--- title: "Blog – Energy Forecasting, Markets & AI | alitiq" description: "Articles by the alitiq team on energy forecasting, nowcasting, energy trading and the use of AI in the energy industry." url: https://alitiq.com/en/blog language: en alternates: en: https://alitiq.com/en/blog de: https://alitiq.com/de/blog --- Insights & Innovation # alitiq Blog Discover the latest insights in weather forecasting, AI technology, and energy intelligence. Stay ahead with expert analysis and industry trends. ### Filter by Topic [ ![Chronos-2 vs. Timestral: Foundation Models for Load Forecasting](https://alitiq.com/images/products/lastprognose-stromnetz-stadt-illustration.webp) Load Forecast Foundation Models AI ### Chronos-2 vs. Timestral: Foundation Models for Load Forecasting We tested Chronos-2 and the new Timestral zero-shot on the day-ahead electricity load of a Swiss town. Both reach an MAE below 5 %. Results and limits. October 17, 2026 Daniel Gröger ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/foundation-models-load-forecasting-chronos-timestral) [ Forecasting Procurement Build or Buy ### What to Look for When Choosing a Forecasting Provider Seven criteria for comparing providers of solar, wind and load forecasts, plus a build-or-buy TCO calculation for a 100 MW portfolio. October 13, 2026 Matthias Habel ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/choosing-a-forecasting-provider) [ ![New alitiq API Portal: Onboarding PV Systems and Wind Parks](https://alitiq.com/images/blog/api-portal-dashboard.webp) API Solar Wind ### New alitiq API Portal: Onboarding PV Systems and Wind Parks The alitiq API Portal has a new design and a clearer workflow. What it is for and how it helps you set up PV systems and wind parks for forecasting. October 13, 2026 Daniel Gröger ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/api-portal-onboarding-pv-wind) [ ![HydrocastAI: More Accurate Inflow and Generation Forecasts for Your Hydropower Plants](https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2019/10/18/22/15/hydroelectric-power-station-4560237_1280.jpg) Hydropower Forecasting AI ### HydrocastAI: More Accurate Inflow and Generation Forecasts for Your Hydropower Plants How alitiq uses satellite data and AI to take forecast quality for hydropower operators to a new level – and why we now need your input. September 29, 2026 Matthias Habel ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/hydrocastai-accurate-hydropower-forecasts) [ Forecast Evaluation MAPE Metrics ### Pitfalls of Using MAPE as a Forecast Accuracy Metric Why MAPE fails for solar, wind and load data with values near zero, what a good MAPE is, and which metrics such as nRMSE, WAPE and MASE work better. September 15, 2026 Daniel Gröger ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/mape-pitfalls-forecast-accuracy) [ ![What Is a Heat Demand Forecast?](https://alitiq.com/images/blog/fernwaerme-leitung-winter-fruehling.webp) Heat District Heating Basics ### What Is a Heat Demand Forecast? What a heat demand forecast for district heating is, which factors drive heat load, and how utilities use it to plan generation and procurement. August 12, 2026 Matthias Habel ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/what-is-a-heat-demand-forecast) [ ![What Is a Load Forecast?](https://alitiq.com/images/products/lastprognose-stromnetz-stadt-illustration.webp) Load Forecast Forecasting Basics ### What Is a Load Forecast? What an electricity load forecast is, which data and methods it relies on, and why it is moving beyond standard load profiles. July 1, 2026 Matthias Habel ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/what-is-a-load-forecast) [ ![What Is a Solar Power Forecast?](https://alitiq.com/images/industries/pv-freiflaechenanlage-luftbild.webp) Solar Forecasting Basics ### What Is a Solar Power Forecast? What a solar power forecast is, how irradiance forecasts become PV output, and why accurate PV forecasts matter for trading and balancing. May 20, 2026 Matthias Habel ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/what-is-a-solar-power-forecast) [ ![What Is a Wind Power Forecast?](https://alitiq.com/images/products/windleistungsprognose-windpark-illustration.webp) Wind Forecasting Basics ### What Is a Wind Power Forecast? What a wind power forecast is, how it is calculated from weather models and turbine data, and why direct marketers and utilities depend on it. April 15, 2026 Matthias Habel ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/what-is-a-wind-power-forecast) [ ![SLP Customers in Transition – Why Now Is the Right Time for Modern Forecasting Solutions](https://alitiq.com/images/blog/imsys-entwicklung-deutschland.webp) Smart Meter Forecasting AI ### SLP Customers in Transition – Why Now Is the Right Time for Modern Forecasting Solutions The smart meter rollout is changing the energy industry. For many utilities, it is a paradigm shift – and a chance to future-proof their forecasting. December 3, 2025 Daniel Gröger ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/slp-customers-modern-forecasting) [ ![Forecast Time Horizons: Nowcasting vs. Forecasting – How alitiq Masters Every Timeline](https://alitiq.com/images/blog/nowcasting-vs-forecasting.webp) Nowcasting Forecasting AI ### Forecast Time Horizons: Nowcasting vs. Forecasting – How alitiq Masters Every Timeline Discover how alitiq combines AI-powered day-ahead forecasting with real-time nowcasting to deliver precision across all energy market timelines. October 9, 2025 Matthias Habel ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/forecast-time-horizons) [ ![The 1/4-Hourly Day-Ahead Market & The Illusion of Better Forecasting](https://alitiq.com/images/blog/day-ahead-viertelstuendlicher-fahrplan.webp) Energy Trading Forecasting Solar ### The 1/4-Hourly Day-Ahead Market & The Illusion of Better Forecasting Why the shift to 15-minute contracts doesn't automatically mean better forecasts for renewable energy trading. September 30, 2025 Daniel Gröger ](https://alitiq.com/en/blog/quarterly-market-forecasting)