The potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to transform the energy industry and accelerate decarbonization has emerged as a critical topic of discussion amongst energy ministers and business leaders at ADIPEC 2024, the world’s largest energy event.
On the opening day of ADIPEC 2024, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and group CEO, emphasized the critical need for industry leaders to come together and support era-defining breakthroughs such as AI.
AI’s game-changing impact reflects a wider sense of optimism across the energy industry. Government leaders and business executives attending ADIPEC 2024 shared the mutual belief that AI can fast-track the energy transition and unlock new avenues for progress and prosperity.
AI’s impact on business operations
In a session titled ‘The power of AI for the energy transition’, top private sector executives attending ADIPEC 2024 explored how AI is transforming business operations. They also offered their expert insights on the long-term implications of wide-scale AI implementation.
“We are using AI to improve operational efficiency, which supports our company’s development in the renewables space. This allows us to better assist our clients in understanding their behavior and what they need,” stated Michel Lutz, chief data officer and digital factory head of data & AI at TotalEnergies.
Speakers across ADIPEC 2024’s 10 different conferences also emphasized the pressing need to address the challenges and opportunities surrounding this transformative technology.
“Before we perfect AI, we need to address fundamental issues. AI can initiate either a virtuous or vicious cycle, depending on how we utilize this technology and how we feed it. While AI consumes a significant amount of energy and its production requires vast resources, it nonetheless helps economies and societies grow. It is up to us to respond wisely to the fork in the road ahead,” added Tengku Muhammad Taufik, president and group CEO of PETRONAS.
AI and climate-related issues
Anima Anandkumar, Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech, also contributed to these critical conversations, highlighting the evolving impact of AI on both the energy industry and the environment.
“We should consider not just the energy reduction achieved using AI, but also the time and money saved by employing these AI models. AI is helping us take corrective action in response to natural disasters and other climate-related issues, and the more data we have available, the better our AI models will become,” she stated.
Transformative solutions from sector leaders
ADIPEC 2024’s commitment to accelerating AI-enabled energy solutions and projects was also evident in the event’s inaugural AI Zone, which featured AI studios and demo pods that showcased transformative solutions from leading energy and AI businesses. This dynamic space provided attendees with a comprehensive view of the innovations shaping the future energy system.
The zone also hosted a dedicated AI conference, where leaders from the energy, technology, and government sectors worked together to develop a strategic roadmap for integrating AI into the energy landscape. The AI conference featured several innovation showcases throughout the day, where tech giants and energy majors including Microsoft, Carbon Clean, AIQ, and ADNOC presented their latest breakthroughs and projects in the field of AI.
Read | ADIPEC 2024: ADNOC, Masdar, Microsoft partner to drive AI deployment, low-carbon solutions
Latest tech advancements
Meanwhile, ADIPEC 2024’s new digitalization and technology conference delved into how next-generation technologies, including AI, can unlock the decarbonization and efficiency opportunities Industry 4.0 presents. Sessions covered advancements in new materials, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), with a focus on sustainable scaling of these technologies.
In the exhibition halls, companies demonstrated their latest AI-enhanced hardware and energy equipment. Attendees explored innovative products and services that seek to reduce emissions, improve energy efficiency, and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy sources.
As ADIPEC 2024 moves into its third day, the event continues to serve as a global platform for driving innovation, collaboration, and sustainable progress in the energy transition. With a combination of strategic insights and technological showcases, ADIPEC 2024 remains the premier forum for addressing the complex challenges of creating a low-carbon, high-growth future for the global energy sector.
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