Barbara Flesche, EVP at Statkraft Europe, has been elected President of SolarPower Europe
Alexandra Sombsthay was re-elected Vice President, while Stefano Lorenzi was newly elected Vice President
SolarPower Europe said the new board will support the expansion of solar power, battery storage, and flexible energy systems across Europe
SolarPower Europe (SPE), the European solar PV lobby association, has elected a new board with Barbara Flesche appointed as President. She replaces Aristotelis Chantavas, who was previously elected to this position while working with Enel Green Power (EGP) (see Enel Executive To Head SolarPower Europe As President).
Flesche is currently the Executive Vice President of Statkraft Europe. She will lead the association’s work to advance solar power and battery storage as central to the European energy system.
“Solar power, combined with batteries and smart flexibility solutions, is fundamental to building a resilient and affordable energy system which Europe needs more than ever in the current geopolitical situation,” stated Flesche. “Getting the supportive regulatory frameworks in place is now critical.”
Welcoming Flesche to the board, SPE CEO Walburga Hemetsberger said, “Barbara’s vast experience as EVP for Statkraft, one of the largest European players in renewables, makes her uniquely positioned to represent solar and storage as a mature, mainstream and major component of Europe's energy system.”
Alongside Flesche, Akuo Executive Vice-President Alexandra Sombsthay was re-elected, while 3SUN CEO Stefano Lorenzi was newly elected as Vice President of the association.
The following 6 Board Directors were elected or re-elected to the SPE board:
Fredrik Andrén-Sandberg, Head of Regulatory Affairs Europe & APAC, RWE Renewables
Julius Beutel, Vice President Solutions Business, Weidmüller
Jörg Ebel, Vice-President Corporate Affairs, IBC Solar
Philipp Kunze, VP Business Development and Sales Europe, Nextpower
Lars Stephan, Director Marketing, Policy & Public Affairs (EMEA), and
Fluence Carlo Zorzoli, EVP Head of Europe and Africa, ContourGlobal
Additionally, the new Chair and Vice-Chair of SPE’s National Association Committee were confirmed as Board Directors: Paolo Rocco Viscontini (Italia Solare) and Nold Jaeger (Holland Solar). With these appointments, SPE now counts 20 Directors on its Board.
Hemetsberger added, “Our new board members represent strong and diverse solar and battery storage market players, bringing a wide range of competencies to our association. Their expertise will accelerate our mission for solar and battery storage to become the #1 electricity source in the EU by 2030.”
In a recent study, SPE claimed that faster solar and storage rollout could significantly reduce system costs, lower power prices, and improve energy security across the EU by 2030 (see EU Solar + Storage Could Cut Power Costs By 49% By 2030).
