That is where AI comes in. To break the infrastructure bottleneck and shift the industry from ambition to delivery, Microsoft is announcing an AI for nuclear collaboration with NVIDIA, to provide end-to-end tools that streamline permitting, accelerate design, and optimize operations across the industry.

This set of technologies brings disciplined engineering to the entire lifecycle of a nuclear plant—spanning site permitting, design, construction, and continuous operations. By enabling these capabilities within a connected, AI-powered foundation, we are empowering energy developers to make highly complex work repeatable, traceable, secure, and predictable—slashing development timelines and eliminating rework without sacrificing safety.

The digital foundation for nuclear at scale

The only thing that may be more complex than building a nuclear plant is designing and permitting one. Permitting alone can take years, cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and involve an immense amount of data processing and reporting. It’s not a lack of need, knowledge, or even willingness that’s holding development back, but rather the inability to progress efficiently and consistently through rigorous permitting and development processes.

Engineers can spend thousands of hours drafting, cross-referencing, formatting, searching, reviewing, and reworking materials. They have to identify and fix inconsistencies across tens of thousands of pages. It is little wonder that plants have been notorious for construction delays and cost overruns.

To break this infrastructure bottleneck, we need to move away from highly customized engineering towards repeatable, reference-based delivery—while maintaining regulatory standards and engineering accountability.

With AI, we can identify tiny documentation inconsistencies and resolve them quickly. By unifying data and simulation across the lifecycle, we ensure complex work remains:

• Traceable: Every engineering decision is digitally linked to the evidence and regulations that back it up.
• Audit-Ready: The system keeps a perfect “paper trail,” ensuring that regulators can verify safety instantly.
• Secure: High-level intelligence is applied within a governed, protected environment.
• Predictable: High-fidelity simulations map time and cost, catching delays before they happen in the real world.

This isn’t just about speed; it’s about trust. Engineers and regulators are freed to focus on what matters most: building a safe, secure, high-capacity, carbon-free power source that’s on-time and on-budget.

Here is how AI and Digital Twins can carry a project from the initial phases to efficient operations:

• Design and engineering: Digital Twins and high-fidelity simulations enable faster iteration. Engineers can reuse proven patterns and instantly see how a tiny design change impacts the entire model, creating a validated plan before breaking ground.
• Licensing and permitting: Generative AI handles the heavy lifting of document drafting and gap analysis. It unifies all project information, ensuring comprehensive applications aligned with historical permits. This allows expert regulators to focus their time on safety judgments rather than reconciling thousands of pages of text.
• Construction and delivery: While traditional 3D models only map physical space, 4D (time scheduling) and 5D (cost tracking) simulations can virtually construct the plant before shovels hit the dirt. AI and Digital Twins allow developers to track physical progress against the digital plan in real-time, catching potential delays and preventing the schedule collisions that lead to expensive rework.
• Operations and maintenance: AI-powered sensors and operational digital twins detect anomalies early, ensuring higher uptime and predictive maintenance that keeps the grid stable with human operators firmly in control.

By unifying data, traceability, and simulation across phases, AI accelerates design validation with high-fidelity 3D models and Digital Twins, improves licensing consistency through AI-assisted document workflows, and connects design assumptions to operational performance—giving operators, regulators, and stakeholders clearer, continuous visibility.

Accelerating delivery: How Aalo Atomics, Idaho National Labs, and Southern Nuclear are deploying AI for nuclear

The proof is in the progress. Our collaboration is already changing the pace of nuclear delivery.

Aalo Atomics

Aalo Atomics has reduced the time-intensive permitting process by 92% using the Microsoft Generative AI for Permitting solution, saving an estimated $80 million a year. For Aalo, the value of the Microsoft and NVIDIA collaboration isn’t just speed—it’s confidence.

“Two things matter most: enterprise-scale complexity and mission-critical reliability. We’re deploying something complex at a scale only a company like Microsoft really understands. There’s no room for anything less than proven reliability.”

—Yasir Arafat, Chief Technology Officer, Aalo Atomics

Southern Nuclear

Southern Nuclear has developed and deployed agents using Microsoft Copilot across its fleet, including engineering and licensing, to improve consistency, reuse knowledge faster, and support better decision-making in key workstreams.

Idaho National Laboratory

When it comes to the public sector and specifically United States Federal, Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has become an early adopter of AI for nuclear technology. By using the AI capabilities to automate the assembly of complex engineering and safety analysis reports, INL is streamlining the review process and creating standard methodologies for regulators to adopt these tools safely, further speeding deployment.

Expanding the ecosystem: How Everstar and Atomic Canyon are operationalizing AI for nuclear on Microsoft Azure

Microsoft is actively expanding this secure ecosystem. Everstar—an NVIDIA Inception startup—brings domain-specific AI for nuclear to Azure to modernize how the industry manages project workflows and governed data pipelines.

“The nuclear industry has been bottlenecked by documentation burden and regulatory complexity for decades. This partnership means our customers get the secure, scalable cloud deployments they demand. It’s a significant step toward making nuclear power fast, safe, and unstoppable.”

—Kevin Kong, Chief Executive Officer, Everstar

We are also excited to highlight Atomic Canyon, whose Neutron platform is now available in the Microsoft Marketplace, allowing nuclear developers to deploy these capabilities with consistency and control through trusted procurement pathways.

Progress at the pace this moment requires

AI is enabling the energy industry to deliver more power, faster, and safely. This Microsoft and NVIDIA collaboration provides the path to do exactly that for advanced developers, owners, and operators. By turning fragmented, high-variance workflows into governed, auditable systems, we can compress timelines without compromising rigor. By unifying data, simulation, and evidence across design, permitting, construction, and operations, we are accelerating the deployment of firm, carbon-free power while strengthening regulatory confidence and operational resilience.

The AI for nuclear operations collaboration brings together NVIDIA Omniverse, NVIDIA Earth 2, NVIDIA CUDA-X, NVIDIA AI Enterprise, PhysicsNeMo, Isaac Sim, and Metropolis with Microsoft Generative AI for Permitting Solution Accelerator and Microsoft Planetary Computer to create a comprehensive, AI-powered digital ecosystem for nuclear energy on Azure.

Microsoft, NVIDIA, and Aalo Atomics will be presenting this AI-lead industry perspective at CERAWeek 2026 in a session entitled “A Digital Age for Nuclear: Aalo Atomics, NVIDIA, and Microsoft.”

Discover more

Ready to move from ambition to delivery? See how the Microsoft and NVIDIA nuclear for AI collaboration can drive change within your organization.

Contact us to learn more.

The post AI for nuclear energy: Powering an intelligent, resilient future appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

We look forward to participating in CERAWeek 2025 to connect with business leaders, policymakers, and entrepreneurs across the global energy ecosystem from March 10 to 14, 2025, where we’ll explore the theme of “Moving ahead: energy strategies for a complex world”. This year’s theme covers a variety of topics across energy sectors and technologies and will include deep dives into geopolitics, business strategies, AI transformation, and climate impact. 

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Power the new energy future with AI.

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AI innovation and digital transformation in energy 

Across the energy ecosystem, AI-powered solutions are becoming the foundation of global success stories in which companies like Maaden save thousands of hours of worktime, while Aydem Energy boosts customer satisfaction with a digital assistant powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Sevice. Another one of our leading customers, JERA, Japan’s largest power generation company, uses Azure OpenAI to drive digital transformation. The collaboration helps JERA to access advanced AI tools and cloud infrastructure, facilitating innovation and the development of new energy solutions for energy performance management, failure prediction, and advanced maintenance, leading to significant cost savings and increased reliability. JERA’s Digital Power Plant (DPP) project is improving functionality in the areas of operations, maintenance, performance management and health, safety, security, and environment (HSSE), and helps promote innovation and workplace safety at power stations. As a result, the number of remote monitoring sites provided by the Global Data Analyzing Center increased by 25% last year, and the number of sites offering 24-hour services tripled. JERA also implemented a dedicated AI agent called Emily which is being used by 3,000 employees and in some cases, has achieved operational efficiencies of more than 90%. By utilizing AI and data analytics, JERA can make more informed decisions, improve energy management, and support Japan’s energy transition efforts.

