The growing digitalisation of solar PV plants and battery energy storage systems (BESS) is exposing new operational and financial risks. In Barcelona, during the Solar Quality Summit 2026 – attended by Energía Estratégica – industry leaders agreed that digital architecture, critical infrastructure protection and data quality now directly influence access to project finance and risk assessment for utility-scale assets across Europe.
The event, organised by Solar Promotion International GmbH in partnership with SolarPower Europe, brought together developers, utilities, independent power producers (IPPs), technical advisers, insurers and investment funds on 17–18 February at the Hyatt Regency Barcelona Tower. Discussions focused on quality assurance, resilience, cybersecurity and EPC standards for hybrid solar-plus-storage projects amid rapid renewable energy expansion.
Senior executives from EDP, DNV, JinkoSolar, Hitachi Energy, NextPower, Sonnedix, Global Solar Council and AIKO were among the key speakers, reflecting the cross-sector nature of the debate across the European solar ecosystem.
A clear conclusion emerged: cybersecurity is no longer a standalone technical issue but a structural component of project bankability.
The integration of smart inverters, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, remote monitoring platforms and BESS has enhanced operational efficiency and enabled advanced grid integration. However, it has also expanded the digital attack surface.
Experts examined vulnerabilities in controllers, communication protocols and network architectures, as well as the impact of increasingly stringent EU regulations on the protection of critical energy infrastructure.
Investors are now incorporating digital audits, network segmentation protocols and secure-by-design strategies into their technical due diligence processes. Digital hardening is beginning to influence the cost of capital and financing conditions. In a context of tighter financial scrutiny, technological robustness carries as much weight as solar resource assessment or structural engineering.
The Summit also explored the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) for predictive maintenance and performance forecasting. Through developments linked to the SUPERNOVA project, participants showcased tools capable of anticipating faults before they affect energy yield, integrating advanced sensors and optimising operations through automated data analytics.
Data structuring and governance are increasingly recognised as strategic assets in renewable energy portfolios.
However, speakers warned that algorithmic models depend on robust and consistent datasets. The commissioning of new technologies such as TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) modules and bifacial configurations challenges historical performance baselines. Automation must therefore be complemented by expert technical oversight to ensure reliable LCOE (Levelised Cost of Electricity) projections.
Another critical topic was the relationship between technical design and financing for solar PV plus energy storage projects.
During dedicated sessions on technical due diligence, panellists emphasised how component selection, advanced modelling and early identification of potential failure modes directly affect long-term returns. Minor cumulative defects — ranging from connector issues to suboptimal electrical configurations — can gradually erode performance, increase operating expenditure and undermine key financial metrics underpinning power purchase agreements (PPAs).
Climate resilience was also addressed as a structural design requirement. Predictive simulations, mechanical reinforcements and layout optimisation form part of an integrated strategy combining traditional engineering with digital tools. Technical reliability is increasingly perceived as a financial guarantee.
Europe’s regulatory landscape adds further complexity. In several markets, delays in grid connection offers are generating uncertainty around project timelines and financing structures. Even technically robust assets can see expected returns pressured if interconnection is postponed.
On the second day, discussions turned to asset modernisation strategies, including retrofitting mature solar farms with battery energy storage, inverter replacement and the use of digital twins during construction and commissioning. These tools enable real-time deviation detection from original designs, reduce rework and ensure compliance with technical specifications.
Full lifecycle digitalisation — from design and EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) to operations and repowering — is emerging as a competitive differentiator in Europe’s renewable energy market.
The Solar Quality Summit 2026 confirmed that Europe’s renewable energy expansion is not solely about increasing installed solar PV capacity. It is equally about reinforcing the digital architecture underpinning every megawatt connected to the grid.
In an environment defined by hyperconnectivity, regulatory pressure, and increasingly selective capital, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence are becoming central elements of the renewable energy risk matrix — and decisive factors in investment in renewables across the continent.
