Enlit Europe 2024: Rewiring the energy industry’s operational core with cloud and AI
Europe’s energy network is facing unprecedented pressure. By 2030, the continent’s energy demand is expected to rise by nearly 20%, while grid flexibility needs will more than double, putting enormous pressure on aging infrastructure.1 As renewable energy integration increases, Europe’s grids will require seven times more flexibility by 2050 to cope with the variability of sources like wind and solar.1 This complexity is compounded by rising cyberattacks, with over 200 incidents targeting the European energy sector in 2023 alone.2
To address these growing challenges, energy and resources leaders are increasingly turning to digital technology solutions. By leveraging AI-driven insights and cloud-based operational technology (OT) systems, energy operators can optimize grid management, strengthen cybersecurity, and respond faster to operational inefficiencies.
In the area of predictive maintenance, AI can analyze historical equipment performance and environmental data to forecast potential equipment failures, helping utilities avoid costly downtime while enabling uninterrupted service. For example, JERA developed an AI-based predictive detection application that provides everyday remote monitoring of power plants, enabling early detection of equipment issues and reducing unplanned outages.
“By enabling a 24-hours-a-day remote monitoring service, we will be able to provide value by preventing potential problems and by improving power plant availability through quick identification of problem causes. DPP’s primary role is to contribute to the stable supply of energy and sustainable power plant operations through transformations that utilize digital technology and data.”
Hiroaki Kamei, Executive Officer of the Digital Power Plant Promotion Group, O&M Engineering Strategy Division
This scenario provides a glimpse into the many ways AI is quickly becoming one of the most impactful tools for energy organizations and workers. Across the utility workforce—from engineering and grid operations to customer service and finance—employees are also seeing increased productivity with generative AI technology as they use tools like Microsoft Copilot to streamline tasks such as drafting emails, summarizing meetings, conducting research, analyzing data, generating manuals, and preparing presentations. This enables them to focus more on high-value work that fuels industry-wide growth and collaboration, accelerating the energy transition.
Beyond task productivity, generative AI is transforming how utilities manage operations at scale. For example, National Grid is leveraging Microsoft Copilot and Azure to assist with automation, document management, and report generation across regulatory, finance, and legal operations, helping the company drive efficiencies in its mission to achieve net-zero goals. According to Shannon Soland, Chief Technology Officer at National Grid, “Microsoft Copilot is really going to be a difference maker for National Grid,” allowing the company to innovate rapidly with AI-powered solutions.
Microsoft for energy and resources
Drive innovation to achieve net zero and deliver safe, reliable, equitable energy for a sustainable future
Enhancing cloud security with AI
AI is not just a tool for optimization—it’s becoming essential for energy security and operational resilience. As energy organizations modernize their systems and integrate new technologies to streamline workflows and improve operations, there’s a growing emphasis around overall security posture. That is why Microsoft is working closely with energy customers and partners to provide intelligent and scalable cybersecurity solutions that help set the stage for successful AI adoption and continued innovation—so they can focus on what matters most: meeting the world’s growing energy needs while ensuring a secure, sustainable, and affordable supply.
Solutions like Microsoft Copilot for Security are enabling energy organizations to identify threats faster, strengthen risk mitigation strategies, and respond to incidents more efficiently. For example, Uniper, a leader in the energy transition, has integrated Copilot for Security to manage the growing number of phishing attempts and hacker attacks they face as an operator of critical infrastructure.
“Copilot for Security immediately flags incidents, allowing us to identify risks up to twice as fast, assess them right away, and take the appropriate action.”
Damian Bunyan, Chief Information Officer of Uniper
Routine security tasks, which used to take hours or days, are now handled in minutes through AI and automation, improving security response times and helping Uniper focus on their broader goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2040.
We’ve embedded Copilot directly into the Microsoft Security stack, allowing energy customers to tap into built-in AI capabilities and industry-leading threat intelligence—regardless of the solutions they use. It’s all part of our effort to empower human defenders with AI tools and capabilities that provide an advantage against some of the energy industry’s greatest challenges.
Microsoft partnerships help the energy industry embrace the future of work
Supercharging human ingenuity with advanced technology is just one way to drive a more sustainable, reliable, affordable, and secure energy supply. Another critical piece is global collaboration and partnership.
Microsoft’s collaboration with leading global systems integrators (GSIs) is driving significant innovation in the energy sector. Partners like Accenture, Avanade, EY, and PwC helping utilities globally leverage AI and Azure-powered technologies to modernize and enhance productivity. Accenture and Avanade, early adopters of Microsoft Copilot, are accelerating value by delivering intelligent, industry-specific solutions that empower workforce. Similarly, EY and PwC are working closely with Microsoft to provide cutting-edge tools that enable energy providers to streamline operations and strengthen their digital transformation strategies.
Among Microsoft’s key collaborators is IFS, which plays a crucial role in transforming asset management and enterprise resource planning (ERP) for energy companies. Exelon, the largest energy delivery company in North America, is leveraging IFS technology to improve operational visibility and streamline the management of its extensive asset base across six utility businesses. According to Rob Biagiotti, Vice President of Assets and Core System Projects at Exelon, the company chose IFS for its cloud-based, agile platform that could meet the evolving needs of their business. By enabling Exelon to efficiently manage the full lifecycle of assets and integrate with their existing technology, IFS is helping them achieve their strategic goals of delivering reliable, affordable energy to over 10 million customers.
