Panel: Financing the Energy Revolution! How can we Incentivise Private Investment in the Hydrogen World?

Dr. Alexander Budzinski is a Partner in the Advisory service line and has a leading role in the Energy & Natural Resources sector focus teams at Grant Thornton in Germany and in the global Grant Thornton network. Alexander has been looking into the planned future of companies for many years in the context of company valuations and economic expert opinions. This planned future increasingly includes major transformational challenges on the road to CO2 neutrality. Alexander's fields of expertise are - Business valuations for all occasions and transaction-related advisory services - Energy-specific valuation topics (generation, renewables, grid infrastructure and cleantech) - Valuation of companies in regulated industries and of (regulated) infrastructure - ESG-related valuation topics - Expert opinions and analyses on complex economic issues (economic consulting) - Expert opinions in judicial and extrajudicial proceedings and arbitration proceedings and in conflict situations (Dispute Consulting)

Meet the person: Silke Frank Silke Frank, otherwise known as Miss Hydrogen, has been active in the Hydrogen industry for the past 19 years. Having started out in the events sector, she has organized over 60 Hydrogen events around the globe since 2004. Between 2020 and 2022, Silke Frank and her team provided infotainment and support on all matters concerning Hydrogen to many thousands of people - digitally and interactively through webinars and 24-hour events. She maintains one of the largest personal H2 networks, based on mutually supportive and long-standing relationships. Silke Frank is an expert and empathetic communicator and networker. She guides institutions, companies, associations and policymakers interested in Hydrogen toward a prosperous Hydrogen future. One of the things that is particularly important to her is making her clients happHY! Her motto: Nothing else in the world is so powerful as an idea whose time has come. (Victor Hugo) Meet the entrepreneur: Hydrogen Moves GmbH In May 2022 Silke Frank founded Hydrogen Moves GmbH. True to the company slogan 'Push the Market!', she and her colleagues ensure their clients are successful in Hydrogen through their role as independent and proactive marketers and strategic Hydrogen consultants. 'We listen, think and act alongside you and for you - both locally and internationally. Our experience, well-established connections and personal contacts around the world are channeled into your success!' www.hydrogen-moves.de/en Meet the Vice President: honorary position at the German Association DWV Since December 2020 Silke Frank has been serving at a national level as Vice President of the German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association (DWV). In December 2022, she was reelected onto the steering committee by a significant majority, confirming her appointment as Vice President. In her role she is passionate about communication, representation, member relations and bringing together the right partners. www.dwv-info.de Behind the scenes: at home in Berglen, Germany Silke Frank lives with her husband and two sons. In her leisure time she enjoys family time, music, gardening, nature, reading and wine.

Rainer Gehrung is CFO/CSO at HPS. He has many years of experience and knowledge in financial management, sales and strategy development. Rainer Gehrung is (co-)founder of several companies such as Steinbeis Hochschule Berlin, SCMT, Venture One Capital, Energy Venture, Thermo Venture or Smart Solutions for Industrie.

Marcel Werner verfügt über viele Jahre Erfahrung als preisgekrönter Clean-Tech-Unternehmer, Firmengründer und Financial Analyst. Schon vor der Gründung von SENCO standen Nachhaltigkeit und saubere Energielösungen seit langem im Mittelpunkt seines beruflichen Interesses. Seine Einblicke gibt er als Gastredner bei zahlreichen Branchenveranstaltungen weiter. Seine berufliche Laufbahn begann er in der Finanzbranche, wo er für eine mittelständische Vermögensverwaltung in Hannover und eine Berliner Immobilienholding tätig war. Er gründete das Clean-Tech Startup Gerotor, das von der Europäischen Kommission als "Rising Star' im Bereich Eco-Innovation gekürt und u.a. vom Bundesumweltministerium mit dem Innovationspreis für Klima und Umwelt in 2020 ausgezeichnet wurde. Während seines internationalen Studiums der Betriebswirtschaftslehre besuchte Marcel die Otto-Friedrich-Universität in Bamberg und die MS University of Baroda in Gujarat, Indien.

- born 12 November 1966 in Essen Graduated as Technical MBA in Hamburg - 2000 to 2008 Signatory/Project Manager at Uckerwerk Energietechnik GmbH/Enertrag AG - From 2001 Director of ENERTRAG Systemtechnik GmbH. - 2008 to 2013 Member of the Board at Enertrag AG, the leading project developers and operators of wind farms and hybrid power stations - Since 2011 Member of the Federal Expert Commission for Energy Policy of the German Economic Council - Since 2013 Director of ENCON.Europe GmbH - Since 2014 Chairman of DWV - Since 2016 spokesman of of the Expert Commission performing energy