Artificial intelligence (AI), nuclear energy and regional power grids could help strengthen energy security and reliability. Turning that promise into progress calls for clear policies, strong cybersecurity and cross-border cooperation. These were among the key themes explored during Session 4: Technology for Resilient Energy Systems at the SIEW Summit.
The panel featured Edward Zhao, Global Senior Vice President, Univers; Dr Sama Bilbao y León, Director General, World Nuclear Association; and Emmanuelle Wargon, Chair, French Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE).
They were joined by Stephanie McGregor, Chief Executive Officer, Marinus Link; Allyson Anderson Book, Chief Sustainability, Government Affairs & Public Policy Officer, Baker Hughes; and Theodore J. Garrish, Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy, U.S. Department of Energy. The discussion was moderated by Dr Ali Izadi Najafabadi, Managing Director, Global Transition Analysis, BNEF.
Using AI to strengthen grids
Mr Zhao described how AI could improve coordination across increasingly complex energy systems. He pointed to physical AI as a way to use real-time data to adjust energy operations automatically.
Applications could include energy storage and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. However, he cautioned that greater digitalisation also introduces cybersecurity risks that need to be managed.
Technologies that help power grids respond to changing conditions could also improve network reliability, according to Ms McGregor. Drawing on international experience, she encouraged ASEAN to apply proven grid technologies and regulatory lessons to the development of regional power interconnections.
Nuclear energy for reliable power
With AI and data centres driving demand for round-the-clock electricity, Dr Bilbao y León outlined renewed global interest in nuclear energy. She suggested that nuclear power could support energy security and decarbonisation.
Potential applications extend beyond electricity generation to industrial processes and low-carbon fuels. Several Southeast Asian countries are exploring nuclear energy as part of their longer-term energy strategies.
Turning this interest into deployment requires regulatory readiness and technical capabilities. Mr Garrish emphasised the importance of robust governance, supporting infrastructure and a skilled workforce.
For ASEAN economies considering nuclear energy, he encouraged the use of existing reactor technologies rather than waiting for longer-term innovations. Fusion, for example, remains under development.
Building investor and public confidence
Deploying a diverse mix of energy technologies requires more than technical solutions. Ms Book pointed to the potential for existing natural gas technologies to support hydrogen and carbon capture and storage applications.
Drawing on her US experience, she underscored the importance of durable policies that provide investors with long-term certainty. She also emphasised early community engagement to address public concerns about energy infrastructure and data centre projects. As energy systems become more digitalised, she identified cybersecurity as a further concern.
Coordinating regional power grids
Ms Wargon cited Europe's interconnected electricity network as an example of how cross-border cooperation can strengthen energy resilience during disruptions.
She explained that effective regional integration depends on sustained political commitment, harmonised technical rules and coordinated market frameworks. It also requires financing arrangements that fairly distribute costs among countries, businesses and consumers.
Ms McGregor encouraged ASEAN economies to take a phased approach to developing the ASEAN Power Grid. Drawing on established technologies and lessons from other markets could help countries make progress despite implementation challenges.
Building resilience towards 2030
Looking towards 2030, Dr Najafabadi summarised panellists' priorities for strengthening energy resilience. These included using AI to optimise existing infrastructure, advancing the ASEAN Power Grid and developing nuclear regulatory frameworks.
For ASEAN, the challenge is to translate these priorities into action. Sustained policy commitment and regional cooperation will be important to making progress.
Stay tuned as the conversation evolves throughout the day. Follow @SIEW_sg on Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) for the latest insights.
