Where the Balkan BESS Market Meets

Name: Balkan Battery Day 2026 | Premier Renewable Energy Conference in Greece
Start: 2026-05-21T08:00:00+00:00
Location: ZEUS Wyndham Grand Athens

250+

Decision Makers

25+

Renowned Speakers

98.2%

B2B Success Rate

10+

GW Project Pipeline

CONNECTING THE BESS MARKET ACROSS THE BALKANS

Balkan Battery Day brings together the full battery energy storage value-chain for a focused, senior-level discussion on how BESS markets are developing across the region. The conference is designed for decision-makers actively involved in project development, investment, regulation, grid operations and technology delivery, with a strong emphasis on real-world delivery rather than theory.

The agenda covers the complete BESS lifecycle, from early market signals and national strategies through to permitting, grid access, financing, construction and long-term operation. Particular attention is given to how battery storage supports renewable integration and system flexibility across Greece, Romania, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Slovenia. Panels and presentations focus on practical experience, regulatory clarity and the steps required to move projects from pipeline to operation.

Unmatched Networking and Business Opportunities

Running alongside the conference is a structured B2B meetings programme, designed to ensure that meaningful commercial discussions take place alongside the content.

Pre-Event Scheduling
Our bespoke B2B app opens one week before the event, allowing participants to view attending companies, request meetings and pre-book discussions in advance. This enables delegates to arrive on site with a full, structured meeting schedule aligned to their commercial priorities.

On-Site Facilitation
A dedicated B2B desk operates throughout the conference to support meeting facilitation. The team can personally follow up with unresponsive contacts on your behalf to help secure priority meetings.

Year-Round Support
The relationship continues beyond the conference itself. We provide tailored introductions and follow-up advice throughout the year, helping ensure that the connections made at Balkan Battery Day translate into tangible business opportunities and long-term partnerships.

The one event shaping the future of storage in the Balkans

The quality of the discussions, the level of participation and the overall atmosphere of the event were truly impressive.

Nicholas Sofianos

Secretary General, IENE, Chairman of IENE’s RES Committee

Being the first event of its kind in Athens, it was truly a great success and a very valuable experience for everyone involved.

Emre Jabban

Business Development Executive, YESS Power

The Balkans are becoming one of Europe’s most promising frontiers for battery storage. A big thank you for the kind invitation to this outstanding event.

Efstathios Sideris

Country Manager – Greece, Econergy Group

Many thanks for organizing yet another outstanding event and for fostering such valuable regional dialogue.

Daniel Vlasceanu

Partner, Vlăsceanu & Partners

Speakers 2026

Agenda - 2026

Official language – English.
B2B meetings run alongside the conference.

08:30 - 09:30Registration and Morning Networking

Arrival, badge collection, and early networking

09:30- 10:00Opening Addresses

09:30 – 09:40 Inessa Shahnazarova, Founder & Executive Director, Invest In Network (on behalf of the Organiser)

09:40 – 09:55 An Yang, Director, Huawei Digital Power Southeast Europe (on behalf of the Gold Sponsor)

09:55 – 10:00 Partner video presentations while panellists for Panel Discussion 1 take their seats.

10:00- 11:00Panel Discussion 1: BESS Market Outlook Across the Region

Market readiness and timelines
Pipeline size versus delivery reality

National strategies and regional differences

Investor appetite and early mover advantages

Moderator: Nikos Sofianos,  Secretary General, Chairman of RES Committee, Institute of Energy for South East Europe (IENE)

Speakers:

Alastair Hammond, Chief Executive Officer, Rezolv Energy
Dr Evangelos Gazis, Head of Southeast Europe, Aurora Energy Research

Gabriel Nenov, Head of Energy Storage Systems, Solarpro Holding

George Chronaios, Head of Investments and Market Intelligence, Principia Energy

Stella Zacharia, CEO, Optimus Energy (tbc)

11:00 - 11:15Presentation: Hybrid park multimarket trading & optimization

Henri Taskinen, CEO, Capalo AI

11:15 - 11:30Presentation: Reliability redefined. The long-run energy partnership with LONGi ESS

Luca Pasqualini, Technical Solutions Manager, LONGi Storage

11:30 - 12:00Coffee and Networking Break

Coffee and Networking Break

12:00 - 12:45Panel Discussion 2: Regulation, Permitting and Grid Access

Licensing and permitting pathways

Grid connection challenges and timelines

Balancing market access and ancillary services

Moderator: Michał Motylewski, Energy Transition Director | Counsel, Clyde & Co

Speakers:

Alexandru Chiriță, CEO, Electrica (tbc)

Daniel Vlasceanu, Partner, Vlăsceanu & Partners

Nikos Tourlis, Managing Director, Europe, Tetra Tech

Prof. Emmanuel Karapidakis, CEO, Hellenic Association of Energy Storage Systems (HAESS)

