Energy Tech Coalition Set to Boost Smart Grid Innovation

The convergence of digital infrastructure and energy systems has reached a critical juncture as electricity demand could grow 34% within the next decade.

The Energy Technology Coalition has been launched to address this challenge, bringing together global decision-makers to accelerate the deployment of advanced technologies that could transform how power grids operate.

Co-chaired by Schneider Electric and Bloomberg New Economy, the coalition aims to identify barriers preventing the widespread adoption of demand-side technologies.

These include AI-enabled grid management systems, digital twins and industrial automation platforms that could make energy consumption more efficient, resilient and responsive to fluctuating demand.

How technology enables smarter demand

The invitation-only working group will explore how AI and other emerging technologies can provide solutions to optimise energy use and improve the responsiveness of power grids.

This could enable the integration of more renewable energy sources, supporting the transition to clean power while meeting surging demand from data centres, electric vehicles and industrial electrification.

According to Bloomberg New Economy's New Energy Outlook 2025, global electricity demand is forecast to grow 75% by 2050.

The research highlights that the world's electricity grids must evolve to meet loads from AI use, digitalisation and expanding access in emerging markets, where more than one billion people still lack reliable power.

Olivier Blum, CEO of Schneider Electric, says: "Every conversation about AI eventually leads back to energy, not how much we need, but how wisely we use it.

"The more energy is demanded from our grid, the more important energy technology becomes.

"When energy is made to be more intelligent, we can make practical improvements in how it is managed.

"Buildings consume less electricity, microgrids create more resilience, digital twins visualise richer data for superior pre-construction planning."

Digital twins and AI-enabled systems represent a fundamental shift in how energy infrastructure can be planned and operated.

These technologies allow grid operators to simulate scenarios, predict demand patterns and optimise energy distribution in real time, creating more responsive and efficient power networks.

Overcoming deployment barriers across sectors

The coalition will call together leaders from across energy, technology and infrastructure sectors to evaluate what is working and what isn't in the energy transition.

Its focus centres on understanding why the deployment of demand-side technologies has been slow and identifying factors that have been overlooked in current strategies.

Frédéric Godemel, Executive Vice President, Energy Management at Schneider Electric, says: "Building a resilient and affordable energy future requires strong collaboration across the technology and energy sectors.

"By working together and leveraging innovations like AI and digital twins, we can strengthen the grid, improve reliability and make energy more accessible and cost-effective for everyone.

"Schneider Electric is committed to partnering with industry leaders to deliver solutions that support economic growth and ensure our energy infrastructure can meet the demands of tomorrow, which is why we're excited to play a part in this new coalition."

The transformation required to meet global energy demand presents a significant economic opportunity, according to the Coalition's founders.

Bloomberg New Economy says that the solution involves making demand "smarter" by combining efficiency with flexibility, encouraging the adoption of clean energy technologies while expanding grids to accommodate rising consumption.

Building future-ready infrastructure

Karen Saltser, CEO of Bloomberg Media, says: "We are witnessing a critical moment where digital infrastructure and energy systems are converging at an accelerating pace.

"It's clear the world would benefit from coordinated action to ensure that surging AI and compute demands are met with clean, resilient and efficient energy for generations to come.

"By bringing together the best minds in this industry, the Energy Technology Coalition will help catalyse new innovations, partnerships and policies needed to power the future responsibly."

The coalition aims to help companies, cities and countries navigate the current energy landscape by focusing on deploying new technologies that could support economic growth whilst building future-ready power infrastructure capable of meeting tomorrow's demands.