We’re eager to highlight these and other success stories at CERAWeek, where leaders from our energy, sustainability, cloud and AI, and security teams will share perspectives on the role of AI and digital technologies in the energy sector. For example, we will dive into sustainability topics such as carbon capture and emissions reduction, highlighting the many ways AI and cloud solutions are reshaping the energy landscape and driving net-zero goals across the energy value chain like Cosmo Energy who harnesses the power of Microsoft AI solutions to better analyze data and improve its ESG results. We’ll also discuss the latest learnings and opportunities around innovative services such as direct air capture and CO₂ as a service.  

Cybersecurity is another topic of increasing urgency, especially in the power and utilities sector. Throughout the week, we’ll discuss AI-powered approaches to securing grid infrastructure, as well as how to address vulnerabilities to allow resilient energy delivery. We’ll also join other power and utilities leaders at a fireside chat to discuss how AI adoption can help grid operators break through common industry roadblocks and drive faster, more secure innovation.  

I look forward to participating in a Strategic Roundtable conversation on the topic of “AI Applications and Impacts in Action,” where we’ll discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI in driving sustainable business initiatives.  

These conversations are both inspiring and insightful, as we’re witnessing every day the impact AI is having across the industry. Whether it’s Uniper strengthening cybersecurity, Petrobras streamlining employee workflows, or Enerjisa Uretim accelerating data processing for improved decision making, AI is changing the way we work in energy. We’re looking forward to not only sharing success stories, but also hearing from other technology and energy experts about how AI is creating more value for them.      

Startups accelerate AI transformation and the energy transition 

The climate crisis impacts everyone, and diversity in the startup ecosystem helps to ensure that solutions also reach everyone. People of color are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet Black and Latino founders receive less than 1.5% of total United States venture capital funding, women-founded organizations receive 1.9% of those funds, and Black and Latino women founders less than 0.1%¹. 

An important outcome of CERAWeek is knowledge sharing with a diverse group of global energy leaders that represent vastly different backgrounds and stages of business experience. Energy startups are a tremendous source of knowledge and innovation driving real impact across the industry. Transformation starts with people, not technology, and Microsoft is proud to support climate technology from underrepresented startups and CEOs. This year, we’ll hear from nine innovative startups sharing their unique perspectives on advancing diversity and inclusion in energy, and how they think creatively to secure reliable and sustainable energy sources.   

Partnership, collaboration, and AI innovation in energy 

The energy industry’s biggest challenges call for strategic collaboration and innovation across sectors and geographies, as real progress cannot be accomplished alone. Our partners are at the forefront of accelerating data modernization and AI innovation, helping to improve safety, efficiency, and productivity for the industry at large. You can hear from many of them at this year’s Innovation Agora, a marketplace buzzing with energy innovation and emerging technologies. The Agora promotes partnership, connection, and sharing among the energy community, and we’re excited to uncover new synergies, lead demonstrations, and explore opportunities to learn from other industry leaders.  

At the Microsoft Agora House, we’re joined by partners and customers in sharing some of the ways they empower an AI-first energy workforce, operate for a secure and efficient energy future, advance their net-zero journeys, and grow sustainable and AI-powered businesses. Be sure to explore the Microsoft Experience Zone, featuring presentations from many partners that showcase transformative solutions and foster insightful discussions on energy innovation. 

We’re honored to highlight many of the change-makers attending CERAWeek with us this year, including the following partners: 

*Microsoft startup partner 

Recently, Microsoft, alongside our partners SLB, Halliburton, Cognite, and AspenTech, convened in Munich, Germany with many of our customers, who shared AI-powered transformation stories driving increased productivity and improved operating efficiencies. Events like this allow us to not only highlight the work of our industry partners and customers, but also to share their expertise and create new opportunities for collaboration and innovation.  

Power an AI-first energy future 

Together with our customers and partners, we’re collectively empowering organizations to innovate for a new energy future and advance sustainability goals with AI you can trust. We look forward to engaging with you on the future of carbon markets, regional energy challenges, latest developments in consumer energy, and unlocking AI to transform the energy and resources value chain.   

Learn how Microsoft can help accelerate your AI and digital transformation journey: 

• Visit Microsoft for Energy and Resources.
• Learn more about Microsoft Security for Enterprise. 
• Read about Microsoft Responsible AI.

Source:

¹McKinsey and Company, Underrepresented start-up founders: The untapped opportunity, June 2023. 

The post Microsoft AI powers a new energy future appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

AI innovation is a critical component of delivering more energy with less emissions—and combined with strategic partnerships and collective action, it’s a way to supercharge change. The World Energy Council elevates the idea of “Humanizing Energy” as its visionary foundation for transitioning the world away from fossil fuels. But change of this magnitude will be complex. According to the World Energy Council, humanizing energy involves “more people and diverse communities in understanding their roles and choices and remaining realistically hopeful about making progress by enabling hundreds and thousands of smaller steps along multiple, diverse pathways.”²

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At Microsoft, we believe that change happens through collective progress that brings people and technology together. Even as enterprise data management and AI solutions become key enablers for successful digital transformation, we can’t lose sight of the importance of keeping people and communities engaged. When people are actively involved in modernizing the processes, workflows, and tools they use every day, they’re empowered to not only work more efficiently but to recognize all the new opportunities and roles they play in supporting a more sustainable energy future.  

There are countless applications of AI in energy operations and workforce transformation, all of which can add up to big change. This blog explores just some of the industry-leading AI innovations and steps we can take to advance the global energy transition together.  

Protecting and strengthening critical infrastructure and energy operations 

Many energy systems today, especially power and utilities infrastructure, are prone to persistent cyberattacks. Left unresolved, security risks can quickly spiral and complicate already-existing issues like technical debt, tool fatigue, and employee burnout. It’s a prime example of how technology can enhance human capabilities to create a secure energy supply. Several of the industry leaders we work with are leveraging generative AI to streamline security processes and improve security posture, allowing their security personnel to focus on the highest-priority work. For example, international power company Uniper relies on Microsoft Security Copilot to help their IT security personnel work smarter and faster. Microsoft Security Copilot immediately flags potential incidents, allowing them to identify and address risks up to twice as fast. It also helps them manage access and quickly compile new emergency plans based on current drafts. It can even create a list of inactive devices that pose potential security risks.  

Uniper is just one of the many energy companies that keep critical services secure with a platform powered by the Microsoft Cloud. We continue working with industry leaders to secure the global energy supply, leveraging the enormous potential of data and AI to optimize systems and reduce emissions for a more resilient and secure digital energy ecosystem.   

Improving frontline worker productivity and safety with real-time insights 

The world runs on the products and services provided by millions of energy and resources workers. As the industry grapples with changing customer demands and pressures to reduce emissions, the workforce is undergoing a transformational shift to better accommodate these needs. But they also face gaps in areas like skilling and productivity that require strategy and innovation to overcome.  

