SparkWave Energy, GeoAI startup Planno speed up discovery of high-value commercial rooftops for solar development

Portugal is fast-tracking its energy transformation, targeting 80% renewable power generation by 2026 and setting an example on the global stage. 

According to Redes Energéticas Nacionais (REN), wind and hydropower have performed exceptionally well. Wind farms, for example, produced 110.4 GWh in a single day in November 2024, representing 86% of national consumption.

However, solar is quickly catching up. In June 2025, solar surpassed wind generation in Portugal’s energy mix for the first time as Portugal’s cumulative solar power generation reached 2,865 GWh, equivalent to 10.9% of the country’s renewable electricity production. 

With continued policy support for renewables, growing awareness of the benefits of clean energy, the expansion of self-consumption schemes, greater availability of financing options and ongoing efforts to streamline permitting procedures, the solar market in Portugal is thriving. 

Yet the story is just beginning. Despite the huge uptick in solar power generation, Portugal has a vast amount of untapped potential. The solar market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 6.5% from 2024 to 2029. 

Commercial and industrial rooftops have an important role to play in this journey, offering an immediate and low-cost way to increase solar generation capacity across Portugal, without the high upfront investment associated with the development of solar parks and other bespoke infrastructure initiatives. 

Now, Portugal’s solar journey is set to accelerate even further following news that Planno and SparkWave Energy are entering into a new partnership. 

Scaling smart renewable-energy adoption across Portugal 

SparkWave Energy is one of Portugal’s fastest-growing solar developers. Backed by the renewables giant, Octopus Energy Generation, the company is currently rolling out a major portfolio of C&I solar projects in Portugal, targeting a considerable installed capacity by 2027.

The new partnership will equip SparkWave Energy with Planno’s GeoAI software to speed up the discovery of high-value commercial rooftops and expand its national development pipeline to scale renewable energy across the region. 

By adopting Planno’s technology, SparkWave Energy aims to strengthen its rooftop pipeline, identify top-tier sites faster, and optimize project selection as Portugal’s distributed generation market is expected to add more than 500 MW annually in the coming years.

“Portugal is becoming a global example of fast, smart renewable-energy adoption,” says Tiago Andrade e Sousa, CEO of SparkWave Energy. 

“Market reforms and exceptional solar conditions create enormous opportunities for commercial and industrial self-consumption. We’ve already helped countless businesses cut emissions through solar. Now, with Planno’s powerful GeoAI solution, we can identify and qualify high-potential rooftops in a fraction of the time, enabling a new phase of growth”, added the executive.

Transition to renewable energy through tech 

Planno offers an AI-powered platform that helps solar developers identify and pre-qualify commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftop opportunities. 

According to Planno’s national geospatial analysis, Portugal hosts 79,000 C&I rooftops with 15.4 GW of solar capacity waiting to be developed. Yet with only 15% currently installed, Portugal’s C&I sector remains one of the region’s biggest untapped clean-energy opportunities.

Commenting on the new partnership, Daniel Domingues, CEO of Planno, said, “SparkWave Energy is demonstrating how private energy players can accelerate the transition to renewable energy through decisive investment and technology. We’re proud to support their mission to install significant additional capacity by 2027 by leveraging our technology, contributing to Portugal’s rapidly growing solar market.”

By automating solar rooftop lead generation with AI and geospatial data, Planno accelerates the discovery of prime rooftops and connects with customers faster than ever before. Its unique approach integrates proprietary and third-party data, creating comprehensive customer profiles for efficient and effective expansion. Planno is reshaping the solar industry by enabling a more efficient, data-driven approach to rooftop development.

The partnership will support SparkWave Energy as it accelerates site development and streamlines prospecting across the country.

Investing in renewable energy

Spark Wave Energy is backed by Octopus Energy Generation, one of Europe’s largest renewable-energy investors, managing 3.2 GW of projects across 17 countries. 

SWE will offer the best market conditions to both businesses and energy communities, making implementation practical and swift. With a business model focused on 100% investment in projects, design, implementation, management, and maintenance, SWE enters the market to challenge the status quo of companies operating in solar self-consumption.