12:45 - 13:00Presentation: The power system challenge and the energy storage market mechanisms in Europe

Liu Chao, Strategic & Industry Development Director, Huawei European Digital Power

13:00 - 14:00Networking Lunch

Networking Lunch

14:00 - 15:15Panel Discussion 3: Financing and Bankability of BESS Projects

Merchant versus contracted revenues

Role of public funding and EU instruments

Lender risk perceptions

Project structuring and warranties

Case studies from early projects in the region

Moderator: Iulian Harpa, Managing Partner, HIM Energy

Speakers:

Alex Blomfield, Partner, Clyde & Co

Elena Kalogeropoulou, Head of Flexibility, Optimus Energy

Kristofer Fröjd, Senior Advisor, Decade Energy

Loukas Botsis, Senior Manager, Baringa

Pavle Milekic, Associate Director, Energy Europe, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)

15:15- 15:30Presentation: Introduction of Energy Storage in HEnEx Day Ahead & Intra-Day Markets

Andreas Ntomaris, Director, Non-Coupled Markets Operation, Hellenic Energy Exchange (HEnEx)

15:30 - 16:00Coffee and Networking Break

Coffee and Networking Break

16:00 - 17:30Panel Discussion 4: Integrating BESS with Renewables and the Wider Energy System

Co-location with solar and wind

System flexibility and grid stability

Role of storage in coal phase out

Cross border system impacts and regional cooperation

Future outlook to 2030

Moderator: Kostis Geropoulos, Co-founder | Director of Energy & Climate, NE Global

Speakers:

Athanasios Plainos, General Manager Greece & Cyprus, LONGi Solar

Efstathios Sideris, Country Manager – Greece, Econergy Group

Horia Grigorescu, Managing Partner, Grigorescu Partners

Răzvan Copoiu, Deputy CEO, ENEVO Group

Tasos Mantzaras, Head of Energy Management and BESS projects, Rokas Renewables (An Iberdrola Renewables Company)

17:30-19:30Networking Reception and Closing

Networking Reception and Closing

Reasons to Join

Connect with Regional BESS Decision-Makers

Meet developers, investors, utilities, financiers and technology providers actively shaping battery energy storage markets across Greece, Romania, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Slovenia.

Access Emerging BESS Pipelines and Market Intelligence

Gain first-hand insight into where battery storage projects are being planned, tendered and financed across the Balkans. Understand how national targets, grid needs and market design are translating into investable opportunities.

Understand Regulation, Permitting and Grid Access

Navigate the practical realities of developing and operating BESS in multiple jurisdictions. Learn how different markets approach licensing, grid connection, market participation and ancillary services, and what this means for project timelines and risk.

Explore Bankable Revenue Models and Financing Structures

Hear how projects are being financed in early-stage and emerging BESS markets. Panels focus on revenue stacking, merchant exposure, support mechanisms and lender expectations, with lessons drawn from live projects and active portfolios.

Showcase Technology, Expertise and Solutions

Position your company at the centre of the regional BESS conversation. With prime-time presentation slots, panel participation and sponsorship opportunities, Balkan Battery Day offers high-visibility ways to demonstrate technical capability and commercial strength.

Turn Conversations into Commercial Outcomes

Take advantage of the structured B2B meetings programme running alongside the conference. Pre-arranged meetings, on-site facilitation and year-round follow-up support ensure that connections made at the event lead to partnerships, projects and transactions beyond the conference itself.

Among Sponsors and Partners 2026

Gold Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Scheduled B2B meetings at #BalkanBatteryDay

Gallery

Balkan Battery Day 2026

Follow #BalkanBatteryDay for updates

Just wrapped up an incredible experience at Balkan Battery Day The discussions highlighted a pivotal moment for our energy future. Here are my key takeaways on the evolution of Europe’s power grids and the crucial role of energy storage:

The Looming Inertia Challenge
Europe’s power system is rapidly transitioning from traditional synchronous generators to inverter-based resources (wind and solar). While this is a massive win for decarbonization, it brings a universal and growing challenge: a severe lack of system inertia.

The Balkans region is at a turning point. Renewable integration is accelerating, grid flexibility is becoming critical.

We are proud to have been part of the inaugural Balkan Battery Day in Athens, a senior-level gathering bringing together the full BESS value chain across South-East Europe.

The conversations reflected the promising yet challenging moment for the surrounding markets.

Pleasure to be in Athens for Invest In Network’s Balkan Battery Day 2026 conference to share EBRD’s experience financing such assets.

I had the pleasure of joining a panel moderated by Iulian HARPA, ACCA alongside my co-panelists Alex Blomfield, Elena Kalogeropoulou, Kristofer Fröjd, and Loukas Botsis to discuss the challenges and approaches of developing and financing BESS projects in the Balkans.

Kudos to Inessa Shahnazarova and her team for an excellent event, and looking forward to accelerating BESS deployment in the region!