Agrivoltaics in Brazil: Unlocking Potential and Business Opportunities through German-Brazilian Expertise

Dr. Florian Wessendorf is Managing Director of Solar Promotion GmbH and Solar Promotion International GmbH. He is responsible for the global conference program and exhibitions in North America, South America and India. He has deep expertise in the solar industry, and formerly served as Managing Director of Photovoltaic Equipment at VDMA, where he was responsible for strategic development, market research and technology scouting, advocacy and policy advice, events, PR and marketing.

Eduardo Tobias is a Managing Partner at Watt Capital. He is a specialist in project investment analysis, project financing, and on mergers & acquisitions of renewable energy projects and assets in Brazil. He is a cofounder and currently the vice-coordinator of ABSOLAR's Green Hydrogen Working Group. Tobias is also a visiting Professor at FGV, teaching for its Power Sector Executive Program, and author of the books 'Investment Analysis in Utility Scale PV Projects' (2021) and 'Investment Analysis in Bioenergy Greenfield Projects' (2015). He has a BSc. in Business Administration from FGV-EAESP and a Professional Master in Bioenergy from FGV-EESP.

Leandro Michels is associate professor at the Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), where he researches in the fields of PV systems and power electronics. Throughout his career, he actively contributed to consolidating the dissemination of photovoltaic energy in Brazil, providing a technical foundation related to inverter technology and grid connection of DG for several regulatory agents, sector associations and companies. He also collaborates with standardization, acting as coordinator of the Brazilian commission of the IEC PV Systems Technical Committee, and as rapporteur for the ABNT CEE 253 commission that develops Brazilian standards for connecting PV systems to the grid. He is coordinator of the Embrapii Unit in Mobility Energy, and of the PV systems testing laboratory at INRI / UFSM, accredited by INMETRO for testing PV inverters.

Formed by the interaction of lessons from family, friends and the academic world, be it a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of São Paulo - USP, a Master's in Civil Engineering in Housing: Planning and Technology from IPT, a postgraduate degree in Occupational Safety from FAAP, a degree in Electrical Engineering from FEI (Fundação Educacional Inaciana Padre Saboia de Medeiros), as well as a period as a researcher at the Technological Research Institute of the State of São Paulo - IPT. He works in the field of Fire Safety - SCI, with an emphasis on forensics involving fire and explosion issues in all their diversity. Never forgetting that my professional career began at Metrô-SP, where I was taught the Code of Conduct: Safety, Speed and Comfort.

Priscila Santos is a researcher in the energy field at Instituto Fit. She is responsible for energy startups and applied AI and IoT training. She has in-depth knowledge of the hybrid generation industry for rural and industrial areas. Mentor of startups in the energy, automotive, agricultural and fintech segments.