AI shapes energy flow on digital ground in PV & BESS management

Record builds require disciplined operations

In 2024, the European Union added 65,5 GW of new photovoltaic capacity. Beyond the headline number, the message for developers and investors is this: as the installed base becomes massive, competitive advantage shifts to operations – end-to-end visibility, fast decision-making, and alignment between technical reality and market rules. 

That depends on high-quality data and processes that translate information into action, day in, day out.

Battery energy storage (BESS) has also matured. In 2024, Europe added about 21,9 GWh of BESS capacity, bringing the total to roughly 61,1 GWh. BESS is now used daily to balance variable generation and monetize flexibility: charge when power is cheap or in surplus; discharge when prices rise or the grid needs support. 

Digitalization: the foundation of modern energy management

Measurement starts in the field with connected devices (IoT—Internet of Things; in industrial settings, IIoT): meters, current and voltage transducers, temperature sensors, pyranometers, anemometers, and, where relevant, thermal cameras. These devices stream data to SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition), which provides real-time status and safe remote control.

Between the equipment and the IT domain sits the edge, an industrial computer within the OT (operational technology) network that filters and validates signals, enforces security rules, synchronizes time, and buffers locally when external links drop.

From there, data flows to the cloud, a scalable environment for storage, cleansing, and standardization. By “cloud” we mean computing and databases hosted in a data center (public or private), accessed securely over the internet or dedicated links – elastic capacity, predictable cost, and controlled access.

The analytics layer is built in the cloud: time-series data is organized in a data warehouse, data governance rules (quality, cataloging, access rights) are applied, and information is exposed through APIs to dashboards and AI models. 

Together, this enables the digital twin of the asset – a continuously updated virtual representation that supports apples-to-apples comparisons across sites, KPI tracking, and fast, fact-based decisions.

Standards accelerate the whole chain. IEC 61850 is the “language” of digital substations for communication among intelligent devices, while SunSpec models (standard profiles for inverters, meters, and storage) bring coherence to plant-level data. When designed in from the start, integration becomes predictable, costs stay under control, and traceability improves – critical conditions for scaling, reporting, and audit.

Integrated AI for stable operations

When data is reliably measured and governed, AI becomes an operational tool, not a showcase technology. In PV, models combine historical performance with weather forecasts and, where available, satellite imagery to deliver nowcasting (short-horizon forecasts). Better forecasts lead to better day-ahead scheduling and more accurate intraday adjustments, lower imbalance costs and steadier revenues as European markets emphasize short-term trading and balancing.

In daily operations, AI spots subtle deviations – soiling, out-of-pattern strings, electrical or thermal drifts – and recommends condition-based interventions.

For BESS, algorithms schedule cycling based on SoC (state of charge), SoH (state of health), temperature, and price signals, so that revenues improve while battery lifetime is preserved. At portfolio level, the combined effect is fewer unplanned outages, a more stable PR (Performance Ratio), and reduced downtime.

Digitalization + AI: closing the control loop

Data quality determines whether you can truly close the forecast → decision → command loop. 

An EMS takes AI recommendations and applies them in operations: adjusting inverter set-points, charging/discharging plans, dynamic export limits, or power-factor optimization when the grid requires it. 

When components “speak the same language” (standardization) and exception rules are clear, operations become coherent and verifiable.

Every action remains auditable. Decision logging provides traceability for compliance and confidence for partners (banks, insurers, industrial clients). As intraday market coupling deepens across Europe, portfolios that can reposition quickly and demonstrate flexibility gain a visible edge.

Where operational precision shows up in profit and loss

More accurate forecasts and interventions aligned with field reality reduce schedule deviations and balancing costs. 

At the plant level, condition-based maintenance shortens and spaces out outages; at the portfolio level, this translates into higher availability and more stable revenues.

On the storage side, strategies attentive to SoC/SoH, temperature, and prices avoid low-value cycling and protect cell health – essential for long-term returns. From a financing perspective, consistent data traceability and reporting build trust; portfolios with robust governance find it easier to access performance-linked contracts.

Security, standards, compliance: the backbone

Why OT security matters 

In energy, reliability depends on protecting OT – field equipment and networks. ANSI/ISA-62443-2-1:2024 offers practical guardrails: clear policies and responsibilities, zone-based network segmentation, identity and access management, system hardening, and incident-response procedures. 

Designed this way, SCADA systems and edge equipment remain functional even under human error or attempted attacks, with interventions monitored and documented.

What the European framework requires

NIS2 mandates governance and reporting for energy operators. In Romania, the transposed rules translate into three practical expectations: continuous monitoring (telemetry and alerts from the OT network), IT–OT coordination (shared risk scenarios), and operations through a SOC (Security Operations Center) that detects anomalies quickly and triggers response. The other half of the backbone is interoperability: IEC 61850 and SunSpec ensure devices speak the same language. 

The result: faster integration, auditable data lineage, and manageable long-term costs.

Dynamic markets, intelligent assets: what’s next

As Europe expands PV and storage, more decisions are taken in short-term markets: the day-ahead market and the intraday market, where positions are adjusted within the delivery day, close to real-time production/consumption. ENTSO-E highlights ongoing progress in market coupling and balancing products. In this context, portfolios that measure well, forecast on short horizons, and react fast have an advantage. 

That’s where digitalization and AI make the difference: reliable data flows, updated forecasts, and a decision-to-command loop that enables timely repositioning and access to flexibility revenues.

In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), where PV pipelines are accelerating, digital-first design offers a concrete edge: standardization from day one, coherent IT/OT integration, solid data governance, and auditable automation.

Technologies gaining traction

• Blockchain – where regulation allows – for energy traceability (certificates, guarantees of origin) and operational audit across distributed portfolios.
  
• Generative AI as an operations assistant: summarizing alerts, proposing remediation steps, explaining model decisions in natural language, and producing recurring reports.
  
• Edge AI in BESS and substations: algorithms closer to equipment, lower latency, better resilience when cloud links fluctuate.
  
• Operational digital twins: “what-if” scenarios for battery strategy, condition-based maintenance, and inverter tuning under variable grid conditions.

Regional context

In CEE, digital solutions for forecasting and operations are advancing. In Romania, the transmission system operator Transelectrica runs a public forecasting pilot for prosumer production (national and county-level, day-ahead and two-days-ahead) – a pragmatic step toward granular visibility and better operational planning. 

In Poland, commercial solutions deliver automated forecasts and SOGL-compliant reporting, replacing manual processes and reducing errors – the kind of data infrastructure that enables subsequent AI-based optimization. 

On investments, Romania is becoming a focal point for storage, with multiple BESS projects in the pipeline and intraday activity gaining momentum. Regional outlooks suggest utility-scale storage in CEE could increase roughly fivefold by 2030, favoring data-first portfolios able to monetize flexibility.

Wiren’s long-term view

We advocate open architectures and data discipline – principles that remain valid regardless of the technology cycle. 

The goal is an infrastructure you can scale without friction: standards for interoperability, governance that makes KPIs comparable, and security for OT/IT environments. 

We set the pace and scope of implementation according to operational priorities and team capacity, so solutions scale smoothly and stay transparent to all stakeholders. Documentation is consistent and partnerships are chosen carefully, so analytics and automation remain auditable and integration costs predictable over time.

Obtain higher returns and enjoy steadier revenues with operational risks under control. Put data and AI to work where they matter most – in daily operations – and do it together with Wiren.