• Email: soren.lutken@un.org
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Bio

Soren E. Lütken holds a PhD in assessing European energy utilities' investment strategies with respect to UNFCCC investment vehicles such as CDM. Further, he combines an MBA background with experience from 10 years of service in the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tasked with multilateral finance advice and Danish bilateral climate change collaboration with China.

His approach to the energy sector is financial and political rather than technical. He has been working with Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) in Eastern Europe with e.g. EBRD financing in the 1990s, private energy infrastructure financing in Asia in the late 1990s, CDM investment, mainly wind energy and hydro projects, in India and China from 2003 onwards, and ESCO concept development in China's steel sector in 2008-2010.

Since joining the UNEP DTU (now UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre) and its climate change-focused advisory in 2010 his work has focused on the linkage between energy investments and the politically controlled frameworks that determine investment conditions. He initiated the Global ESCO Network in 2019, realizing the missing link between the climate change agenda and the obvious role of ESCOs in emissions reduction.

He has authored two books and several working papers, including ‘Corporate Strategies and the CDM – developing country financing for developed country commitments?’ published in 2008, 'Financial Engineering of Climate Investment in Developing Countries' published in 2014 and several guidebooks on climate action and sector-specific energy efficiency implementation, including UNFCCC Guidance.

He is the author of two books on climate finance (published at Edward Elgar & Anthem Press respectively) as well as numerous guides and working papers on NAMAs and climate finance.

• Email: planglois@econoler.com
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Pierre Langlois is the President of Econoler, an international energy efficiency consulting firm. He boasts 35 years of experience in the clean energy sector with the design, financing, implementation and monitoring of energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in North America and internationally.

Pierre is a first-rate international expert in the development and implementation of pioneering financial mechanisms, specifically the use of Energy Performance Contracting and operation of ESCOs. He has acted as member of the boards of several ESCOs worldwide and a few international organizations such as the Efficiency Valuation Organization (EVO). His achievements with Econoler have been awarded the “Legend in Energy” honour given by the Association of Energy Engineers and the Clean Technology Award by the Climate Technology Initiative and OECD at The Hague Climate Change Convention (COP 6).

Pierre has worked in over 40 countries as part of assignments financed by major multilateral development banks, development organizations and many UN agencies.

He currently acts as co-chair of the steering committee of the Global ESCO Network, an international organization developed by UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre.

• Email: aablaza@live.com
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The last two decades of Alex Ablaza’s 36-year professional career has been dedicated to growing energy efficiency and other clean energy technology deployment in 14 Asian markets through the identification, due diligence and financial close of over $3 billion in direct investments, and also through catalytic market transformation, policy, regulatory, fund mobilization and transaction support interventions.

Across Asia and the Middle East, Alex currently provides energy efficiency expertise to governments, multilateral development banks, international development agencies, NPO/NGOs, think tanks, climate funds and other investors with the objective of scaling up energy efficiency capital flows through innovative finance, investment structures, procurement and policy reform.

In June 2018, Alex co-founded and was elected to co-chair the Asia-Pacific ESCO Industry Alliance, which provides a regional platform that links the ESCO organizations of China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand. He also is one of the co-founders of the Global ESCO Network, with its secretariat in Copenhagen, Denmark. Alex likewise serves as President of the Philippine Energy Efficiency Alliance, a non-profit alliance of energy efficiency market stakeholders.

• Email: dlimaye@srcglobal.com
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Bio

Mr. Limaye is President and CEO of SRC Global Inc. and is internationally recognized as a pioneer and an entrepreneur with over 45 years of experience in energy efficiency and energy services. He is a consultant to the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, IFC, UNDP, USAID and other donor agencies on financing and implementation of energy efficiency, renewable energy, and climate change mitigation strategies. He has extensive experience with performance contracting and ESCOs, having started the first multinational ESCO, the International Energy Services Company, with operations in North America, Europe, Australia and India. He has also helped establish successful ESCOs in Japan, Korea, Sri Lanka, and several in Europe and North America. Mr. Limaye has conducted pioneering research related to the concept of the Super ESCO and has helped establish Super ESCOs in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Hebei, China, and contributed to the establishment of the strategic framework for the Indian Super ESCO - Energy Efficiency Services Limited. He has edited or co-authored nine books and has presented over 40 technical papers at international conferences.

• Email: Timothy.Unruh@naesco.org
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Bio

Dr. Timothy D. Unruh is the Executive Director of the National Association of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO). In this role, he manages the representation of its member Energy Service Companies. NAESCO provides advocacy for the industry at the Federal, State and Local levels, and provides for member company Accreditation.

Prior to this role, Dr. Unruh was the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Renewable Power at the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Office of the US Department of Energy (DOE). As the Deputy Assistant Secretary, Dr. Unruh managed the nation’s renewable power research, while also providing oversight to the Grid Modernization Initiative.

Also, while at the DOE EERE, Dr. Unruh Directed the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP). As FEMP Director, Dr. Unruh oversaw the implementation of policy and actions that resulted in energy efficiency implementation, renewable energy adoption, and reductions in energy and water use in Federal government operations. Dr. Unruh coordinates with DOE national laboratories and other Federal agencies in this capacity.

Dr. Unruh has a doctorate, master’s, and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering from Wichita State University in Wichita, Kansas.