GE Vernova has developed a solution underpinned with advanced AI models to improve wildfire risk mitigation, with their solution available on Azure to provide sophisticated analysis and better decision-making for environmental planning and response. Meanwhile, Schneider Electric’s DERMS EcoStruxure platform, deployed on Azure, is advancing distributed energy resource management, increasing grid flexibility and efficiency. This platform has been successfully implemented at Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E), where it’s driving significant value by optimizing distributed energy resources and improving grid management across their network.
These are just a few of the many partners Microsoft collaborates with across the energy sector. The scale and complexity of today’s energy challenges make partnership essential; no single organization can drive this transformation alone. By working together, we can accelerate innovation and ensure a secure, sustainable, and resilient energy future.
Sharing industry insights at Enlit Europe 2024
We are excited to discuss the transformational power of technology and share new AI innovations with our partners as the AI sponsor of Enlit Europe 2024 at Fiera Milano di Rho in Milan, Italy. This opportunity enables us to deepen our existing partnerships and forge new ones with energy organizations from around the world. The event will run from October 22 to 24, 2024 and will be attended by 15,000 guests, including over 700 international exhibitors and 500 speakers from energy industry leaders.
The Microsoft Energy and Resources Industry team will attend Enlit Europe 2024 to exchange insights on new technologies, discuss solutions to industry challenges, and highlight key achievements with our industry partners. On day two of the conference, we will feature Microsoft Copilot demos at the Digitalization Hub, offering a firsthand look at how AI can transform the way you work. In addition to demonstrating the benefits of Copilot, our team will be featured on several panel discussions and presentations on critical topics for the global power and utilities community.
Microsoft Energy and Resource sessions at Enlit Europe 2024
Striking the Balance Between Build-Out and Flexibility
This panel will explore ways grid operators must combine substantial grid
expansion with advanced digitalization and flexibility mechanisms to efficiently meet the rising demand for clean electricity. Speakers include:
- Bilal Khursheed, Worldwide Power and Utilities Leader, Microsoft
- Yvonne Ruwaida, Business strategist, Vattenfall
- Rafael Muruais Garcia, Acting head of Energy System Needs Department, ACER
- Tim van Amstel, Chief Executive Officer, E.ON One
The Expected Impact of AI in the Energy Sector
This panel will examine the relationship between energy and AI, as well as the continuous changes generative AI brings to the industry. They’ll share insights into partner successes and new advances in technology, with an eye toward the endless possibilities AI creates for power and utility providers. Speakers include:
- Per Christian Honningsvaag, EMEA Business Leader, Energy and Resources Industry, Microsoft
- Andrew Scobie, Founder and Chief Technology Officer, Enoda
- João Nascimento, Global Head of Digital, EDP
- Devrim Celal, Chief Executive Officer, KrakenFlex
- Marco Barra Caracciolo, Chief Executive Officer, Bludigit
Additional Microsoft Sessions at Enlit Europe
- From Rigid to Responsive: Leveraging Flexibility for Grid Stability and Efficiency
- Bilal Khursheed, Worldwide Power and Utilities Leader, Microsoft
- Cloud-Enabled OT Security: Protecting the Grid in a Connected World
- Bilal Khursheed, Worldwide Power and Utilities Leader, Microsoft
- Generative AI at Work: Streamlining Grid Operations for Maximum Efficiency Hub
- Pablo Peris, Industry Advisory Leader, EMEA Energy and Resources Industry, Microsoft
Continuing to innovate across the energy sector with transformative technologies
As technology advancements open doors for energy solutions, we’re eager to continue partnering with industry leaders to challenge the status quo with innovative approaches to some of the world’s toughest energy dilemmas. For many organizations, this begins by shifting internal conversations and establishing a data-driven culture that empowers people to solve problems using data. That’s why we work with leaders across the industry to build digital transformation strategies and modernize data management approaches so they can get the most value from their data through advanced AI and automation capabilities.
Explore this ever-evolving world with us at Enlit Europe 2024 and engage with the leading minds at the forefront of industrial change. Don’t miss out on the critical discourses, thought-provoking panels, and our Microsoft Copilot Hub demo station, where you can learn more about making the most of this everyday AI assistant in your organization. Join the Microsoft Energy and Resources Industry team as we bring new solutions to light and exchange ideas with energy pioneers from the world over. We hope to see you in Milan.
Learn more about Microsoft for energy and resources
- Visit the Microsoft for energy and resources page.
- Read the Microsoft Industry Blogs: Energy and resources to learn about critical actions for energy transition.
- Listen to the podcast AI for power and energy with Laurent Boinot where a Microsoft power and utilities leader discusses the intersection of AI and energy infrastructure.
- Read a Microsoft leader’s interview and gain perspective on how AI is a driving force in accelerating the energy transition.
- Read this new article on Power Change: Applying GenAI for Strategic Transformation in Utility Analytics.
- Watch our on-demand webinar, Rethinking cybersecurity in a renewable-powered energy system.
- Learn about Microsoft Security solutions and sign up for news and insights from Microsoft Security.
2 Enisa, Cyber Europe tests the EU Cyber Prepardness in the Energy Sector, June 20, 2024.
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Source: Microsoft Industry Blog