAC-CORE)

Speakers:

• Gonzalo Ruiz de Angulo Gómez, Head of Power & Renewable Project Finance, LATAM, BBVA
• Lynn Tabernacki, Senior Manager, Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development Finance, OPIC
• Jose Ramon Gomez, Energy Division, IADB
• Richard McCorkindale, Director, Structured Finance, Scotiabank
• Paul Leggett, Executive Director, Morgan Stanley
• Jozef Henriquez, Chief, Syndications Unit, Inter-American Development Bank (IADB)

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

SESSION 12: CRYSTAL BALL: REVIEW & PREDICTIONS
This final conference session will provide some final words of wisdom from the two conference days. It will also allow each co-chair to share their forecast on the future and what we might predict for REFF-LAC in 2013 and beyond.

• Carlos St. James, Managing Director, Santiago & Sinclair, LLC; President, Latin American & Caribbean Council on Renewable Energy (LAC-CORE)
• Steve Pearlman, Managing Partner, Real Infrastructure Group
• Gary Feldman, Director, Alternative Energy, Lockheed Martin
• Pablo Reyes, Director, El Centro de Estudios Estrategicos Latinoamericanos (CEELAT)
• Roland Clarke, President, Clarke Energy Associates

Closing Remarks

• Marsha Irving, Conference Producer, Euromoney Energy Events
• VADM Dennis V. McGinn, (USN, Retired), President, ACORE

5:00 PM

Close of REFF-Latin America & Caribbean.