{"id":3190,"date":"2024-10-17T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-17T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-04-11T13:44:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T20:44:47","slug":"enlit-europe-2024-rewiring-the-energy-industrys-operational-core-with-cloud-and-ai","status":"publish","type":"ms-industry","link":"https:\/\/cm-edgetun.pages.dev\/en-us\/microsoft-cloud\/blog\/energy-and-resources\/2024\/10\/17\/enlit-europe-2024-rewiring-the-energy-industrys-operational-core-with-cloud-and-ai\/","title":{"rendered":"Enlit Europe 2024: Rewiring the energy industry\u2019s operational core with cloud and AI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Europe\u2019s energy network is facing unprecedented pressure. By 2030, the continent\u2019s energy demand is expected to rise by nearly 20%, while grid flexibility needs will more than double, putting enormous pressure on aging infrastructure.1<\/sup> As renewable energy integration increases, Europe\u2019s grids will require seven times more flexibility by 2050 to cope with the variability of sources like wind and solar\u200b.1<\/sup> This complexity is compounded by rising cyberattacks, with over 200 incidents targeting the European energy sector in 2023 alone.2<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To address these growing challenges, energy and resources leaders are increasingly turning to digital technology solutions<\/a>. 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Accelerate your energy transition with Microsoft solutions<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> that provides everyday remote monitoring of power plants, enabling early detection of equipment issues and reducing unplanned outages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cBy 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

Hiroaki Kamei, Executive Officer of the Digital Power Plant Promotion Group, O&M Engineering Strategy Division<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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\u2014from engineering and grid operations to customer service and finance\u2014employees are also seeing increased productivity with generative AI technology as they use tools like Microsoft Copilot<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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, \u201cMicrosoft Copilot is really going to be a difference maker for National Grid,\u201d allowing the company to innovate rapidly with AI-powered solutions.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Microsoft for energy and resources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drive innovation to achieve net zero and deliver safe, reliable, equitable energy for a sustainable future<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Enhancing cloud security with AI<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

AI is not just a tool for optimization\u2014it\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2014so they can focus on what matters most: meeting the world\u2019s growing energy needs while ensuring a secure, sustainable, and affordable supply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Solutions like Microsoft Copilot for Security\u202fare enabling energy organizations<\/a> 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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“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.” <\/p>\n\n\n

Damian Bunyan, Chief Information Officer of Uniper<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve embedded Copilot directly into the Microsoft Security stack, allowing energy customers to tap into built-in AI capabilities and industry-leading threat intelligence\u2014regardless of the solutions they use. It\u2019s all part of our effort to empower human defenders with AI tools and capabilities that provide an advantage against some of the energy industry\u2019s greatest challenges.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft partnerships help the energy industry embrace the future of work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Among Microsoft\u2019s 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s DERMS EcoStruxure platform<\/a>, 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\u2019s driving significant value by optimizing distributed energy resources and improving grid management across their network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are just a few of the many partners Microsoft collaborates with across the energy sector. The scale and complexity of today\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sharing industry insights at Enlit Europe 2024 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a> 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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Continuing to innovate across the energy sector with transformative technologies <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As technology advancements open doors for energy solutions, we\u2019re eager to continue partnering with industry leaders to challenge the status quo with innovative approaches to some of the world\u2019s 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\u2019s why we work with leaders across the industry to build digital transformation strategies<\/a> and modernize data management approaches so they can get the most value from their data through advanced AI and automation capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Microsoft for energy and resources <\/h2>\n\n\n\n