CROENERGY 2017
Energy center Bracak, 3 - 5 October 2017
ABOUT SUMMIT
The CROENERGY conference was held for the first time in 2011 in Cavtat with an aim of gaining and collecting knowledge about financing energy projects. It was the beginning of funding projects through EU instruments, accompanied by intensive preparations for accession to the European Union. At the following conferences in Tuheljske Toplice (2013) and Zagreb (2015) examples of best European and Croatian practices were shown, including an increasing number of projects implemented by the REGEA team.
During years the interest in the conference has become ever increasing and today we can say that it presents the most significant energy conference focused on financing and implementation of projects within the Republic of Croatia.
CROENERGY2017 deals with issues such as how to start and secure financing of energy projects, how to stimulate energy renovation, and how to use innovations to boost economic growth.
We expect the participation of experts from our national level, but also from the European Union who will share their experiences with good practices from all around the world.
All this and much more will be provided by the Sustainable Energy Finance and Investment Summit 2017 - CROENERGY2017 conference, which will take place at the Energy Center Bračak from 3rd to 5th October 2017 in Zabok, under the patronage of the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović and with the support of the European Federation of Agencies and Regions for Energy and the Environment (FEDARENE). The presence of our Institutional Partners - The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development (HBOR) guarantees the quality of this event!
This year, the conference plans to go a step further and will take a form of a financial forum that will bring together the private sector with its portfolio of existing projects and representatives of the financial sector.
The conference is divided into a series of interactive lectures and workshops focusing on B2B communication and networking in order to introduce new business models with the key theme of promoting energy efficiency in buildings and innovative financial instruments in the context of stimulating investment. At the very beginning of the Conference, the section - Energy, Economy, Finance will provide answers to the most common questions we are posing on financing energy projects, linking energy renovation with economic development, and explaining what are the key steps in securing funding resources.
Innovative and different ways of financing and implementing energy projects are imperative for Croatian, but also European energy policies. Although the investment potentials of energy projects have been recognized, concrete solutions which will be addressed at our panel sessions are still missing. The panels will be attended by leading experts and representatives of relevant ministries (MRRFEU and MGIPU), state agencies, business and development banks, the City of Zagreb, Krapina-Zagorje County and other relevant institutions.
Energy efficiency is our future, and economic growth and development can only be achieved by promoting new, innovative funding solutions and projects.
PATRONS
CO-PATRONS
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS
SPONSORS
CO-ORGANIZERS
MEDIA
PROGRAMME
| 09:30 - 10:00 | Registration |
| 10:00 - 10:45 | Opening session (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN Programme moderator: Ivana Belić (REGEA)
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| 10:45 - 11:00 | Coffee break – under the sponsorship of Krapina-Zagorje County |
| 11:00 - 12:30 | Panel I – Finance: How can sustainable energy projects be funded? (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN Financial sector carefully observes and evaluates all changes in EU policies. Leading experts from the European Investment Bank and Croatian financial sector will share their views of current market conditions and future opportunities for sustainable energy projects for both public and private investors. Moderator: Dr Marko Škreb and Velimir Šonje
Panel II – Politics: What changes does the European Commission's 'Clean Energy for All Europeans' package bring? (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN Local and regional authorities often face difficult challenges to secure financial resources for preparation and implementation of their strategic energy projects. European Commission, national and European financial institutions have developed a number of financial instruments and supporting mechanisms to encourage their implementation. New policies and programmes will be reviewed by top European and Croatian experts and decision makers. Moderator: Velimir Šonje and Dr Marko Škreb
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| 12:30 - 12:45 | Coffee break – under the sponsorship of Viessmann d.o.o. Croatia |
| 12:45 - 13:45 | Panel III – How to initiate investments in the energy sector? (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN Modernization of energy infrastructure and increase of energy efficiency represent mutual interests for the public authorities as well as for businesses. Leading national and European experts in this field will participate in a panel discussion dedicated to improvement of investment climate in Croatia and the wider region. Moderator: Ivana Belić (REGEA)
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| 13:45 - 15:15 | Lunch – under sponsorship of the EmBuild project |
