Daniel Domingues is part of a new generation of founders from Portugal using data to accelerate the energy transition. As founder and CEO of Planno, a roof solar siting intelligence platform used by developers and public agencies, he’s helping governments, investors and communities pinpoint where clean energy can have the greatest impact.
As an experienced senior energy advisor and software engineer, Daniel has spent his career leveraging technology to serve sustainable energy. He believes that the future of solar energy depends on how effectively we utilize data, especially the emerging growth of GeoAI, to guide smarter and faster deployment across regions.
We sat down with Daniel to hear more about Planno’s mission, the challenges he has overcome, and his thoughts on Portugal’s growing startup scene.
Can you talk about your venture?
Planno was born from my career working in the renewable energy sector, where I saw solar developers spend months researching new leads, often with little to show for it. The tools available were outdated and inefficient, and the leads origination process was largely random and unstructured.
I wanted to change that. By combining AI and geospatial data, we built a platform that automates the early stages of solar development: identifying rooftops, researching and qualifying them, and turning this into actionable data.
Planno doesn’t just find leads, but it helps determine their value early on.
We scan millions of commercial and industrial rooftops using satellite imagery and artificial intelligence, and enrich that with local data from our 14 active markets. Developers gain insights on solar potential, infrastructure, and customer profiles.
The result is a data-driven solar C&I prospecting tool that transforms guesswork into strategy.
Today’s technology means we can make prospecting a much more efficient and targeted process. With Planno, solar sales teams can focus on real opportunities, build predictable pipelines, and grow their business faster and smarter around clean energy.
Do you have any plans to expand into Portugal?
We already operate in Portugal, and it’s one of the most exciting markets we cover in Europe when it comes to renewable energy. The country has clear goals in place that incentivize the transition to alternative sources of power as part of ongoing efforts to decarbonize the country.
At the same time, the commercial and industrial rooftop segment remains largely untapped, creating huge potential for solar developers. Repurposing existing rooftops to generate power is one of the most efficient ways to accelerate the energy transition.
Bringing Planno to my home country is personal. It’s about helping Portugal build a smarter, data-driven renewable ecosystem and supporting the companies leading this change.
What interests you most about the Portuguese startup market?
Portugal’s startup ecosystem often gets overshadowed by larger tech ecosystems. But the local market is remarkably innovative and purpose-driven.
People genuinely care about sustainability, not as a trend, but as a mindset. I’m particularly interested in the mid-market players, those regional developers and installers who are driving real change on the ground.
Portugal also enjoys sunshine levels comparable to California, with over 10 to 12 hours of sunlight per day in summer. That’s an incredible natural advantage.
All this means that Portugal is an ideal place to invest in solar energy. Small to mid-size solar developers have a huge opportunity, but they don’t always have the same resources as the big energy companies. By giving them access to intelligent tools like Planno, we’re helping them compete with larger players and unlocking the full solar potential of the country.
What advantages and challenges have you found when building a tech team?
Our strongest advantage is passion. Everyone on our team wants to build something that truly matters. That shared purpose fuels creativity and resilience.
However, on the flipside, it can be a challenge to find that balance between deep technical skills and industry expertise. AI engineers know how to build great products, but understanding how solar developers think takes time.
We’ve learned to build those bridges, pairing engineers with solar energy experts. When the two worlds connect, it creates real innovation. That’s my job here.
Can you speak to the tech talent Portugal is producing right now?
Portugal has a strong foundation in engineering, AI, and data science, thanks to world-class universities and a growing innovation culture. And we’re now seeing more interest in renewable energy applications within these fields, which is very encouraging.
Looking ahead, I believe there’s an opportunity to specialize further in geospatial data and applied AI for energy. With the right focus and continued support from local incubators and funding programs, Portugal can become a true green-tech innovation hub in Europe.
What markets are you most active in right now? What makes those attractive?
We’re expanding rapidly in the U.S., a mature but fast-evolving market.
However, one of the most inspiring regions for me is Africa. Energy demand across the continent is growing, and solar is often the most viable solution. Many communities don’t have access to legacy grids. Solar allows them to leapfrog directly into clean, decentralized energy.
What excites me is not just the business potential, but the social impact. Knowing that Planno’s technology can help bring power to communities that need it most is incredibly motivating.
How do regulations in different countries (zoning, building codes, solar incentives) affect Planno’s ability to operate or scale?
Regulations can either open doors or slow you down. Incentives can trigger a new wave of opportunities overnight, while zoning or building codes can take time to navigate.
We address this by adapting Planno to each market. Every country has its own framework, and once we’ve integrated those local rules into the platform, we create something difficult to replicate and highly valuable to users.
In the end, regulations aren’t obstacles — they’re part of the roadmap. Understanding them deeply is what allows us to help developers succeed faster and more confidently.