Welcome to TEB Forum 2026

10:00 - 10:10 : Opening

The Energy Bridge (TEB) Why Coordination, not Capacity, is CEE's Real Energy Challenge

The role of TEB as a system integrator across policy, industry, startups and research

Speakers:

• Rahul Mishra, Co-Founder, The Energy Bridge

• Daniel Schaub

  , Co-Founder, The Energy Bridge

10:10 - 10:25 : Keynote

Ministerial Keynote: Austria as a Regional Role Model for Energy Transition

Speaker:

• Karoline Narodoslawsky

Focus:

• Geopolitical necessity of energy independence and regional cooperation

10:25 - 10:40 : Keynote

Energy Community Keynote: The Regional Bridge

Speaker:

• Marie-Therese Richter-Kuhnert

Topic:

• Synchronising the Neighbourhood: Harmonizing CEE &Western Balkan Markets

Focus:

• Legal and regulatory integration of non-EU neighbors into the single energy market and d

  ecarbonization trajectories for the Contracting Parties.

10:40 - 10:55 : Keynote

Conjunction of Energy Infrastructure Expansion and Industrial Competitiveness in Europe

Speaker:

• Friederich Kupzog, Head of Energy, Austrian Institute of Technology

10:55 - 11:05 : Keynote

Systemic System Infrastructure Index : The First Open Digital Twin Fusing Grid Risk with Societal Exposure

Speaker:

• Vjekoslav Bonic, Ikenga

11:05 - 11:15: Networking Break

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11:15 - 12:05 : Session 1 - Evolution of the CEE Renewable Framework

Panel Debate

CEE Renewable Framework Challenges · Tackling misalignment between grid capacity expansion, complex permitting regimes, and rapid scale-up of renewables and BESS. Exploring European regulatory frameworks to streamline permitting for hybrid assets and cross-border infrastructure.

Panelists:

• Adina Stoica, Head of Legal, 4P Renewables, Romania

• Jiri Bim, Head of Permitting, Solární Asociace, Czech Republic

• Kitti Kropko, Head of Regulatory Affairs, MAVIR, Hungary

• Karoline Narodoslawsky, (Federal Ministry) Austria

• Marie-Therese Richter-Kuhnert – Deputy Director, Energy Community

Moderator:

• Christian Mikosch, Partner,

  Wolf Theiss

12:05 - 13:10: Lunch

13:10 - 13:55: Case Studies

13:10 - 13:25 Comparison of the Profitability of BESS in CEE

• Speaker:

  Thomas Rosenzopf, Managing Director, Enervis Austria

13:25 - 13:40: Scaling Battery Manufacturing in Europe

• Speaker:

  Petya Barzilska, Head of Policy & Research, European Initiative for Energy Security

13:40 - 13:55: Financing the Battery Project Development in CEE Projects

• Speaker:

  Lukas Stühlinger, Managing Partner, Fingreen

13:55 - 14:50 : Session 2 - The Capital Catalyst - Financing Grid-Ready and High-Flexibility Energy Assets in CEE

Panel Debate

As grid constraints become the main bottleneck for new energy capacity in Central and Eastern Europe, the focus shifts from project development to bankable financing and market integration.

This session explores how grid-ready assets—hybrid renewables, utility-scale storage, and targeted grid upgrades—can be structured to attract long-term capital through effective revenue stacking, risk sharing, and strong offtake frameworks.

We will discuss how ancillary services, capacity markets, tolling agreements, and EU support mechanisms (RRF, Modernisation Fund) can de-risk grid and flexibility investments

.Key themes:

• Making grid-ready and flexibility assets bankable through revenue and offtake design

• Financing hybrid RES–storage portfolios to unlock grid capacity and reduce curtailment

• Using EU/national instruments to de-risk and scale infrastructure investment

• Portfolio approaches across assets, technologies, and countries to achieve investment-grade scale

Panelists:

• Marko Svetina, COO, BM2Solar

• Philipp Kamaryt, VP of Strategy & Innovation, Enery

• Maximilian Kloess, Head of Power Trading, oekostrom

• Lukas Stühlinger, Managing Partner, Fingreen

• Melchior Karigl, Principal Advisor, European Investment Bank

Moderator:

• Matthias Obermair,

  European Energy Market System Analyst, Austrian Power Grid (APG)

14:50 - 15:10: Networking Break

15:10 - 16:05: Session 3 - Can the Distribution Grid Keep Up? Planning and Operation in a Decentralized Energy Future

15:05 - 15:20: Heinz Nusser, Decision Advisory Group(DAG) Keynote

Transforming infrastructure into a competitive asset: decentralized energy solutions for data centers

15:20 - 16:10: Panel Debate

Distribution Grid Panel Managing rapid integration of DERs, electrification of transport and heating, digitalisation, and regulatory requirements. Discussion on grid planning and operation in a decentralized energy future.

Panelists:

• Helfried Brunner, Thematic Coordinator Power System Planning and Operation, AIT

• Priv. Doz. DI Dr. Robert Schmaranz,

  Head of Network Operations Electricity,

  KNG-Kärnten NetzGmbH  

• Christian Pillwein, Industrial Automation, Beckhoff Automation

• Sabine Kubicek, Researcher,

  Wiener Netze

Moderator:

• Bharath Varsh Rao, Business Developer and Scientist, Austrian Insititue of Technology(AIT)

16:10 - 17:00 : Session 4 - CEE Energy Security & Supply Chain Resilience

Panel Discussion

This panel explores strengthening energy security in CEE through resilient supply chains and flexible energy assets. It will highlight the role of data, risk management, and collaboration in securing critical infrastructure

Panelists:

• Petya Barzilska Head of Policy & Research, European Initiative for Energy Security

• Julia Regensburger Supply Chain Manager, Wien Energie

• Hubert Fechner, Vice Chair IEA-PVPS

• Guy Templeton, CEO, Krixos Critical Minerals

Moderator:

• Jennifer Brenner, Supply Chain Strategy Consultant

  , inloop

17:00 - 21:00: Networking Drinks

11:40 - 12:15 :: Unlocking the regional Energy Innovation Potential

Synchronizing Academia, Policy, and Capital to Bridge the CEE Energy Innovation Commercialization Gap

Panelists:

• Christian Hoffmann, Managing Director, The Spinoff Factory

• Tim Kaiser, Deputy Head of Economic and Social Affairs, Advisor for Economic Policy Coordination, EU Commission

• Robert Somogyi, COO, Hungarian Innovation Agency

• Peter Blahowsky, Startup catalyst, AIT

Moderator:

• Antonia Rinesch, Head of Partnerships, Spinoff Factory

Workshops

Collaborate with the community during our Workshops.