Qualifying Photovoltaics (QPV), a spin-off company from IES specializing in solar energy solutions, celebrated its 10th anniversary with a technical seminar held at the Solar Energy Institute premises at UPM’s Campus Sur. The event brought together leading experts and professionals from the photovoltaic sector to address one of the industry’s key challenges: optimizing the performance of solar plants in complex terrains.
Organized in collaboration with IES, the seminar entitled “Optimization of Photovoltaic Plants: The Case of Tracking Systems on Complex Terrain” focused on practical solutions to improve energy yield in installations located in areas with irregular topography. Participants discussed real case studies, operational challenges, and data-driven strategies aimed at maximizing production in such demanding environments.
The event took place at the IES auditorium on the South Campus of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and gathered a diverse audience of engineers, asset managers, researchers and industry stakeholders. Through expert presentations, round-table discussions and networking sessions, attendees exchanged technical knowledge and explored current trends shaping the future of photovoltaic power plants.
According to QPV, the seminar formed part of a broader effort to promote innovation and excellence across the photovoltaic sector. The company highlighted the importance of integrating advanced data analytics, modelling techniques and digital tools to overcome the limitations imposed by complex terrain conditions, where traditional tracking systems may not perform optimally.
The program featured contributions from professionals representing major companies and institutions in the renewable energy ecosystem, as well as researchers from IES‑UPM. Among the topics addressed were advanced solar tracking algorithms, operational optimization strategies and the role of research institutions in supporting industrial-scale photovoltaic deployment.
The event also underscored the strong collaboration between academia and industry, a hallmark of the photovoltaic sector in Spain. QPV itself is a spin-off of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, founded by experts from the Solar Energy Institute, and has developed extensive international experience in quality control, engineering and data analytics for large-scale PV projects.
In addition to its technical content, the seminar served as a platform to celebrate QPV’s ten-year trajectory. Over the past decade, the company has participated in hundreds of photovoltaic projects worldwide, contributing to improving plant reliability, performance and return on investment through advanced technological solutions.