Rebecca McManus

Job Title: European Renewables Lead Expert
Company: Aurora Energy Research
Country: Germany

Rebecca McManus leads Aurora Energy Research's European renewables analysis, specialising in power market design, policy and regulatory risk, and investment strategy for renewable technologies across Europe. She supports investors, developers and policymakers with insight on market dynamics shaping the energy transition. During her tenure at Aurora, Rebecca has led a range of influential studies covering topics such as flexibility, co-location, and renewable investment frameworks. She was instrumental in establishing Aurora's presence in Ireland, including the development of its first Ireland Power Market Forecast. Rebecca holds a BSc in Biological Sciences from the University of Warwick.

June 22, 2026Opening Night: Vision. Innovation. Change.

June 23, 2026Welcome and Introduction

June 23, 2026Hybrid Horizons: Co-Location in Europe - Trends, Policy, and Business Models

Sessions

Joint Session

Solar Power Plants and Storage IV: Going Hybrid - Overview of Real-World Revenue Models for Solar + Battery Projects

Tuesday, June 23, 2026, 11:30am–1:00pm

ICM - Room 14 B

Hybrid PV projects are transforming Europe's utility-scale solar sector. As battery sizes grow and grid constraints intensify, co-location and hybrid operation are becoming the key to accessing the grid and unlocking new value streams - from merchant optimization to industrial energy supply. This session examines real-world revenue models, policy trends and grid-forming requirements,providing background on how hybrid projects truly pay off.This session will address: Business cases for co-location, overplanting and shared grid connections of hybrid solar plants Grid-forming and related services with regulatory drivers shaping hybrid economics Revenue-stacking strategies in merchant and contracted markets Industrial optimization and storage-led value creation in practice

Joint Session

Opening Night: Vision. Innovation. Change.

Monday, June 22, 2026, 5:00pm–7:00pm

ICM - Room 1

The Opening Night of the conferences within The smarter E Europe 2026 brings together executives, policymakers, analysts, and researchers to highlight progress and future opportunities in Europe's ongoing energy transition. The session explores how solar, storage, e-mobility, and smart grids can create a fully renewable, flexible, and resilient energy system. Speakers provide actionable insights on cross-sector innovation, digitalization, and new business models, showing what has been achieved and where decisive action is needed. The event also features the presentation of The smarter E AWARD in five categories, celebrating outstanding innovations shaping the future of integrated energy solutions. The session inspires collaboration, sparks ideas, and empowers participants to lead the transition forward.