| 15:15: - 16:45 | Panel IV – EmBuild project: How to finance and plan long term energy renovation of buildings on local and regional level? (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN Buildings consume around 40% of the total energy consumption (36% of total CO2 emissions) of the European Union. Their renovation could result in decrease of approximately 17% of total energy needs. This session will provide exchange of experience with renovation of buildings between stakeholders from the EmBuild project (local and regional government representatives from 5 partner countries). Moderator: Frank Mischler (GIZ)
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| 15:15: - 16:45 | Roundtable I - Biomass – How to increase market readiness and make fuel sources more reliable? (Saloon Zemlja) HR/GER Most of the biomass fuel (wood pellets and chips) produced in Croatia is being exported to neighbouring countries. Energy exploitation of biomass in Croatia is lagging behind most EU leaders such as Austria. In cooperation with Advantage Austria Zagreb this panel will provide different thoughts and experiences on how to encourage market development and ensure the reliability of biomass energy sources. Moderators: Dr Julije Domac and Velimir Šegon (REGEA)
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| 16:45 - 17:00 | Coffee break - under the sponsorship of the EmBuild project |
| 17:00 - 18:30 | Roundtable II – Experiences with energy renovation of public buildings on local and regional levels - European Week of Regions and Cities – local event under sponsorship of Krapina-Zagorje County (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN The European Week of Regions and Cities is an annual event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance. Regions and cities have an important role in supporting an open dialogue regarding the current use of Structural and Investments funds for sustainable energy projects. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange experiences and good practices relating to programme management during the period 2014-2020 with key issues that revolve around reduction of the administrative burden on beneficiaries through simplification, as well as different means of strengthening institutions and building administrative capacity among administrations at all levels. Moderators: Ivana Benković (REGEA)
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| 19:00 - 21:00 | Networking dinner – under the sponsorship of Advantage Austria Zagreb |
| 10:00 - 11:30 | Section I – NEW FINANCE project: experience with public-private partnership projects in the education sector (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN Public-Private Partnership as an alternative model for procurement of services was first initiated in Croatia approximately ten years ago, primarily in the educational sector. PPP projects that were implemented in Croatia included design, construction (building, upgrade, reconstruction), financing and maintenance of the building. This session will present results of performance analysis of implemented PPP projects in Croatia, accompanied with presentations from actual public-sector users of these same projects. Moderator: Dr Josip Čengija (REGEA)
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| 10:00 - 11:30 | Coffee chat – Opportunities and perspective for project start-ups – yesterday, today, tomorrow? (EC Amphitheatre) HR/NJEM Beginner entrepreneurs or those who are thinking of starting their own businesses are looking for that initial infusion of money needed to turn the creative idea into something tangible and profitable. Funding opportunities for start-ups are numerous and range from grant funding to angel investors. This workshop will cover a number of already available business models and funding solutions for new entrepreneurs presented by leading Croatian project developers and supporting institutions. Moderator: Saša Cvetojević (CRANE)
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| 11:30 - 11:45 | Coffee break – under the sponsorship of Centrometal d.o.o. |
| 11:45 - 13:00 | Section II – NEW FINANCE project: Financing mechanisms for energy renovation of buildings (Conference hall Voda) HR/EN The European Union imposes ever increasing demands for more efficient use of European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF). Financial instruments represent an innovative and sustainable way of using public funds to receive higher quality projects and involvement of private investors. This section will present a number of good practice examples on how to design and use financial instruments for renovation of buildings and modernization of public lighting. Moderator: Hrvoje Maras (REGEA)
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Workshop I – Public-private partnership projects (Saloon Zemlja) HR Agency for Investments and Competitiveness is the beneficiary of an EU project that explores different ways of combining European Structural Investment Funds with Public-Private Partnership projects. This workshop will focus on education and capacity building of public sector representatives that wish to learn more about using grant funding in PPP projects with practical examples of previously co-financed projects in the field of energy efficiency. Moderator: Slavko Čolak (Public-private partnership sector, Deputy Director)
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| 13:00 - 14:30 | Lunch – under the sponsorship of Rudan d.o.o. |
| 14:30 - 16:00 | B2B Meetings – under the sponsorship of NEW FINANCE project (Conference hall Voda, Saloon Zemlja) |
| 14:30 - 16:00 | Knowledge transfer and bilateral cooperation Croatia - Lithuania - under sponsorship of BUILD2LC project (Saloon Sunce)
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| 16:00 | Farewell party – under the sponsorship of NEW FINANCE project |
| 10:00 - 13:30 | New Finance Retreat (Invitations only) |
| 13:30 - 16:00 | Lunch |
Driving directions 
