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
Panel Discussion of of the Session Off-Grid: When Will Off-Grid PV Follow the Affordability Trend?(BSW)

Wednesday, May 07, 2025, 04:00 pm - 05:30 pm

The smarter E Europe Conferences 2025 | Conference Program

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Photovoltaic prices have fallen continuously in recent years - a trend that should translate into a growing market for off-grid solutions. Declining costs are crucial for rural electrification in particular, making sustainable energy supply economically viable in remote regions. However, so far many of these price advantages have not yet reached the people that need them most. Do existing framework conditions to foster rural electrification still work in this new market reality? Which measures are needed to ensure that cost reductions reach our target group? This session discusses strategies for improving the availability of low-cost off-grid solutions, financing and innovative business models. A look at successful practical examples shows which political, economic and technological levers need to be pulled to make off-grid PV accessible on a large scale.

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