Meet the Nvalue Team – Interview with our Chief Investment Officer, Dania Piccioli

Dania Piccioli joined Nvalue in 2010 as а Sales Trader Environmental Market. She studied Economics at the University of Fribourg, in Switzerland, and she joined Nvalue after а 3 months stage at “Triple E – Economy, Ecology and Experience”, where she worked on the development of a specific financial tool for the environmental and economic requalification of landscapes.

When she joined Nvalue, the market of Energy Attribute Certificates was very different. 12 years in this industry can feel like much longer, so it would be interesting to discuss with her, how the market has changed so far…

1. Hi Dania, first of all, congratulations for the new role. By the way, how did you end up having a career in this industry, and what are its peculiarities?

One piece of the story that is maybe missing, is that my master’s thesis was focused on the Kyoto market mechanisms CERs… So when my brother, founder and CEO of Nvalue asked me „Hey Dania, I just started a company in the environmental markets, do you want to join?“ I thought, “Hell yeah!“

I discovered a world I was unaware of: the delicate and complex balance of the electricity grid, the impressive number of players involved, the countless opportunities, and the constant evolution of the regulatory framework. In short, you never get bored, there is always something new to study and learn.

2. Compared to when you started, the market is now very different: 10 years ago, there were less market players, less regulations, less awareness about climate change… how do you see this evolution going in the next 2 years?

From the very beginning we promote the Guarantee of Origin as an additional source of income for producers, and as a key means to allow new investments in renewable production.

If 10 years ago the value of the Guarantee of Origin still did not confirm our beliefs, today the situation is different. The revenue generated from the sale of Guarantees of Origin on the market not only makes it possible to invest in new renewable power plants but, above all, allows governments to reallocate the financial resources that previously served as an incentive for renewables in other projects.

The next few years will be crucial to see if the market has truly reached the maturity it has shown over the past year.

3. The prices of Guarantee of Origins have increased significantly in the past 12 months. In your opinion, what are the reasons, and what is the public perception?

The reasons for the increase in the price of the Guarantee of Origin are many, the most significant ones are certainly the explosion in demand, together with a prolonged period of extreme drought.

Compared to 10 years ago, today consumers can certainly see that the Guarantee of Origin works and allows everyone to contribute to the energy transition to preserve resources for future generations. An increasing number of consumers claim the right to consume electricity produced from renewable sources through the Guarantee of Origin.

4. It seems that governments have finally reached a common agreement on the fact that reducing GHG emissions should be the number one priority. Do you think that the objectives are ambitious enough? Do you think that they will meet their targets?

The goals are ambitious, but perhaps not detailed enough to be truly achievable. Often the micro application of macro policies gets a little lost. Take, for example, the push for the energy transition and the consumption of renewable electricity. The disclosure to the final consumer of the origin and quality of the electricity supplied through the Guarantees of Origin constitutes a powerful means of informing the consumer, who is, therefore, free to choose renewables, and thus contribute personally to the energy transition. However, without a full production and consumption disclosure of electricity, which is lacking in most European countries, the consumer does not have all the information to make the best decision.

Moreover, there are still too many distractions and too many business interests interfering with what should be the common goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. If we take the COP27, I would say: “lots of smoke and no fire…”

5. Now, you lead a team of around 10 people in Nvalue. What are your priorities? What do you want to achieve?

My priority is to ensure that the team understands why we do this work, and that they have the tools they need to assist our partners and customers on their journey towards a more renewable future. Nvalue is a reliable and expert partner able to provide its customers with the most appropriate solutions to achieve their climate sustainability goals, from the consumption of renewable energy (both electricity and biogas) to the neutralization of residual CO2 emissions through targeted investments in projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, Nvalue allows its partners to access the market and valorise their renewable assets. We really want to make a difference and contribute to the energy transition.

6. And last but not least, let’s talk a little bit about yourself: what motivates you the most at work? How do you balance your professional career with your personal life? Do you still have time for your hobbies & passions outside of work?

I am a very energetic, positive and cheerful person, I like life and I like doing a job where I can interact with people and provide a service related to a cause I believe in. I don’t need particular motivations – let’s say life motivates me.

Since I became a mother of two boys balancing professional life, family and hobbies is not simple. Coordinating my and my husband’s work commitments, which include a lot of traveling with the care for the children, is certainly the most challenging part. If I had to add items to my CV with the skills I have acquired by becoming a parent, I would certainly include excellent multitasking skills (making work calls while chasing a ball in a field full of loud kids), stress management (getting dressed, preparing a child for the ski course by putting on a helmet and ski boots while the other one is crying desperately lying on the ground on the ski slope), conflict mediation and resolution (avoiding extreme combat sessions every day to conquer the toys, teaching the fine art of negotiation).