Artificial intelligence (AI) is presented as a fundamental ally for advancing towards more flexible, digitized, and environmentally friendly energy systems, a need particularly pressing for island territories like the Canary Islands. The first Brain2Power forum, driven by the Canary Islands Oceanic Platform (Plocan), will analyze new business models based on sustainable energy transition this Thursday.
The Brain2Power project, a collaboration between Plocan, the Technological Institute of Galicia (ITG), and the company Regenera, funded by the Institute for Diversification and Energy Saving (IDAE) and European Next Generation Funds, aims to design and validate business models for the intelligent management of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) using AI.
These systems integrate multiple small-scale renewable energy sources, such as solar panels or wind turbines, along with storage systems, enabling them to act as a single power plant thanks to AI. Technologist scientist Cristela Moreno, a member of the team, confirms that this technology is already a reality in the Canary Islands, with companies already having VPPs installed in their vehicles or facilities.
Researchers are analyzing data from these real-world cases, as well as from institutions and Plocan's experimental offshore platform, to develop feasibility studies. Moreno highlights that the application of VPPs varies significantly depending on the type of building and consumption patterns, requiring a detailed analysis of multiple variables to draw precise conclusions.
AI plays a crucial role in real-time consumption monitoring, predicting demand peaks, anticipating energy failures, and optimizing management. Through training models with real data, AI can efficiently distribute energy, even allowing consumers to become 'prosumers,' managing their own energy and distributing surplus.
Although the technology is still under development, regions like Galicia are already testing these advancements, and in the Canary Islands, several companies are applying AI in energy management. The project also prioritizes sustainability and the safeguarding of marine biodiversity, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce the carbon footprint.
The Brain2Power forum will bring together scientists and technologists, including Dr. Pedro Cabrera, professor at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), to discuss these aspects and explore the opportunities offered by AI in the energy transition.
