The success of Portugal’s energy transition will not be measured only in installed megawatts, but in the intelligence with which we manage the system. Portugal can position itself as a European reference.
For years, the energy debate in Portugal has rightly focused on the urgency of transitioning to renewable sources. We celebrated the progress of clean energy, but at the same time an equally decisive transformation has been unfolding quietly: the digital revolution. And I’m not referring only to the adoption of new technologies, but to a structural redefinition of how we think about, operate, and manage the energy system.
The ability to collect real-time data from networks, meters, and equipment will enable faster, more efficient, and more sustainable decision-making. The challenge, however, does not lie in the technology itself, but in how we approach it. The perception persists that digitalization is a cost to justify, when in reality it is a strategic investment that is becoming increasingly essential.
Artificial intelligence represents the qualitative leap in this transformation: it already supports consumption forecasting, predictive maintenance models, and operational optimization. But its full potential is still to be realized: integrating these systems into the real-time operation of networks.
Imagining energy infrastructures that self-regulate based on automated decisions is no longer science fiction. To get there, it is essential to trust the models we create. This means ensuring they are transparent, auditable, and always supervised by humans. AI does not replace engineers; it expands their capabilities, gives them more precise tools, and amplifies the impact of their expertise.
However, digitalization increases the surface exposed to cyberattacks, meaning cybersecurity must be treated as critical infrastructure, as essential as any electrical substation. Security is not an accessory; it is a design principle—without it there is no trust, and without trust there is no transformation.
Another factor we cannot ignore is talent. Portugal has a solid generation of technical professionals, but still lacks hybrid profiles capable of mastering both energy and data. This shortage will likely be one of the main obstacles in the sector’s digital transformation. The solution requires strategic vision: from specialized training to talent retention, through stronger collaboration between companies, universities, and public entities.
At this moment, Portugal holds a privileged position. We have abundant renewable resources, a European regulatory framework that drives transformation, and companies with global reach. But we still face coordination challenges among key stakeholders. For digitalization to stop being a set of disconnected initiatives, we need a shared strategy that spans public services, grid operators, technology companies, and public administration, with true interoperability at its core.
The success of Portugal’s energy transition will not be measured only in installed megawatts, but in the intelligence with which we manage the system. If we manage to turn data into useful decisions, technology into efficiency, and collaboration into progress, Portugal can position itself as a European reference. But if we remain stuck in pilots and isolated solutions, we risk losing an opportunity that may not come again.
Digitalization and artificial intelligence are not trends or futuristic aspirations; they are the backbone of a sector that can no longer pause. The energy transition of the 21st century will not only be clean: it will be digital, predictive, and collaborative. And the time to accelerate is now, because we live, inevitably, in a hyperconnected world.
Source: ECO SAPO
