SIEW TechTable: How AI is Accelerating the Energy Transition

Asia-Pacific’s growing energy demand brings a pressing challenge: how to keep energy affordable and reliable, while accelerating decarbonisation? At the SIEW TechTable, Arun Biswas, Strategic Engagements Leader for IBM Consulting Asia-Pacific, demonstrated how artificial intelligence (AI) is moving beyond pilot projects to deliver measurable results.

In the session, Mr Biswas shared real-world case studies where AI is already driving tangible outcomes in the energy sector, while acknowledging the barriers to wider adoption. He outlined four ways AI is reshaping energy systems:

• Energy mix optimisation: IBM deployed over 1,000 machine learning models to help optimise Western Australia's energy grid, achieving 30 percent improved forecast accuracy. The company is developing an AI foundation model to optimise grids using automated metering, IoT sensors, weather, and market data.
• Energy efficiency: IBM created a "process brain" for an Indian steelmaker to control blast furnace operations, achieving three percent coke reduction and 15 percent yield improvement without operator intervention.
• Energy monitoring: IBM partnered with U.S. National Grid and Boston Dynamics for AI-powered inspection of remote assets.
• Materials innovation: AI is accelerating materials discovery for batteries and solar cells.

In a fireside chat with Liu Xiaowei, Asia Director and Senior Advisor of the World Energy Council, Mr Biswas discussed how power utilities and energy firms can address scaling challenges by implementing governance, investing in IoT sensors, and enabling data sharing.

Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for the latest insights.