Interview with Antonio Ruano, CEO of Intelec: “The financial and technical support from CDTI Innovación and the ERDF funds has helped us professionalize our photovoltaic R&D”
At a time of rapid solar energy expansion, the challenge is no longer just installing more capacity, but managing it more effectively. With the support of CDTI Innovación and co-financing from the ERDF funds, the Jaén-based company Intelec is driving Simpred, an artificial intelligence-based solution aimed at transforming the maintenance of photovoltaic installations by anticipating failures and optimizing performance.
Since its creation in 2002 in Jaén, Intelec has followed a path that closely reflects the transformation of Spain’s energy sector itself. Founded as a company focused on engineering solutions for installations and energy efficiency, it has progressively evolved toward a model in which technology and innovation play a central role. “Our vocation has always been to combine execution capability with technological innovation,” explains Antonio Ruano, the company’s CEO, who emphasizes that this transformation process “has led us from being an installation company to developing our own technology in the field of smart energy.”
Today, with more than 130 professionals and a network of collaborators that expands its operational capacity, Intelec focuses almost all of its activity on the domestic market. Its specialization ranges from solar photovoltaic energy — including residential self-consumption, industrial solutions, and large-scale installations — to air conditioning, electric mobility, and energy consulting. In recent years, it has also strengthened its position in specific niches such as floating photovoltaics, with several projects carried out on irrigation reservoirs.
This growth has been accompanied by an increasingly strong commitment to R&D&I. Initiatives such as SmartPhotolive, in collaboration with the University of Jaén, and the Simpred project itself mark a turning point in the company’s strategy. “We want to take another step forward and become developers of our own technology, generating products, industrial property, and new business lines based on data and artificial intelligence,” says Ruano.
A sector in expansion
The origin of Simpred is directly linked to a structural transformation within the photovoltaic sector. The accelerated growth of installed capacity worldwide has created new needs that, until now, have not been fully addressed. “We are experiencing unprecedented expansion. But that growth has arrived faster than the tools needed to maintain the installed base under optimal conditions,” warns Ruano.
In this context, one of the main issues identified is the persistence of reactive maintenance models — interventions that occur only after a failure has already happened, with the resulting impact on energy production and installation profitability. “This causes production losses, increases operational costs, and reduces return on investment,” he summarizes.
The situation is especially critical for small and medium-sized installations, which make up an increasing share of the photovoltaic market. Unlike large-scale plants, these installations usually do not have advanced monitoring systems due to their cost and complexity. “Current solutions are designed for large solar plants and are not cost-effective on a small scale. That has created a real technical gap,” he explains.
It is precisely in this space that Simpred positions itself: a project focused on developing a predictive maintenance solution adapted to distributed installations, especially in self-consumption environments.
Self-consumption as an opportunity
Simpred’s approach also responds to a strategic reading of the market. The self-consumption segment — residential, commercial, and small and medium-sized enterprises — is one of the fastest-growing areas in Spain, but also one of those with the greatest shortcomings in terms of maintenance.
“It is a huge, fragmented, and underserved market, and that is where the greatest innovation opportunities lie,” says Ruano. Every year, thousands of new installations come online and, in many cases, are left without proper follow-up after commissioning.
The project’s value proposition is based on reversing this situation through the use of artificial intelligence and data analysis. Among the expected benefits, Ruano highlights improved energy production, reduced operating costs, and extended equipment lifespan. “Detecting failures before they impact generation allows better use of the energy produced and more effective intervention planning,” he notes.
Another key element is occupational safety: reducing unnecessary travel. “On rooftops, every avoided technical visit eliminates a working-at-height risk,” he points out.
The challenge of data robustness
Developing a solution like Simpred is not without challenges. One of the main issues involves the availability and quality of the data needed to train artificial intelligence systems.
“The challenge is to generate robust datasets in a market that has historically been poorly monitored,” explains Ruano. Small installations — precisely those targeted by the project — usually lack advanced data collection systems, making it difficult to identify patterns and anomalies.
