AI Integration in Energy Industry Highlighted at ADIPEC 2024.


Abu Dhabi: The potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to transform the energy industry and accelerate decarbonisation has emerged as a critical topic of conversation amongst energy ministers and business leaders, as was made clear at the world’s largest energy event, ADIPEC 2024. On the opening day of ADIPEC, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Managing Director and Group CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), emphasised the critical need for industry leaders to come together and support era-defining breakthroughs such as AI.

According to Emirates News Agency, the emphasis on AI’s game-changing impact reflects a wider sense of optimism across the energy industry, as the government leaders and business executives attending ADIPEC 2024 were united in the belief that AI can fast-track the energy transition and unlock new avenues for progress and prosperity. In a session titled ‘The power of AI for the energy transition’, top executives from the private
sector – including Tayba Al Hashemi, CEO, ADNOC Offshore, ADIPEC 2024 Chairperson; Michel Lutz, Chief Data Officer and Digital Factory Head of Data and AI, TotalEnergies; and Magzhan Kenesbai, Acting MD, AIQ – explored how AI is transforming business operations, and offered their expert insights on the long-term implications of wide-scale AI implementation.

Speaking to his company’s experience with AI, Michel Lutz, Chief Data Officer and Digital Factory Head of Data and AI, TotalEnergies, stated that AI is being used to improve operational efficiency, which supports the company’s development in the renewables space. This advancement allows better assistance for clients in understanding their behaviour and needs.

Building on this focus on AI’s role in the energy industry, speakers across ADIPEC’s ten different conferences emphasised the pressing need to address the challenges and opportunities surrounding this transformative technology. Alongside other top CEOs and energy executives, Tengku Muhammad Taufik,
President and Group CEO, PETRONAS, urged industry players to adopt a measured and holistic approach to AI.

He noted that before perfecting artificial intelligence, it is essential to address fundamental issues, as AI can initiate either a virtuous or vicious cycle depending on its utilisation and the resources it consumes. Anima Anandkumar, Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, Caltech, contributed to these discussions by highlighting the evolving impact of AI on both the energy industry and the environment.

ADIPEC’s commitment to accelerating AI-enabled energy solutions was reflected in the event’s inaugural AI Zone, which featured AI studios and demo pods showcasing transformative solutions from leading energy and AI businesses. This space provided attendees with a comprehensive view of the innovations shaping the future energy system.

The AI conference featured several Innovation Showcases, where tech giants and energy majors presented their latest breakthroughs and projects in the fiel
d of AI. Participants included Neeraj Joshi, Worldwide CTO of Energy and Resources, Microsoft; Aniruddha Sharma, Chair and CEO, Carbon Clean; Dr. Mike Roshchin, Head of AI, AIQ; and Ali Al Zaabi, acting CEO of AYP/ADP, ADNOC.

The newly launched Digitalisation and Technology Conference delved into how next-generation technologies, including AI, can unlock decarbonisation and efficiency opportunities presented by Industry 4.0. Sessions covered advancements in new materials, the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and carbon capture, utilisation, 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 designed 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, collab
oration, and sustainable progress in the energy transition. With its unique blend of strategic insights and technological showcases, ADIPEC remains the premier forum for addressing the complex challenges of creating a low-carbon, high-growth future for the global energy sector.