Dubai-based climatetech startup, Planno, has secured a strategic investment from sustainability-focused venture capital firm Incubayt Investments in a move expected to accelerate the company’s global expansion and strengthen its geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI) platform for the solar energy industry.
The investment marks Incubayt’s first venture into geospatial AI for solar technology, and comes as global demand for renewable energy solutions continues to rise amid increasing electricity consumption, the rapid expansion of AI-powered data centres, and persistent geopolitical pressures on energy markets.
Since receiving the backing, Planno has expanded its footprint beyond the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region into 16 markets spanning the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the United States.
The company provides advanced data intelligence to solar developers, engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firms, public agencies and global energy operators seeking to identify commercially viable rooftop solar opportunities.
Speaking on the investment, Founder of Incubayt Investments, Sami Khoreibi, described Planno as a company solving one of the renewable energy sector’s most pressing challenges through intelligent data.
“We invest in founders building globally ambitious projects from the UAE on problems that matter at scale,” he said.
Khoreibi added that while financing and sunlight have never been the solar industry’s biggest constraints, actionable intelligence has remained scarce.
“The solar industry has never been short of capital or sunlight. What it has lacked is intelligence. Where to build, and who owns the roof. In a data-driven economy, that insight is as valuable as the projects themselves. Planno is exactly that.”
Planno’s GeoAI Platform Simplifies Solar Project Development
Founded in 2023 by Daniel Domingues, Planno has developed a geospatial AI platform that combines satellite imagery with local market intelligence to help businesses quickly identify rooftops suitable for commercial and industrial solar installations.
Rather than relying on lengthy physical inspections and manual surveys, the platform enables developers to determine which buildings possess the greatest technical and commercial potential for rooftop solar deployment.
The solution is designed to reduce project development timelines, minimise investment risks and improve decision-making by providing accurate information on rooftop suitability, ownership and market potential.
By making these insights readily accessible, Planno is helping solar developers focus resources on projects with the highest probability of success while supporting the broader transition towards cleaner energy sources.
Rising Energy Demand Creates Stronger Case for Rooftop Solar
The company believes growing global electricity demand is creating unprecedented opportunities for distributed renewable energy systems.
According to Planno’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Domingues, businesses are increasingly seeking ways to reduce their exposure to volatile global energy prices.
“Oil and gas are global commodities. Even countries that produce them feel every shock because the price is set somewhere else,” Domingues explained. “Rooftop solar is one of the few cost-control levers a commercial operator actually owns.”
His remarks reflect the growing importance of self-generated renewable energy as organisations worldwide grapple with rising electricity costs driven by expanding AI data centres, industrial growth and geopolitical uncertainties affecting global energy supply chains.
Dubai’s Vast Untapped Rooftop Solar Opportunity
Despite being one of the Middle East’s most active rooftop solar markets, Dubai still possesses enormous untapped potential, according to Planno’s latest analysis.
The company revealed that solar-equipped commercial rooftops in Dubai increased by 39 per cent between late 2023 and the first quarter of 2025.
However, its assessment of every commercial and industrial rooftop across the emirate showed that only 5.6 per cent of the city’s 15,283 eligible rooftops currently host solar installations.
This means that approximately 94 per cent of commercial and industrial rooftops remain without solar systems, leaving an estimated 4 gigawatts (GW) of potential electricity generation capacity undeveloped.
Planno noted that similar trends exist across many major Gulf cities, where thousands of buildings continue to rely entirely on conventional electricity despite having the capacity to generate clean energy directly from their rooftops.
Investment Fuels Global Expansion Beyond the Gulf
The strategic backing from Incubayt has significantly accelerated Planno’s international growth. From its headquarters in Dubai, the company has rapidly expanded into 16 markets across four continents, serving customers that include regional solar developers, EPC firms and multinational energy companies.
According to Domingues, the company’s long-term ambition extends beyond serving large corporations alone.
“We want every solar developer in every market, not just the largest ones, to have proper data to work with,” he said. “Incubayt’s early backing gave us the foundation to build that. We’re now applying the same playbook country by country.”
The expansion demonstrates growing international confidence in AI-driven technologies that simplify renewable energy deployment while helping governments and private sector operators unlock previously overlooked clean energy opportunities.
As countries intensify efforts to improve energy security and reduce carbon emissions, Planno’s combination of satellite intelligence, artificial intelligence and market data positions the company to play an increasingly important role in accelerating rooftop solar adoption across both developed and emerging markets.
The acceleration and expansion include Africa and Asia, where demand for reliable and affordable renewable energy solutions continues to grow.
____________________________
Bookmark Techparley.com for the most insightful technology news from the African continent.
Follow us on X/Twitter @Techparleynews, on Facebook at Techparley Africa, on LinkedIn at Techparley Africa, or on Instagram at Techparleynews
