During the second edition of the Storage, Renewable and Electric Vehicles Integration Forum – Second Edition, organised by Strategic Energy Corp through Mobility Portal Europe and Strategic Energy Europe, Antonio Delgado Rigal, CEO of AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, outlined how artificial intelligence has become a core tool for strategic decision-making in the energy sector.

The second event of the year by Strategic Energy Corp was a two-part virtual session, co-organised with Mobility Portal Europe and Strategic Energy Europe.

Strategic Energy Corp, in partnership with Future Energy Summit (FES), hosts major renewable energy gatherings, as FES stands as the leading platform for renewable energy dialogue in Spanish-speaking countries. Notably, on 24 June, the third edition of FES Iberia 2025 will take place at Colegio Caminos (Auditorio Betancourt, C. de Almagro, 42, Chamberí) in Madrid. (Relive the previous edition here).

The meeting will feature companies such as Iberdrola, Nextracker, Engie, Grenergy, Statkraft, Acciona Energía, Red Eléctrica, and EDP Renovables, alongside key representatives from Spain’s regional governments and Latin America. Key discussion topics will include solar and wind energy, energy storage, green hydrogen, distributed generation, PPAs, auctions, and new projects.

Over two decades applying AI to energy markets

“We have over 25 years of experience applying artificial intelligence to the energy sector,” states Delgado Rigal, recalling AleaSoft’s origins in 1999 as a scientific initiative from the academic sphere. Since then, the company has become a European reference in demand, price and renewable generation forecasting.

“We provide short-, medium- and long-term forecasts that are essential for decision-making in highly volatile electricity markets such as Spain,” he explains, noting that their tools are widely used by investors, utilities and trading companies.

Forecasting and profitability for storage

One of the key points of AleaSoft’s presentation was the role of energy storage. “Storage needs forecasts to know how many cycles it can deliver daily and whether the investment will be profitable,” Delgado Rigal points out.

AleaSoft uses probabilistic models to estimate expected revenues and explore multiple scenarios, helping stakeholders with financial planning for battery projects. “There is a lot of investment in batteries now, but anyone installing one needs realistic forecasts about the returns they will achieve,” he warns.

Solar, wind and batteries: a winning mix

The CEO emphasises that the best energy model for Europe lies in the combination of solar, wind and storage. “The best solution is to combine solar, wind and storage,” he asserts, casting doubt on the current competitiveness of alternatives such as green hydrogen, due to high costs and scalability issues.

This integrated approach enables greater flexibility in energy management and more efficient use of available renewable resources.

Coping with market volatility

With the growing share of renewables in the generation mix, Delgado Rigal highlights that storage helps mitigate price drops. “There’s more and more renewable energy, and that lowers prices. Storage ensures that this energy isn’t lost,” he explains.

He also refers to the recent price “blackout” in Spain’s electricity market as a turning point. “It was a wake-up call. Now everyone is looking closely at how to anticipate their revenues and shield themselves from volatility,” he states.

Hybridisation and asset flexibility

Another trend gaining momentum is the hybridisation of renewable assets. “There’s a clear shift towards hybrid facilities. If you already have a solar plant and can add batteries or wind, everything becomes more efficient,” he describes, highlighting the move towards more integrated and profitable energy infrastructures.

This strategy allows operators to maximise the use of existing infrastructure, boost revenues and reduce exposure to spot market risk.

Data-driven planning: a strategic imperative

In conclusion, Delgado Rigal reinforces the need for robust data tools. “Artificial intelligence is not a fad; it’s what makes the system run efficiently. Without forecasting, you can’t plan or build a meaningful energy strategy,” he asserts.