Project details
The technological upgrading of renewable energy production plants requires not only hardware and software solutions that comply with the strictest standards, but also a deep operational synergy between control technology manufacturers and the players responsible for Operation & Maintenance (O&M).
The collaboration between Higeco More and Stern Energy, launched in 2024 in the context of integrating Plant Central Controller (CCI) systems, represents a virtuous model of how the transfer of technical skills and autonomy in the field can optimize asset management and the operational efficiency of large utility-scale photovoltaic plants.
The regulatory context: upgrading CCI systems and Resolution 385
The introduction of ARERA Resolution 385/2021/R/eel redefined the connection requirements for power generation plants, mandating the installation of the Plant Central Controller (CCI) to ensure bidirectional data exchange with Distribution System Operators (DSOs). This regulatory evolution has driven photovoltaic sector operators to identify hardware and software solutions capable of ensuring long-term stability, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance.
In this scenario, the technical partnership between Higeco More and Stern Energy has been consolidated through the management of complex, large-scale projects. From the initial pilot supply of 30 CCI devices in 2024, Stern Energy has integrated Higeco More technology to reach a fleet of approximately 150 installed and interconnected devices. This installation volume testifies to the market need to adopt standardized, scalable control architectures ready for smart grid logic.
As Andrea Pirri, Sales Manager at Higeco More, emphasizes:
The most significant aspect of the collaboration with Stern Energy is being able to count on a highly trained and structured technical partner. For our engineering team, interfacing with a competent organization capable of independently managing field complexities represents a guarantee of quality for the entire project life cycle.
Higeco More Academy: operational scalability and technical autonomy in O&M
While the hardware robustness and regulatory compliance of CCI devices laid the technical foundations of the partnership, its evolution over time was driven by the sharing of know-how. Indeed, the technology supply was not conceived as a standalone transactional process, but as the beginning of a synergistic journey focused on the growth of the partner’s internal skills.
To support this vision and meet the growing market demand for scalability, Higeco More developed the Higeco More Academy: a structured training program open to all sector operators, system integrators, and O&M partners wishing to independently master the CCI field control logic.
The Academy was not created as an isolated path or limited to individual orders, but as a core strategic corporate pillar aimed at transferring solid, directly applicable know-how regarding Higeco More solutions. The educational path is structured to be flexible and accessible, combining online training sessions for theoretical learning with in-person deep dives, which are essential for consolidating practical experience and fostering direct exchange between the engineering teams of both companies.
In the specific case of Stern Energy, integrating this permanent program into its internal development plans allowed technical personnel to complete the training process, acquiring vertical competencies and full independence across three crucial operational areas:
The most significant practical reflection of these skills is measured directly on-site: today, when Stern Energy technicians intervene at a plant for the commissioning of CCI systems, activity planning relies exclusively on internal logistical and operational needs, as well as those of the final client. It is no longer necessary to tie interventions to the availability of the supplier’s technical support service, thereby eliminating field wait times and optimizing overall workflows.
Stefano Trani, head of Higeco More Academy, highlights the core metric driving the program:
We don’t measure the effectiveness of the Academy by the number of courses delivered or certificates issued, but by the number of times our partners no longer need to call us.
Higeco More Academy in-person course for Stern Energy
The impact on industrial monitoring and end clients
Investing in skills and developing internal know-how generate tangible benefits that extend beyond the scope of collaboration between the two companies, translating into a direct competitive advantage for asset owners and end clients.
The complete operational autonomy acquired by O&M technicians on the product allows for the optimization of asset management through three key factors:
As Martina Massini, training manager for Stern Energy, points out:
For us, training is not an ancillary activity, but a strategic investment. The collaboration with Higeco More has allowed us to increase internal skills and acquire greater operational autonomy, with concrete benefits both for our team and for the clients we support every day.
Operational synergies for grid balancing and stability
The transition toward a decentralized energy system requires a paradigm shift: hardware technology must be supported by a network of professionals capable of managing it. The partnership between Higeco More and Stern Energy demonstrates that combining advanced control systems with widespread technical skills is key to addressing the technological challenges imposed by smart grids and the evolution of the Italian regulatory framework.
Looking ahead to future market developments—from the integration of industrial battery energy storage systems (BESS) to participation in dispatching service markets—the consolidation of this collaboration model represents a fundamental pillar to ensure maximum efficiency and resilience of national energy infrastructures.
With this perspective, and looking to the future, all the conditions are in place to further expand the collaboration between the two companies, developing increasingly structured partnership models dedicated to local service and support activities.