Panel Discussion: AI in Utility-Scale Solar: Ready for Prime Time or Still in Beta?

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Recording of Tuesday, May 06, 2025 | The smarter E Europe | Conference Program | Language: English | Duration: 33:15 .

Eric Quiring
Director Global Public Affairs
SMA Solar Technology AG
Deutschland

Jan Osenberg
Head of System Integration
SolarPower Europe
Belgium

Dr. David Moser
Managing Director
Becquerel Institute
Belgium

Ana Felício
Planning&Execution Office
EDP
Portugal

Adele Ara
Chief Technology Officer
Lightsource bp
United Kingdom

Digitalization has already revolutionized utility-scale solar, and now AI is emerging as the next game-changer, enhancing efficiency, reducing costs, and optimizing performance across a solar power plant's entire lifecycle. From site selection and energy yield prediction to financial modeling during the development, design optimization and automation during construction, and predictive maintenance for O&M, AI and digital tools are transforming how solar power plants are planned, built, and operated. But with solar becoming a critical part of our energy infrastructure, concerns about cyberattacks are growing. This session will provide: Overview of digital, IOT and AI tools across all phases of a solar plant's lifecycle Insight on the opportunities and limitations of today's digital and AI solutions in the solar industry Discussion on cybersecurity risks and mitigation strategies for solar power systems.

Further Talks of this session:

Speaker

Adele Ara
Chief Technology Officer
Lightsource bp
United Kingdom

To Talk

Speaker

Dr. David Moser
Managing Director
Becquerel Institute
Belgium

To Talk

Speaker

Dr. Pierre-Jean Alet
Group Leader, Digital Energy Solutions
CSEM
Switzerland

To Talk

Speaker

Dr Etienne Drahi
Head of Solar R&D
TotalEnergies
France

To Talk

Speaker

Jan Osenberg
Head of System Integration
SolarPower Europe
Belgium

Eric Quiring
Director Global Public Affairs
SMA Solar Technology AG
Deutschland

To Talk

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The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025
Q&A Session of of the Session Off-Grid: Rural Electrification Based on Solar Systems - Lessons Learned

Wednesday, May 07, 2025, 11:00 am - 12:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program

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Off-grid solar systems are often the least expensive option for rural electrification. Solar home systems can power individual households, while mini-grids can supply entire villages. Each comes with its own advantages, disadvantages, and challenges. The aim of this session is to explore challenges as well as success stories. It takes well-functioning components such as battery systems, charge management and inverters to make projects successful. Proper system sizing, maintenance and repair management, as well as a robust financial concept are also necessary. If one of these elements is missing, the electrification will not be sustainable. This session will focus on the aspects mentioned above. The speakers will present successful and unsuccessful approaches and discuss what can be learned from them.

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