AI-powered tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot empower workers with the right information at the right time. Industry leaders like TotalEnergies are using Microsoft 365 Copilot to help workers be more efficient and productive, with every employee receiving AI training throughout the past year. Another energy leader, Petrobras, uses AI technology from Azure OpenAI Service to power its custom text generation tool used by more than 110,000 employees. The tool helps democratize AI in a secure, compliant way and enables employees to perform their work in less time and with less manual labor. In yet another example, Repsol, a global multi-energy provider, is reaping the benefits of AI capabilities with a study showing that its adoption of Microsoft 365 Copilot has helped employees with productivity gains of up to 121 minutes per week, with nearly 62% of employees reporting reluctance to return to work without access to Microsoft 365 Copilot. What’s more, the company reduced procurement costs by 15% while observing a 16% increase in deliverable quality.³ 

It’s clear from these examples that AI is a game changer when it comes to empowering the energy workforce. By connecting workers with purpose-built tools and experiences, energy companies can set the stage for maximizing productivity and working in new, flexible ways.  

Enhancing energy supply with real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance  

When it comes to the energy business, even a fraction of a percentage in efficiency can make a significant difference in providing a reliable, high-quality supply. Advanced data and AI solutions can pull together and organize vast amounts of disparate enterprise data, enabling energy suppliers to more effectively monitor operations, forecast production, and predict maintenance requirements.  

Enerjisa Üretim, for example, built a remote operations center that leverages advanced analytics powered by Microsoft Azure. The powerful data processing allows the company to monitor its 20 hydropower, wind, and solar plants every day and provide timely response to any operational or production issues. Enerjisa Üretim has also developed a tool that uses Azure OpenAI Service to access and analyze its Internet of Things (IoT) data from more than 40,000 datapoints and combine it with operational data to increase efficiency and streamline processes across power plants—ultimately reducing the data collection and analysis time from hours to seconds. The company also uses generative AI capabilities to forecast daily power generation for turbines by analyzing factors like asset condition, weather, and wind speed. The AI capabilities provide immediate answers and offer more flexibility when it comes to staffing multiple experts for every project. 

Accelerating research and modeling with insights and intelligent search  

High-quality data and advanced analysis capabilities are essential for the energy and resources industry. In mining, for instance, these are needed to create the 3D models necessary for accurate and efficient mineral recovery. The process of preparing the data, however, can be extremely time-consuming, as geologists must sift through massive volumes of documents that have often been accumulated over the course of several decades. Now, mining leaders are leveraging Microsoft AI technology to accelerate intelligent search velocity and accuracy across the large geological data sets they use.  

We recently worked with a mining industry leader to implement a solution built with Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Document Intelligence. The solution automates data extraction and storage, elevates the most relevant information, and produces critical insights quickly through a generative AI bot, ultimately enhancing accessibility and interpretation of geological, geophysical, and other data for users of all experience levels. Streamlining this process helps them create 3D models faster by significantly reducing the time spent searching and preparing data—from weeks down to just minutes. These overall productivity gains free up time to increase recovery, reduce waste, and improve safety and cost-efficiency.         

Streamlining permitting and automating complex utility rate case workflows  

In the energy and resources industry, permitting and rate case processing are common and necessary to adhere to important legal, financial, and environmental compliance and regulatory requirements. They can also be extremely costly and time-consuming, especially for nuclear energy permitting, which requires unique expertise and can often take many years and tens of millions of dollars to complete, and for complex utility rate cases, which require detailed data sources and documentation.

Generative AI can significantly reduce the time and costs associated with permitting and rate case processing. In a recent example of AI design innovation, Microsoft’s energy and resources industry team worked with Neudesic, an IBM Company, to develop a rate case assistance accelerator to streamline processes for leading utilities worldwide. The AI-powered solution significantly reduces the time and costs associated with internal processes, resulting in up to 22% productivity gains and saving up to USD45,000 in operational costs per document. With time and monetary savings, energy companies can focus on higher-value business goals, reliability, and customer service.    

Finding information faster with AI agents 

As AI becomes more prevalent across global industry operations, we’re increasingly seeing the benefits and vast potential for supercharging productivity. AI agents, for example, can help users find the right information faster, and they can execute a specific set of tasks, allowing workers to spend more time on innovative and creative work. This will be a gamechanger.

In December 2024, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced a new AI agent, currently in beta testing, that helps users explore the 2024 edition of the World Energy Outlook. The GPT tool, built on Microsoft Azure using Microsoft Copilot Studio, answers questions using natural language and helps readers quickly locate data and information of interest. AI agents like this one don’t just save time—they also make information more accessible to more people. That means you don’t need to be a data scientist or energy expert to interact with and understand reports and other scientific documentation. Instead, a reader can simply type a question using conversational language, and the AI models—trained on the industry terminology and relevant documentation—can provide user-friendly and fast responses.    

Explore more AI innovation in energy 

At Microsoft, we’re committed to working with the global energy industry to accelerate the energy transition and enable a more secure, reliable, equitable, and sustainable future. Through our cloud-based data and AI solutions, energy leaders can accelerate their digital transformation to maximize value across their entire enterprise—and we’re here to support along the way. You can check out our additional resources to learn more about working with the Microsoft energy and resources industry team. 

• Read the Microsoft Industry Blogs: Energy and resources to learn about themes and actions critical for energy transition.
• Learn how to achieve more in the energy and resources industry with trusted data and AI solutions from Microsoft.
• Explore innovation in sustainability through our publication, For Life on Earth.
• Learn about Microsoft security solutions. 

¹ Peak energy emissions: A historic moment overshadowed by the endurance of fossil fuels, World Economic Forum, November 2024.

² World Energy Trilemma 2024: Evolving with Resilience and Justice, used by permission of the World Energy Council, 2024.

³ MIT Technology Review, Impact of generative AI adoption on efficiency, quality and employee experience in a global energy company.

The post Charting a new energy future with AI innovation and collective action appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

The goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 requires tremendous investment and rapid innovation. From solutions that optimize grid management and carbon capture and storage to more sustainable, resilient mines, AI technologies can help address the biggest challenges in the complex, multidimensional global energy transition.  

Microsoft for Energy and Resources

Achieve more in the energy and resources industry with trusted solutions from Microsoft.

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Accelerate the clean energy roadmap with new AI innovation 

We’re proud to share some highlights from the past year, starting with the announcement that Cognite is Microsoft Partner of the Year 2024. Cognite and finalists Scheider Electric, Accenture-Avanade, and Kongsberg exemplify the new wave of innovation currently transforming the energy sector.  

Cognite is integrating new AI advances shared at last year’s Ignite event, including Microsoft Fabric and expanded Microsoft Copilot experiences. In January 2024, Microsoft and Cognite announced a collaboration that integrates flagship product Cognite Data Fusion with Microsoft Fabric and Azure OpenAI Service. Cognite AI is a prebuilt, comprehensive AI architecture specifically designed for energy and resource companies to deliver a faster path to implementing AI. Cognite Data Fusion incorporates AI across the data stack from generative AI-powered contextualization to an intuitive natural language Copilot interface embedded in day-to-day tools. Most recently, Cognite announced a new solution, Cognite Atlas AI which brings context augmentation generation to Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, pushing the boundaries of what language models can do for industrial organizations

Schneider Electric continues making an impact with solutions that accelerate digital transformation and sustainability. Built on Azure, the Schneider Electric EcoStruxure Grid solution portfolio shows the company’s commitment to a more digital and electric world, and together with its Grid Operations Platform as a Service, supports the growth of distributed energy resources, microgrids, energy communities, and other flexible resources across digitally planned, designed and operated lifecycles. AVEVA, part of Schneider Electric, also uses Microsoft technology to help accelerate the energy transition and support long-term decarbonization with a cloud-native industrial data and application platform to give energy companies a digital backbone to unlock, contextualize, and share data for better decision making and more profitable and efficient operations. 

Driving more sustainable, efficient operations in asset-heavy industries, Kongsberg leverages the Microsoft Cloud and AI for its Industrial Work Surface, an industrial metaverse that includes mixed reality and digital twins. The solution is designed to help energy companies improve decision-making, maximize business performance, and drive value across the organization—in support of the world’s growing demand for more secure, equitable, and sustainable energy.

