Curtailment is threatening the profitability of renewable energy assets. According to Werner Coppye, Co-Founder of 3E, “many assets are being curtailed between 50% and 70% of the time, and operators have lost visibility over their real performance.”

This situation undermines asset value over time, complicates refinancing processes, and leads to progressive asset degradation. “When assets operate at reduced output, it’s hard to assess actual returns. The lack of tailored KPIs makes it nearly impossible to measure true performance — and that’s exactly where our analytics become critical,” says Coppye in an exclusive interview with Strategic Energy Europe during Intersolar 2025.

In response, 3E is betting on digital twin technology as a key tool to confront this scenario. The solution enables real-time monitoring even under curtailment conditions, helping preserve asset health and long-term value. “Even in curtailed operations, we continue to assess asset health, which is essential to sustain value over the long run,” Coppye emphasizes.

 Digital Twin and Machine Learning: The New Frontier in Asset Management

3E delivers software solutions for the operational phase of renewable assets, along with technical advisory services aimed at improving efficiency through performance monitoring, control room operations, and international fleet analytics.

The company’s approach combines physics-based digital twin models with machine learning techniques. “We simulate the expected behavior of assets using a physics-based model and compare it to actual performance in real time. The strength of this approach is that it directly links operators and owners to the business plan,” explains Coppye.

Tailored Strategies for Solar, Wind, and Storage – One Core Technology

While AC infrastructure and downtime patterns may be similar across solar, wind, and storage, generation-side dynamics are fundamentally different. “Wind assets involve moving parts, so we focus on trend analysis and early failure detection. Solar and storage, on the other hand, produce much more granular data due to the number of components involved,” Coppye points out.

In solar, 3E applies detailed physical modeling, while in storage, limited technical specs from manufacturers require machine learning models to simulate battery chemistry. “Each technology calls for a different approach, but digital twin technology is essential across all asset types for performance harmonization and consistent fleet-wide management,” he adds.

AI and Language Models: Toward Autonomous Performance Management

Artificial intelligence and machine learning are already embedded in 3E’s solutions, though selectively. In solar energy, physics-based engineering models remain central, whereas in storage, data scarcity shifts the focus to AI-powered predictions.

Beyond structured data, 3E is now leveraging large language models (LLMs) and ChatGPT-style technologies to extract insights from unstructured data like technician reports or financial documents. “These tools will be essential in the coming years to support better decision-making and eventually drive an autopilot mode for asset performance,” says Coppye.

Energy Storage: A Strategic Lever for Renewable Expansion

The rise of hybrid projects and the increasing relevance of storage solutions are reshaping the sector. “Combining generation and storage is crucial to address grid saturation, as we’ve seen in countries like Spain, where recent blackouts highlight the limits of the current infrastructure,” notes Coppye.

While 3E has traditionally focused on solar performance, its platform is now used to manage hybrid portfolios that include wind, solar, and storage. “Our technology is fully equipped for these types of applications, and we tailor our solutions to fit our clients’ workflows and specific use cases,” he adds.

A Global Expansion Strategy

Though originally rooted in European markets, 3E is now actively expanding its global footprint. “We’ve reinforced our presence in the U.S., but we’re also growing in other regions with a strong focus on delivering digital performance solutions for asset owners and operators,” says Coppye.

The goal is to become a strategic partner for hybrid asset management, offering a single optimization platform that integrates solar, wind, and storage.

Short- and Long-Term Goals: From Energy Output to Revenue Optimization

Looking ahead, 3E’s top priority is to safeguard asset value while adapting to new market models. “We’ve moved beyond optimizing energy output in megawatt-hours. Now it’s about revenue optimization in a market where prices are flexible,” Coppye explains.

Maintenance planning during periods of negative electricity pricing and dynamic revenue management are becoming a core element of 3E’s operational workflows. “This is reshaping how we work and how the entire industry operates. We must evolve quickly to stay ahead,” he concludes.