To address this problem, Intelec has launched a strategy that combines the installation of specific sensors with the development of automated fault-labeling systems. “We are deploying environmental, electrical, and thermal sensors in pilot installations, while also working with open protocols such as Modbus TCP and OPC UA to guarantee interoperability,” he details.
In addition, the project includes the creation of a structured database that constitutes, in itself, one of its main assets. This approach is supported by a multidisciplinary team that integrates technical expertise, artificial intelligence capabilities, and real operational experience.
Collaboration with the University of Jaén
One of Simpred’s distinguishing features is its close collaboration with the academic environment, particularly with the IDEA Group at the University of Jaén. This alliance combines scientific rigor with practical applicability, a key aspect in market-oriented R&D projects.
“The university provides theoretical depth and research capability; the company contributes plant knowledge and access to the end customer,” summarizes Ruano. In this specific project, the IDEA Group participates in tasks such as photovoltaic system characterization, statistical analysis of variables, and simulation of maintenance scenarios.
This collaboration is not a one-off initiative, but part of a broader and well-established relationship between the two entities, including projects such as SmartPhotolive. According to Ruano, this type of synergy is essential for promoting knowledge transfer and strengthening the innovation ecosystem.
Public support for greater territorial cohesion
The development of Simpred has been made possible thanks to the support of CDTI Innovación and co-financing from the ERDF funds under the 2021–2027 program. The project has a duration of 36 months and a budget close to half a million euros.
“For us, this support has been decisive. A company of our size could not undertake a project of this technical ambition without an instrument like the CDTI’s,” says Ruano. Beyond the financial aspect, however, he also highlights the value of the technical guidance: “Interaction with CDTI helps organize the roadmap, define milestones, and professionalize the R&D function within the company.”
From a broader perspective, Ruano underlines the impact of this type of funding on the innovation ecosystem as a whole. “It enables companies in regions such as Jaén to develop projects to European standards, generate industrial property, and collaborate with universities,” he says. In his opinion, this model contributes to greater territorial cohesion and the creation of qualified employment, especially in strategic sectors such as the energy transition.
Sustainability and efficiency: impact on the 2030 Agenda
Simpred’s contribution to sustainability operates on several levels. First, by optimizing the performance of photovoltaic installations, resulting in better use of the clean energy generated. “Every hour a panel operates below its capacity is renewable energy that is lost,” Ruano reminds us.
Second, the predictive approach reduces the need for premature replacements and optimizes the use of resources associated with maintenance. This includes both materials and travel, aligning with the principles of the circular economy.
In this regard, the project is directly connected to several Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Improved energy efficiency, sector digitalization, and emissions reduction are some of the key drivers behind this contribution to the 2030 Agenda.
A paradigm shift in solar maintenance
Beyond its technical results, Simpred aims to generate a deeper change in how maintenance is perceived within the photovoltaic sector. “We want it to stop being seen as a cost and start being understood as a driver of profitability and sustainability,” says Ruano.
Looking ahead, the company plans to consolidate this technology as a benchmark platform, with deployment in the domestic market and international projection. The strategy includes expansion into other countries with high photovoltaic development, as well as participation in European R&D programs.
“In five years, we would like predictive maintenance to become the standard for small plants as well, and for Intelec to have helped make that possible,” he concludes. If achieved, this objective would not only strengthen the company’s position, but also contribute to improving the efficiency and sustainability of the energy system as a whole.
Image: Intelec company installations
CDTI Innovación
The Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI E.P.E.) is the innovation agency of Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose objective is to promote technological innovation in the business sector. CDTI’s mission is to ensure that the Spanish business ecosystem generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable, and inclusive growth. In 2025, במסגרת the 2024–2027 Strategic Plan, CDTI provided more than €2 billion in support to Spanish companies and startups.
More information:
Web: www.cdti.es
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/29815
X: https://twitter.com/CDTI_innovacion
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/CDTIoficial
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