Microsoft partners SLB, Halliburton, and Accenture are also innovating with Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Energy, a secure, reliable, hyperscale and fully managed cloud-based data platform service. Customers can speed toward goals by taking advantage of easy interoperability across an extensible application ecosystem. They can integrate virtually any dataset, application, or cloud service while leveraging the applications they already use from SLB, Halliburton, Accenture, and many others. The platform is expanding to new regions and offers a new developer tier pricing to increase accessibility for more partners and customers. 

We are also pleased to announce EY as the Sustainability Changemaker for the second year in a row. Creating customer tools built on Microsoft technology has positioned EY as a leader in sustainability consulting within the energy sector. With EY’s tailored solutions, decision-makers in the energy industry can now oversee transformations across their enterprises, leveraging technology and data to modernize governance structures, tackle industry-specific risks, meet environmental, social, and governance (ESG) obligations, and deliver value for both their organizations and their stakeholders. These solutions provide a comprehensive view into energy demand, verifiable and assured value chain data, and sustainability performance management, enabling energy companies to achieve their sustainability goals and enhance operational efficiency.

Sharing thought leadership at industry events 

You can learn more about Microsoft and partner innovations at Microsoft Ignite either online or in person in Chicago on November 18 to 22, 2024. This is the first Ignite event to include both customers and partners, and we hope you’ll join us to celebrate our partners and learn more about how the latest advances in AI are delivering business value to our energy customers. 

The Microsoft Energy and Resources Industry team is also excited to connect with customers and partners at upcoming events including the ONS conference in Stavanger on August 26 to 29, 2024 and the SLB Digital Forum 2024 in Monaco on September 16 to 19, 2024. These events will feature how new developments in AI and other digital technologies are transforming energy systems for a more secure, equitable, and sustainable energy future. You can always anticipate exciting news at the SLB Digital forum, where two years ago SLB announced the availability of the SLB Enterprise Data Solution, a comprehensive data management toolkit built on Azure Data Manager for Energy. The innovation is a result of the expanded strategic partnership between SLB and Microsoft, includes enhancements to Azure Data Manager for Energy, and a carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative with Northern Lights joint venture to support global climate goals by accelerating development of scalable, cost-effective solutions for the CCS value-chain. 

Energizing the energy transition with new startups 

The climate crisis affects people globally, and an inclusive startup ecosystem is critical for helping ensure that solutions have far-reaching benefits. We are proud to support underrepresented startup founders at events like CERAWeek and through programs such as Advancing Climatetech and Clean Energy Leaders Program (ACCEL) from Greentown Labs, Browning the Green Space, and the Energy Transition Studio for Startups which we launched this year in cooperation with high-growth climate tech companies FlexDAO, Line Vision, and Utilidata. The program is designed to empower energy transition startups worldwide, and we are pleased to welcome six more companies to the first cohort, including Carbon Guardian, GridBeyond, Hygenox, IEMS, Noda Intelligent Systems, and Norwegian Hydrogen.

Investing in sustainable AI 

In addition to supporting startups, we are also engaging in strategic regional partnerships to help ensure a sustainable future and equitable access to energy and digital technologies for everyone. Microsoft is investing $1.5 billion in G42, a leading AI company based in Abu Dhabi, to co-innovate and deliver advanced AI solutions with Azure across the Middle East, central Asia, and Africa. Microsoft and G42 are partnering to invest $1 billion in a data center and Kenya, which will be powered by geothermal energy and give east Africa access to Microsoft Azure. Other global investments include a $2.2 billion investment in Malaysia’s cloud and AI transformation, and a significant commitment to enable a cloud and AI-powered future for Thailand. 

Unlocking the transformative potential of AI for sustainability also requires best practices for investment, digital and data infrastructure, resource usage—such as Microsoft’s deal with Brookfield Asset Management to invest more than $10 billion on renewable energy capacity to power data centers—policy and governance, and workforce development. To learn more about AI enablement, read the Microsoft AI and Sustainability Playbook. We are also investing in the sustainability of AI itself, with projects to optimize datacenter energy and water efficiency. 

Partnerships to advance our energy future 

This blog reflects the power of partnership and the growing importance and potential for AI in the energy industry and beyond. This has been a year of exciting change, with groundbreaking advances like the launch of Copilot+ PCs—from both Microsoft and our OEM ecosystem—partnership with OpenAI, and a rethinking of our cloud infrastructure to optimize performance and energy efficiency. 

Microsoft Copilot continues to evolve, with innovations that include the world’s first Copilot in both CRM and ERP with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot. Chevron is already using Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides to transform frontline operations and optimize its operations, empower workers, and infuse informed decisions throughout its value chain. 

Success stories like these remind us once again that people working together are at the heart of every broad-sweeping, foundational transformation. The world’s complex energy challenges demand global collaboration as we advance toward a more secure, equitable, and sustainable future in an ever-evolving ecosystem of innovation.  

Learn more about Microsoft Energy and Resources solutions 

• Energy and resources – Microsoft Industry Blogs 
• Microsoft energy partner webinar series 
• Microsoft AI solutions  
• Microsoft Azure AI services  
• Microsoft Intelligent Data Platform   

The post Microsoft partners celebrate AI innovation appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

From startups to global enterprises, Microsoft is helping organizations of all sizes unlock the power of data and AI to accelerate the energy transition and create a data driven digital foundation for a sustainable future. Microsoft, our partners, and customers, are deploying innovative solutions that enable energy transformation in ways that weren’t possible before—to empower employees, increase operational efficiency, achieve net-zero commitments, and grow sustainable businesses.

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CERAWeek always brings new ideas and people together, and we are thrilled once again to participate in this important exchange of ideas, insights, and innovation. We need a diversity of voices to tackle the multidimensional energy transition, and we’re committed to working with customers and partners to accelerate digital transformation and our journey to a sustainable future.

At CERAWeek 2024 from March 18 to 22, 2024 in Houston, Texas, Microsoft will address the complexities of the multidimensional energy transition—markets, climate, technology, and geopolitics. We hope to see you at this annual gathering of energy executives, policymakers, and thought leaders from around the world. This year, attendees will explore strategies for a multidimensional, multispeed, and multifuel energy transition. Look for us throughout the week on the main stage, in leadership circles, Innovation Agora sessions, and at the Microsoft Agora House, where we’ll showcase new technologies, solutions, and perspectives together with our customers and partners.

Accelerate the energy transition with AI 

Themes at CERAWeek 2024 include energy markets, climate and sustainability, new supply chains for net-zero, technology and innovation, and power markets in transition. Microsoft’s leaders from energy, sustainability, cloud and AI, and security will be addressing these topics and speaking about the impact of AI and other technologies at the following sessions:  

• Scott Guthrie, Executive Vice President, Cloud + AI: “The Multidimensional Energy Transition: A world of choices.”
• Matt Kerner, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Cloud for Industry: “AI: How will it impact the energy business?“
• Kelly Bissell, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security: “AI Enhancing Cybersecurity across the Energy Sector.”
• Bobby Hollis, Vice President Energy: “Future Forward: Harnessing the power of Gen-AI in climate solutions.”
• Christoph Schittko, Principal Software Engineer and Kadri Umay, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft: “Empowering the Energy Industry to Achieve Net-Zero Carbon Emissions with Data and A.”
• Conor Kelly, Principal Program Manager and Dag Boye, Industry Advisor, Microsoft: “Accelerating Business Transformation and the Energy Transition with Real-World AI.”
• Hanna Grene, Global Leader Go-to-Market and Operations, Energy and Resources Industry: “Effectively Decarbonizing the Electricity Grid.”
• Hany Soliman, Americas Business Leader Energy and Resources Industry: “Hydrogen and Power: Keeping the lights on in a zero carbon system.”
• Hema Prapoo, Worldwide Oil and Gas Leader: “Unveiling the latest breakthroughs in climate change mitigation.”
• Sverre Brandsberg-Dahl, Partner Chief Technology Officer, Energy Industry: “Accelerating CO2 transportation and storage solutions.”

