Self-consumption looks beyond solar panels to continue growing

Energy storage, demand management and industrial electrification were the key themes of a conference at which calls were also made for more streamlined procedures and greater regulatory clarity.

Madrid, 22 September 2026. Self-consumption is entering a phase in which generating electricity on a rooftop is just one part of the project. This was the central theme of Energyear Autoconsumo 2026, held at the RIU Plaza España Hotel: households, businesses and industries are seeking to combine solar generation, batteries and consumption management to make better use of energy and reduce their exposure to market prices.

At the first round-table discussions, participants described a more mature market and customers who are already asking for solutions tailored to their needs, rather than simply how many panels can fit on a site. Energy storage featured prominently in the discussion. A battery can shift solar energy to times of peak consumption, reduce demand peaks or provide flexibility to the electricity system. However, the speakers cautioned that its cost-effectiveness must be assessed on a case-by-case basis: it depends on surplus energy, when the energy is consumed and the potential uses of the battery.

Digitalisation adds another layer to that decision. Monitoring consumption and production trends, forecasting prices and coordinating teams enables a facility to be managed with greater precision. The session on data addressed the use of artificial intelligence to support these forecasts, as well as the flexibility that some industries already have in their processes: they can shift part of their demand or store energy in the form of heat without relying solely on electric batteries. Andrés Chami from Fox ESS, pointed out that its value lies ‘not only in the return we will get on that investment, but also in our ability to manage our own energy’.

The industry played a prominent role at the event. The debate on air-source heat pumps and the electrification of heating showed that replacing fuels in a production process requires an understanding of when heat is needed, at what temperature and at what rate. Heat pumps, thermal storage and photovoltaic generation can complement one another, but the combination varies depending on the specific operations of each plant.

For large consumers, including data centres, self-consumption was also examined in terms of power availability, security of supply and cost predictability. Participants discussed power purchase agreements (PPAs) and new financing models to tackle increasingly complex investments. At the same time, they highlighted difficulties in securing connections, managing surplus energy and processing installation applications in accordance with standardised criteria.

Collective self-consumption and energy communities have broadened the discussion to include those who do not have their own rooftop solar panels. Sharing generation amongst several users opens up opportunities, although it requires the coordination of contracts, data and energy distribution. The final panel discussion applied this challenge to electric mobility: the expansion of fleets and fast-charging infrastructure is increasing the demand for power in areas where the grid cannot always meet it easily.

The event highlighted a common theme amidst debates featuring different solutions: the next step for self-consumption depends on integrating technologies and tailoring each project to its consumer. To turn these possibilities into operational installations, the sector once again called for clearer and more streamlined procedures.