AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, June 18, 2025. The growth of renewable energy generation, the urgency of electrifying demand and the key role of battery storage were the focus of debate at the 56th edition of the webinars organised by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting. With the participation of experts from Engie Spain, the meeting addressed the current challenges of the electricity market, the regulatory opportunities and the prospects for the second half of the year and beyond.
The 56th edition of the monthly webinar series organised by AleaSoft Energy Forecasting, a space for analysis and debate on the evolution of the energy sector, was held on Thursday, June 12. On this occasion, experts from Engie Spain took part, in their seventh participation in these meetings. The analysis table following the presentations in Spanish included the participation of Daniel Fernández Alonso, Strategy, Regulatory Affairs and Communications Director at Engie Spain, Ignacio Sáenz Berruga, Head of Origination and Sales at Engie Spain, Lola López Serrano, Head of Strategy and BESS RES at Engie Spain, Júlio Cesar Nieto, Head of Regulatory Affairs at Engie Spain, and Oriol Saltó i Bauzà, Associate Partner at AleaSoft. The table was moderated by Antonio Delgado Rigal, CEO of AleaSoft.
Growth opportunities in the renewable energy sector
The webinar addressed the challenges and opportunities currently facing the renewable energy sector, in a context marked by signs of overcapacity, particularly during the central hours of the day, with the highest solar energy generation. This situation was described as a kind of “desert crossing” for solar photovoltaic energy, which requires new approaches to maximise its utilisation.
Participants agreed that the electrification of demand is essential to balance the growth of renewable energy generation. Progress is urgently needed in speeding up grid access for new consumers, aligning retail and wholesale prices and promoting energy storage solutions such as batteries.
However, it was emphasised that renewable investment models have a long‑term horizon of 25 to 30 years, and that current challenges are mostly concentrated in spring, while conditions are more favourable throughout the rest of the year.
Prospects for battery storage
Energy storage, and especially batteries, was highlighted as a key component for advancing the energy transition. The prospects are positive, with numerous projects under development and significant short‑term growth potential, provided they have the appropriate regulatory support.
Three main areas were identified as crucial for the development of battery storage. In terms of grid access and connection, progress has been made by granting batteries similar status to renewable sources and regulating hybrid configurations.
In the area of permitting, although 14 GW of projects already have access and connection rights, the permitting process is progressing more slowly than expected. A parallel administrative pathway was proposed to accelerate battery project permitting and avoid bottlenecks in the same queues as renewable energy projects.
For the economic viability of projects, a clear regulatory framework is necessary, including appropriately remunerated services such as primary regulation and capacity payments. Public support, such as the IDAE call with FEDER funds, also plays a key role in facilitating financing and enabling project development.
Prospects for the second half of 2025
As for short‑term forecasts, the experts noted that, with demand expected to rise over the summer, captured prices for solar photovoltaic energy will likely recover, as seen in previous years. Although prices during the central hours of the day will remain below average, the profitability of solar photovoltaic power plants is expected to improve in the coming months.
In the medium and long term, the evolution will depend on the balance between demand, available storage and installed renewable energy capacity. A situation similar to this year’s may occur again in spring 2026 unless storage deployment is accelerated. Nonetheless, participants agreed that greater stability may begin to emerge within the next two to three years.
IDAE call for aid for energy storage projects
The IDAE’s new call for aid for storage projects, open until 15 July, was positively highlighted as a key element to accelerate the deployment of batteries. Experts pointed out that, despite the relatively short deadline for submitting projects, its impact will be relevant to guarantee revenues and facilitate project financing.
However, it was also warned that, once the call is resolved, the main bottleneck will be the administrative processing again, which has already caused delays in previous calls and has prevented some projects from meeting the established milestones.
Key aspects to consolidate progress in energy storage
The 56th edition of the webinars of AleaSoft made it clear that the sector is moving forward, especially in the area of energy storage. However, to ensure the viability of projects, coordinated efforts among public administrations, project developers, financial institutions and energy managers are essential. Regulatory signals are positive, but there is still a long way to go to achieve a balanced, competitive and decarbonised energy system.
AleaSoft Energy Forecasting’s analysis on energy markets in Europe, PPA and energy storage
On July 10, AleaSoft Energy Forecasting will hold the 57th webinar of its monthly series. The session will address the recent evolution and prospects of European energy markets, the current situation of the PPA market, with a special focus on the vision of large consumers, as well as the opportunities and challenges of energy storage. The IDAE’s call for aid, endowed with €700 million, for energy storage projects will also be discussed. The analysis table of the webinar in Spanish will be attended by Pedro González, Director‑General of AEGE, who will offer the perspective of large electricity‑intensive consumers, and Roger Font, Managing Director Project Finance Energy at Banco Sabadell, who will analyse the challenges and opportunities posed by the storage and renewable energy project financing in the current market context.
Source: AleaSoft Energy Forecasting.