I am pleased to participate alongside my Microsoft colleagues as a speaker on the topic, “Will AI accelerate the energy transition” and in an interactive “Next Gen” session featuring rapid-fire insights by leading minds on energy innovation along with CERAWeek 2024 future energy leaders.  

Showcasing innovation with customers and partners

At the Microsoft Agora House, we’ll join our customers and partners in showcasing some of the latest innovations driving safety, productivity, efficiency, and sustainability. Visitors to our Agora House can learn about:

• Microsoft Copilot for Dynamic 365 Guides: Transform frontline operations with AI and mixed reality
  AI, automation, and mixed reality solutions are poised to reshape industries everywhere. While industrial organizations worldwide overhaul their operations, frontline workers are still awaiting their digital renaissance. Within the energy industry, a focus on safety and the desire to accelerate skilling has Chevron looking to better equip its workers for the future. Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides offers Chevron the opportunity to optimize its operations, empower workers, and infuse informed decisions throughout its value chain. Together, AI and mixed reality enable Chevron to define energy in human terms.​
• Microsoft Copilot for Security: Protect critical infrastructure at the speed and scale of AI
  Discover how Copilot for Security helps a broader set of security and IT professionals protect both their IT systems and industrial assets at the speed and scale of AI. Witness the power of Copilot synthesizing data from new sources, adding context and enrichment, and delivering new levels of effectiveness and efficiency, all in natural language, powered by generative AI.
• Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Energy: Accelerate your journey to energy data modernization
  Azure Data Manager for Energy helps energy companies gain actionable insights, improve operational efficiency, and accelerate time to market on the enterprise-grade, cloud-based OSDU® Data Platform service. The Microsoft partner ecosystem plays a crucial role in Azure Data Manager for Energy. For example, SLB’s Enterprise Data Solution seamlessly integrates with Azure Data Manager for Energy and simplifies data handling and discovery for domain-specific applications. Customers like Equinor are targeting data efficiency and a low-carbon future with Azure Data Manager for Energy and Aker BP is leveraging the platform to transform its data and operations.
• Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability​: Unlock the power of AI to meet your sustainability goals​
  Discover how AI in Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability helps unlock data insights to accelerate sustainability progress, business growth, and climate innovation. Now in preview, Sustainability data solutions in Microsoft Fabric allows organizations to accelerate their time to insights and sustainability progress by providing out-of-the-box environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data model, connectors, and reporting. By connecting your ESG data with Fabric you can turn volumes of sustainability data into meaningful insights and progress.

Partnerships for energy industry transformation  

Complex climate challenges require deep collaboration and innovation across industries and geographies. Microsoft values its partnerships and the industry-specific solutions partners provide, and we’re honored to highlight many of these change-makers at CERAWeek 2024. Microsoft partners in our Agora House are at the forefront of accelerating data modernization and leveraging generative AI so companies can achieve their safety, efficiency, productivity, and decarbonization goals. Featured partners and their solutions include: 

• Accenture is reinventing business and workforce productivity with generative AI. 
• Cognite is partnering with Microsoft to unlock real-time industrial insights with AI and to bring enterprise data operations to the generative AI era.  
• Schneider Electric is advancing decarbonization by integrating more distributed energy resources into the power grid. Microsoft and Schneider Electric are collaborating to leverage copilots and generative AI to transform outage management and control center operations.¹  
• SLB is accelerating the energy transition with speed and scale through data, AI, innovation, and partnerships with digital solutions enabling carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS).  

Other partners we are highlighting and presenting at the Microsoft Agora House include:

Customers leading the way with AI and Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

Microsoft customers are at the forefront of digital transformation with AI. For example, Petronas, Cegal, and Microsoft have teamed up to drive innovation with an innovative platform based on Microsoft Azure high-performance computing (HPC) and AI technologies.² This initiative, which involves moving HPC workloads to the cloud, is anticipated to benefit energy operations for Petronas. 

More energy companies have announced commitments to implementing copilot to empower their workforce and advance their digital transformation journeys. Pacific Gas & Electric is leveraging Microsoft Power Platform, including AI and copilot features to address up to 40% of help desk demands to save more than $1 million annually. Global energy firm TotalEnergies is using Copilot for Microsoft 365 and Power Platform to improve operational efficiency, and this year all 100,000 employees will be trained to use these AI tools.³ Bp will also roll out Copilot for Microsoft 365 to its global workforce and empower them to improve workflows and enhance productivity.⁴

Startups speeding the energy transition 

The climate crisis impacts everyone, and diversity in the startup ecosystem helps to ensure that solutions also apply to everyone. People of color are disproportionately affected by climate change, yet Black and Latino founders receive less than 1.5% of total United States venture capital funding, women-founded organizations received 1.9% of those funds, and Black and Latino women founders less than 0.1%.⁵ 

Transformation starts with people, not technology, and Microsoft is proud to support underrepresented climate tech startups. At CERAWeek 2024, we are honored to feature nine startup pitch sessions with underrepresented founders and chief executive officers who are driving the future of clean energy and climate tech innovation at our Experience Zone. The Microsoft Agora House presents a unique opportunity to meet these startup leaders and learn about their innovations. The lineup includes: 

Other startup presenting in our Experience Zone include FlexDAO, Line Vision, and Utilidata from the Microsoft Energy Transition Studio for Startups, a new program designed to empower energy transition startups worldwide. By providing technical expertise, commercial support, and access to capital, the Microsoft Energy Transition Studio for Startups aims to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, carbon capture, carbon management, and geothermal, to help the world get closer to and achieve net-zero. If your organization is developing energy transition or climate tech solutions, or to nominate a company, apply to the first cohort of Microsoft Energy Transition Studio for Startups.

See you in Houston

We hope you’ll join us in person at the conference and in the Microsoft Agora House, where we can connect and share more on transformational technologies like generative AI and their impact on the energy ecosystem. See you in Houston, Texas from March 18 to 22, 2024.

Learn more about Energy and Resources solutions with Microsoft

• CERAWeek 2024 
• Transformative AI solutions powering the energy and resources industry 
• Microsoft for Energy and Resources 

¹Schneider Electric drives Generative AI productivity and sustainability solutions by integrating Microsoft Azure OpenAI, PR Newswire.

²Petronas, Microsoft, Cegal join forces for upstream digital innovation, Gas Pathways.

³TotalEnergies unlocks the potential of generative artificial intelligence for its employees, TotalEnergies.

⁴bp looks to leverage power of generative AI with Copilot for Microsoft 365, bp.

⁵McKinsey and Company, Underrepresented start-up founders: The untapped opportunity, June 2023.

The post Microsoft at CERAWeek 2024: Enable energy transformation with data and AI appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

Deployment of clean energy sources like solar, wind, and biofuels, carbon capture solutions, energy storage, and electric vehicles (EVs) help us get closer to a net-zero future. However, transformation requires investment, and modernizing infrastructure for operational efficiency and innovation can be cost-prohibitive. Last year, I highlighted energy organizations that are turning to Microsoft technology and the industrial metaverse for a sustainable, clean energy future.

Microsoft for Energy u0026amp; Resources

Powering a sustainable future

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Metaverse in action: Transforming the energy sector

The industrial metaverse integrates technologies like IoT, AI, digital twin, and mixed reality technologies, using the Microsoft Cloud to provide persistent, interactive experiences based on an organization’s information technology (IT), operational technology (OT), and engineering technology (ET) data and applications.

