New Energy World™
New Energy World™ embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low-carbon technologies.
Why the energy transition increasingly depends on AI
22/6/2026
8 min read
Feature
Artificial intelligence (AI) is driving up electricity demand through data centres and advanced computing. Yet speakers at All-Energy argued that AI may also be essential for managing the increasingly complex, decentralised energy systems needed to achieve net zero, writes Kristy Jooste, Senior Content Officer, Energy Institute.
AI is placing new demands on energy systems whilst becoming an increasingly important tool for managing them. Millions of solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles (EVs) are creating a more complex and decentralised electricity system that relies on machine learning and automation. At the same time, the data centres needed to power AI are becoming major electricity consumers in their own right.
At the All-Energy Exhibition & Conference in Glasgow in May, industry experts explored this growing tension. The session titled ‘Powering intelligence and intelligent power: AI’s two-way impact on the energy system’ examined whether AI will place additional strain on electricity networks or provide the tools needed to manage them more effectively.
Speakers argued that rising computational demand is already reshaping electricity systems. As generative AI models become more widespread, their processing requirements are increasing demand for reliable power supplies, forcing grid operators to rethink infrastructure plans while continuing to decarbonise the energy system.