AI, technology, and the next productivity leap | Watt Matters by PVcase

S2E4 episode overview

Recorded live at Intersolar Europe 2026, this episode looks at where AI, automation, and robotics improve solar project delivery without introducing new risks. 

Host Conrado Lamas sits down with:

• Joachim Rupp, Senior Advisor, Renewable energy and Cleantech

• David Trainavicius, CEO, PVcase

• Ángel Galván Caride, Senior Engineering Manager Europe, Nextpower

Together, they examine the current state of AI adoption, the trust and data foundations it requires, and the software and hardware advances shaping solar’s next productivity gains.

Productivity beyond the AI hype 

Solar teams need to improve productivity without adding risk. Yet AI adoption remains uneven, limited by disconnected tools, data security concerns, unclear use cases, and the organizational cost of change.

Joachim Rupp separates practical uses from hype and considers what organizations need before handing more control to AI. David Trainavicius explains how PVcase uses AI internally and why consistent project data matters. Ángel Galván Caride brings the discussion into the physical world through robotics, terrain-adaptive trackers, and foundation technology.

Together, they show why solar’s next productivity leap will come from practical improvements across data, software, hardware, and execution, not one breakthrough.

What you'll learn in this episode

• Why AI adoption remains uneven across solar tools and teams

• How trust, data security, and clear use cases shape responsible adoption

• How PVcase uses AI and consistent project data to improve product development

• Why tighter margins are changing how solar companies evaluate technology

• Where robotics and terrain-adaptive hardware can improve utility-scale execution

Chapters

00:00 — AI, technology, and the next productivity leap

00:53 — Joachim Rupp: a board-level view on AI in solar

02:02 — Is the solar sector actually embracing AI?

04:33 — How AI conversations begin, from startups to corporates

11:20 — Skepticism, change, and the true cost of AI adoption

17:54 — From rapid deployment to integration and balance

19:08 — David Trainavicius: technology from CAD to platform

23:58 — Why PVcase started with detailed engineering

25:38 — Using AI inside PVcase to build and ship faster

28:38 — A maturing industry: from subsidies to margins

30:58 — A message of optimism for the sector

32:16 — Ángel Galván Caride: trackers, robotics, and utility-scale execution

33:03 — Nextpower's acquisition of Zimmermann: fixed tilt, 2P tracking, and a broader platform

36:44 — Robotics on-site and the business case for automation

37:57 — Terrain-adaptive tracking and new foundation technology

41:24 — Advice for engineers entering the solar sector

43:52 — The systems behind solar's next productivity leap