AI is already playing a major role in improving productivity, operational efficiency, and workplace safety. In a recent Microsoft commissioned study by Forrester, we learned that energy firms view the industrial metaverse as a critical component to their organization’s evolution. While implementation costs and skilling questions remain, the industry acknowledges this technology convergence is helping target improved operating margins and increase productivity and profitability. 

AI is accelerating industrial metaverse interactions, helping organizations address their innovation barriers. For example, Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides, currently in private preview, combines the power of generative AI with mixed reality to help frontline workers complete complex tasks and resolve service issues faster with less operational disruption. Together these technologies provide frontline workers with real-time, contextual guidance and 3D instruction through point-and-ask guidance, spatial content generation, and step-by-step assistance.

In Turkey, Enerjisa Üretim teamed with Senkron.Energy Digital Services to transition to a cloud-native ecosystem based on Microsoft Azure. By leveraging the new environment, the company was able to implement a new remote operation center for 20 hydropower, wind, and solar plants within four years. Now, Enerjisa Üretim uses advanced AI analytics to monitor real-time performance, forecast production levels, and predict maintenance requirements. The firm has strengthened its security operations as well. Overall, the solution has increased operational efficiency with well-timed preventive maintenance and advanced the company toward safer and more secure and sustainable energy management.

Industrial metaverse solutions can also include IoT technologies like Microsoft Azure IoT Operations and Azure IoT for energy, designed to help organizations optimize energy distribution while lowering operational costs.

As an integrated energy conglomerate, Ecopetrol operates across the entire hydrocarbon chain as well as linear infrastructure, such as energy transmission and road concessions according to John James, Enterprise Digital Architect at Ecopetrol. By harnessing the power of Azure IoT Operations, Ecopetrol is poised to continue expanding and enhancing its industrial IoT platform. This strategic move is designed to not only streamline and standardize intelligent edge solutions, but also to significantly improve operational efficiencies, minimize the carbon footprint, and enable rapid adoption of big data and AI technologies at the core of their business. This commitment is a testament to Ecopetrol’s dedication to leading the energy sector into a more sustainable and technologically-advanced future.

Highlighting a metaverse of customer innovation

Dutch-state owned utility provider Enexis wants to drive the energy transition at a national level. To meet its ambitious goal, Enexis needed to transform its workforce and infrastructure. With a solution based on Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides and Microsoft HoloLens 2, Enexis is enabling employees to master materials 40% faster than traditional methods. Next, the company plans to expand the solution to field work, with possibilities that include remote inspection and safety drills.

Global energy firm Chevron is adopting industrial metaverse technologies to realize their vision for their facilities and operations of the future—helping to improve safety with generative AI and automation while also lowering operating expenses. Assets connect to the Microsoft Cloud and edge technologies to enable intelligent monitoring and enhanced decision making. Chevron is also one of the first organizations using Microsoft Copilot in Dynamics 365 Guides in private preview, bringing the power of generative AI and mixed reality to frontline workers. 

Digital twins and AI can be adapted for a variety of sustainability scenarios. For example, Anglican Water, the largest water company in England, uses digital twins to protect river health efficiently, affordably, and with a smaller carbon footprint. Data integration, 3D modeling, and predictive capabilities help provide a better real-time understanding of river ecosystems and the impact of future change. The insights help protect river health and ensure safe, clean drinking water to 7 million customers.

Private 5G and Microsoft partners enabling energy innovation

Microsoft partners are actively developing solutions running on Azure private multi-access edge compute (MEC), a cloud-managed edge infrastructure and services combined with edge networking. These innovative solutions have been designed to help our mutual customers meet their transformation goals and adopt AI technologies:

• Cognizant: Private 5G Vision AI for Worker Health and Safety enhances workforce safety by identifying when workers enter a hazardous work-zone and taking proactive actions to protect them from injury.
• Tampnet: Offshore Private Mobile Network (4G/5G) provides high-speed, secure mobile connectivity to enable digitization of mission critical energy operations.
• weavix: Frontline Communication Platform advances frontline worker communication with wearable technologies, improves safety measures, and expands collaboration.

From improving workplace safety and operational efficiency to transforming infrastructure and delivering new services, energy organizations worldwide are using the industrial metaverse and AI to accelerate their energy transition journeys. Progress demands a global effort and Microsoft is committed to working with customers and partners to provide innovative solutions that enable a net-zero carbon economy. The industrial metaverse isn’t a distant vision, it’s part of today’s reality. Energy companies that embrace AI-powered tools and digital innovation now can meet their business goals and tackle new challenges while advancing a more sustainable future for the planet.  

Discover solutions for your energy transition

• Microsoft’s perspective on the industrial metaverse
• Microsoft for Energy and Resources
• Copilot in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Guides
• Microsoft Azure IoT for Energy
• Microsoft Copilot

The post Microsoft and the industrial metaverse are enabling and accelerating the energy transition appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

Today’s headlines are dominated by news about AI, from the latest discussions about Microsoft Copilot to ways that AI paves the way for a sustainable energy future. The use of AI is increasing the availability and efficiency of renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass which now account for approximately 30 percent of electricity generated worldwide¹

The World Economic Forum underscores the role AI plays in the energy transition and estimates that every 1 percent additional efficiency in demand creates USD1.3 trillion in value between 2020 and 2050 due to reduced investment needs.²

Microsoft partners with organizations across the energy and resources sector on solutions to drive workforce transformation, improve operational efficiencies, accelerate net-zero, and increase energy innovation and growth opportunities. We work with customers and partners on:

• Enhancing safety and security by using facial recognition, anomaly detection, and robotics to prevent accidents, protect workers, and secure facilities.
• Increasing operational and energy efficiency by using data analytics, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimize supply chains, monitor and control assets, forecast demand, and balance power grids.
• Curbing greenhouse gas emissions by leveraging computer vision, natural language processing, and deep learning to detect leaks, monitor flaring, and track carbon footprints.
• Improving customer service and engagement through chatbots, recommender systems, and sentiment analysis to provide personalized experiences, offers, and feedback.

Leveraging AI to accelerate the energy transition

Our customers in power and utilities, oil and gas, and mining are transforming their workforce and operations to achieve more with less. These innovators are using digital technologies, data analytics, and automation to improve efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Investments include upskilling their employees, fostering innovation, and collaborating with Microsoft to create value for their customers and stakeholders.

Several industry leaders are at the forefront of leveraging data and AI to accelerate the energy transition, including:

• Ontario Power Generation (OPG) teamed with Microsoft to develop an AI-powered chatbot for employees called ChatOPG. The chatbot is designed to provide information, answer questions, and act as a personal assistant at work. Adopting AI technology has helped OPG drive operational efficiencies by improving productivity, safety, and performance among employees.
• Global mining company BHP is accelerating time to value with Microsoft AI and machine learning, using real-time plant data from the copper concentrators and Microsoft Azure Machine Learning to make hourly predictions. These predictions are then used to create machine learning–assisted recommendations for its Escondida operations team. As grade declines at existing mines and fewer new copper deposit discoveries are made, next-generation technologies like AI, machine learning, and data analytics will be used to unlock more production and value from our existing mines to help meet the increasing demand for copper and other minerals to support batteries and new energy generation.
• Boliden is taking advantage of Azure to bring scalability and flexibility to its mining operations, combine cloud computing power, and work locally with mobile devices. Teams get real-time updates using the Boliden camera network without losing valuable time manually watching video streams. Site managers, inspectors, and analysts now get a deeper view of site performance and can focus on business development activities. 
• To replace some of their manual processes, E.ON introduced virtual inspections of power lines with drone images and AI. Together with their three distribution system operators, they developed their own virtual inspection solution using Microsoft Azure data and AI services. Drones are used to take pictures, and AI analyzes the images, sorts them, and evaluates them to make the maintenance process safer and more efficient.
• Using an AI and machine learning solution built on Azure paired with IoT technology, Shell automatically identifies safety hazards and alerts service champions to quickly respond to and eliminate potential problems. In addition to protecting lives, having fewer accidents reduces operating costs and environmental impact. 
• Snam is using Microsoft AI and IoT technology to support data collection and strengthen security across its European pipeline network. In addition, the organization is using Azure Machine Learning for a deeper understanding of key equipment to improve proactive maintenance activities and boost energy efficiency.

Partnering on AI innovation

Our extensive, global partner ecosystem is fundamental to accelerating innovation across the energy sector. While technology is an enabler, collaboration is the true foundation for addressing the world’s complex energy challenges. Microsoft is actively working with partners SLB, Cognite, Bentley, and many others to accelerate ideation and the development and deployment of AI-driven, sustainable energy solutions. You can find out more about our partnerships in my June blog. 

• SLB was named Energy and Resources Partner of the Year for revolutionizing its DELFI platform built on Azure Data Manager for Energy and leveraging high-performance computing and AI to optimize simulation workflows for energy exploration, development, and carbon storage. Through our strong partnership and collaboration, SLB and Microsoft enable customers to spend less time on operations and more time focusing on addressing the growing energy demand crisis the world is facing.
• Cognite, a finalist for the Energy and Resources Partner of the Year award, builds on the power of the Microsoft Cloud and its generative AI capabilities to simplify access to complex, industrial data and enable actionable insights. Cognite Data Fusion built on Microsoft Azure uses AI to automate the ingestion, consolidation, contextualization, and access to operational, engineering, and IT data from multiple sources to create data models and build new analytics dashboards, digital solutions, and digital twins.
• Through digital twins and the power of data, AI, and advanced analytics, Bentley Systems helps energy companies better understand and optimize their operations. With AI, energy organizations can build mission-critical solutions to analyze images, identify patterns, do predictive analytics, and isolate anomalies to solve complex problems crucial to sustaining the environment and growing economies. Azure provides the platform for Bentley to unify data into a digital twin and apply AI, helping energy companies generate better insights, reduce costs, and increase efficiency.

The promise of generative AI for energy and resources industry transformation

Last week we announced Microsoft’s vision to deliver Copilot, your everyday AI companion—to help people and businesses be smarter, more creative, more productive, and more connected to the world around them. We believe that together with our customers and partners, Microsoft can help power your teams, businesses, and processes, to empower every person and every organization to do their very best work and to achieve more.

In the energy and resources industry, generative AI has the potential to create new solutions and optimize existing processes by enhancing predictive maintenance models which evaluate the current status of equipment and machinery, whether it’s a power line, trucks at a mining site, or offshore wind turbines. The AI models can proactively make predictions based on usage trends and consequently inform maintenance teams of potential equipment failures in advance which help energy companies optimize maintenance schedules, minimize equipment downtime, reduce costs, and ensure a safe and reliable energy supply.

AI and machine learning can be used to improve the security of energy grids by preventing cyberattacks before they happen by using data analytics to identify patterns in energy data that may be indicative of a breach. AI can also empower and enable field workers to identify high-risk tasks and help prevent serious injuries by analyzing large data sets on work sites, schedules, and historical incidents. AI models can be used to predict future supply chain information such as forecasting demand for specific products and optimizing inventory levels, and there are countless more examples around service desk scenarios, customer care and support, and internal knowledge assistants.

As AI technology continues to rapidly evolve, Microsoft is committed to the advancement of AI driven by ethical principles and making sure AI systems are developed responsibly and in ways that maintain trust. Our AI solutions and technology development align with Microsoft’s AI Principles—fairness, reliability and safety, privacy and security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability—along with Microsoft’s Responsible AI Standard in partnership with responsible AI experts across the company.

I hope you’re as excited as I am by the latest AI innovations across the energy and resources sector.

Resources

• Meet the Microsoft Energy and Resources Team at ADIPEC 2023, October 2 to 5, 2023 to learn more about exciting innovations in data, AI, and sustainability.
• Microsoft AI solutions
• Microsoft Azure for Energy
• Microsoft Azure AI services
• Learn more about themes and actions critical for energy transition.
• Enable your data to do more in the cloud with our Azure Data Manager for Energy.
• Microsoft brings mixed reality and new immersive collaboration tools to industrial metaverse customers.

Microsoft AI

Explore how Microsoft is empowering the world to achieve more with AI.

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¹AI paves the way for a sustainable energy future, Journal of Petroleum Energy Future, February 2023.

²Artificial intelligence is critical enabler of the energy transition, Word Economic Forum in collaboration with BloombergNEF and Deutsche Energie-Agentur, September 2021.

The post The era of AI: Transformative AI solutions powering the energy and resources industry appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

With energy demand expected to increase by nearly 50 percent over the next 30 years, companies are accelerating innovation to meet the need for safe, reliable, and sustainable energy.¹ Until more alternative, cost-effective solutions are available for energy operations, manufacturing and other industrial processes, companies will continue to look for ways to offset carbon emissions with initiatives such as carbon capture and storage (CSS).

While tackling these complex issues, energy firms must also meet business goals. That means enabling growth and modernizing infrastructure by leveraging data to gain insights and create efficiencies. To balance priorities, energy organizations worldwide are using Microsoft’s cloud, data, and AI technologies to create a digital foundation for a more sustainable future.

Powering digital transformation with Azure Data Manager for Energy

Built to meet the needs of our global energy customers, Azure Data Manager for Energy is available in multiple Azure regions and expanding quickly to full, global availability.

We’re also excited to offer two tiers—a standard tier to run high-scale, performance-driven production workloads, and a developer tier designed for partners and end users looking for more flexibility and speed in building new applications. Partners and customers can start with the developer tier to evaluate and plan implementation, accelerate application development, and test OSDU Data Platform applications. When ready to transform their operational environment, energy operators can use the standard tier to take advantage of enterprise grade, service level agreement (SLA)-backed performance for optimizing seismic, wellbore, and reservoir workflows. Learn more in the announcement of the Azure Data Manager for Energy developer tier.

Eliminating data silos with easy interoperability across an extensive global partner ecosystem

Our global partner ecosystem is fundamental to accelerating innovation across the energy sector. With Azure Data Manager for Energy, customers can speed toward goals by taking advantage of easy interoperability across an extensible application ecosystem. They can integrate virtually any dataset, application, or cloud service while leveraging the subsurface tools they already work with from SLB, Halliburton, and many others. To deploy OSDU Data Platform applications faster with fewer resources, energy companies can also work with their choice of systems integrators to help prepare and ingest data into Azure Data Manager for Energy. 

We are pleased to be working with many leading energy partners on Azure Data Manager for Energy and continue adding others to our extensive partner ecosystem, including: 

Enabling carbon capture and storage

Collaboration will also enable and accelerate the transition to a net-zero economy. Built in partnership with SLB, a global technology company driving energy innovation, Azure Data Manager for Energy combines extensive domain expertise from SLB with Microsoft innovations in cloud technologies and AI.

Out-of-the-box compatibility with industry-leading SLB technologies for subsurface reservoir and CO2 storage assessment will accelerate time-to-market. With the same tools that energy companies use for subsurface interpretation and modeling, customers can run workflows for CO2 storage site assessment and monitoring.

SLB CO2 subsurface workflows work with Azure Data Manager for Energy to enable CO2 storage capacity assessment and long-term storage integrity evaluation. Capabilities include:

• Rapid site selection: Quickly and confidently analyze geological and environmental data to identify and screen suitable storage sites and assess storage capacity.
• Model and simulate CO2 storage scenarios: Improve decision-making and risk mitigation strategies by simulating multiple CO2 injection and migration scenarios. Assess storage integrity, containment risk and injection performance for long term, safe CO2 storage.
• Reduce capital and operational costs: Identify potential inefficiencies in the design phase to optimize operational safety and enable continuous operations. Build a cost-effective monitoring plan based on detailed technical assessments of storage site performance.

With these capabilities, developers, data managers, and technical specialists, including geoscientists, can quickly innovate to drive the energy transition. 

Scaling efficiencies and operational insights with an enterprise-grade cloud platform

Azure Data Manager for Energy offers customers new tools to help speed implementation, integration, and innovation with organizations already using the platform for transformative solutions.

For example, the easy integration helped Norwegian energy company Aker BP speed time-to-market by integrating Azure Data Manager for Energy with SLB and Halliburton applications to eliminate data siloes and time-consuming manual processes. Aker BP is empowered across the organization with strategic insights to make better decisions at the operational, engineering, and executive levels, with better predictability that helps save money and increase productivity. Operating with more precision enables Aker BP to not only lower operational costs, but also increase plant up-time while reducing CO2 emissions.

TotalEnergies is another early adopter of Azure Data Manager for Energy. The company reports ease-of-deployment that completes in two hours with just a single click. And because Azure Data Manager for Energy is a fully managed cloud service, TotalEnergies can innovate with confidence backed by the solution’s scalability, seamless upgrades, and disaster recovery capabilities.

Balancing global demand with sustainable operations

By modernizing their data estate, energy companies can balance growing energy demand with the need to work toward sustainable operations. Norway’s Equinor is an industry leader at the forefront of the transition to a low-carbon future, with a commitment to achieve net zero by 2050. The company needed an efficient way to implement the industry’s data platform standards to help organize, manage, and analyze vast quantities of information. To eliminate data silos and equip employees with information to make effective decisions, Equinor decided to target data efficiency and a low-carbon future with Azure Data Manager for Energy.

Equinor believed that the issues faced by the industry were too important to wait. By becoming an early adopter of Azure Data Manager for Energy, the firm was able to integrate previously siloed data and get actionable insights such as locating ideal locations for carbon capture and storage. Now, a nearly limitless volume of information can be stored in the cloud, where it’s secure, quality-controlled, and easily accessible. With an integrated solution based on Azure Data Manager for Energy, Equinor expects to reduce emissions and improve the efficiency of its hydrocarbon extraction, while optimizing the success of new sustainable energy ventures.

“The scalability, elasticity, and flexibility of Microsoft Azure Data Manager for Energy provides us with an ideal foundation for implementing the OSDU Data Platform in a way we wouldn’t have been able to do on-premises.”

–Øivind Berggraf, Advisor Emerging Information Technology–Subsurface

Join us in Houston for the Azure Data Manager for Energy launch event

Azure Data Manager for Energy is available today to help the energy companies of tomorrow modernize data and digitally transform to provide secure, reliable, and sustainable energy for generations to come. We also invite you to join the Microsoft Energy and Resources Team, our partners, and customers, for a launch event where you can learn firsthand how our latest offering can enable your data to do more in the cloud and accelerate your journey to energy data modernization and digital transformation. Space is limited, so secure your spot by registering here. We hope to see you at the Houston Ion on August 30, 2023.

Azure Data Manager for Energy

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Microsoft for Energy and Resources

• Learn more about themes and actions critical for energy transition.
• Read more about how Microsoft partners with energy companies to accelerate digital transformation.
• Find out how Azure OpenAI helps improve productivity at Ontario Power Generation
• Discover ways that data and analytics are shaping the energy transition.
• Microsoft brings mixed reality and new immersive collaboration tools to industrial metaverse customers.
• Learn more about how Microsoft works to enable the sustainable growth of renewables in the mining industry.
• To learn how to attract, train, and retain employees for your next-generation workforce, visit our transform your workforce employee retention website.
• To learn more about Microsoft for Energy and Resources, visit our future of energy industry solutions website.

¹EIA projects nearly 50% increase in world energy usage by 2050, led by growth in Asia, U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The post Announcing general availability of Azure Data Manager for Energy   appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

The energy sector is at the forefront of innovation to help solve these challenges and develop new solutions to accelerate decarbonization and the movement toward clean, renewable sources of energy. Momentum is also building for decentralized models of production and distribution, with distributed energy generation such as local microgrids. To speed innovation, energy organizations are migrating to the cloud and integrating Microsoft technologies to liberate, unify, and contextualize data and developing solutions that leverage AI, predictive analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), and digital twins.

But technology is only part of the solution. Collaboration with industry leaders and our global partner ecosystem is critical for solving complex global energy challenges.

Microsoft for Energy and Resources

Transform the energy and resources industry to deliver safe, reliable, and clean energy for a sustainable future.

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Making your data work for you at Reuters Global Energy Transitions 2023

We recently participated in the Reuters Global Energy Transitions 2023 on June 7 and 8 in New York City, which convened energy executives from around the world to talk about challenges and opportunities in the energy transition. From the Microsoft Energy and Resources team, Hanna Grene, Worldwide Power and Utilities Industry Leader and Ravi Mundhe, Director Energy and Resources, were joined by digital leaders from our partners Cognite and Schneider Electric to lead a discussion on how energy companies can improve their digital strategy through innovative data and analytics.

During our workshop, energy executives representing energy production, generation, transmission, and distribution companies, shared data priorities and best practices on advancing analytics and automation to achieve net-zero objectives. The workshop also examined how organizations can reinvigorate their digital strategy with data optimization techniques and assess digital capabilities and risks with AI.

To learn more about energy trends and partner innovations, read Hanna Grene’s Innovation in power and utilities blog, and watch two new video series on how data and analytics are shaping the energy transition: Top Trends in Energy and the latest episode of The Short Circuit, where I sit down with Jason Wight, Chief Information Officer of OPG, who talks about the benefits of a strong partnership built on shared values driving digital innovation, including large language models, and business results at pace and scale.

Celebrating our partners at Microsoft Inspire 2023

Each year at Microsoft Inspire we celebrate our partners and their latest innovations to help our customers achieve more. Once again, we’re looking forward to connecting with the energy sector on July 18 and 19, 2023 and you’re invited to join us at Microsoft Inspire 2023. At our largest partner event of the year, learn how Microsoft and its global partner ecosystem are accelerating the ideation, development, and deployment of technology solutions in the collective journey towards a secure, equitable, and sustainable energy future.

This year, we are pleased to announce SLB as the Energy and Resources Partner of the Year for revolutionizing their DELFI platform built on Azure Data Manager for Energy and leveraging high-performance computing (HPC) and AI to optimize simulation workflows for energy exploration, development, and carbon storage. SLB has been a leader in digital transformation with top energy operators and Microsoft technology at the center of this journey. Through our strong partnership and collaboration, SLB and Microsoft enable customers to spend less time on operations and more time focusing on the greater industry mission of addressing the growing energy demand crisis the world is facing.

We are also pleased to share our finalists Cognite, Neudesic, and Schneider Electric for their transformative solutions to maximize efficiency, resiliency, and sustainability across the energy value chain. Partnering with Microsoft, Cognite helps solve the industrial data problem and accelerate the full-scale digital transformation that improves the dependability and sustainability of operations. Neudesic and Microsoft are innovating solutions that help power and utilities maximize grid resiliency, outage restoration, and the transition to clean energy. Together with Microsoft, Schneider Electric is electrifying and digitizing energy, helping customers achieve both energy and sustainability goals from strategy to execution to unlock the grid of the future.

Be sure to tune in to Microsoft Inspire 2023 on July 18, where we sit down with Cognite and Schneider Electric to hear about their partner experiences and learnings.

During Microsoft Inspire 2023 you’ll discover how the Microsoft Cloud can power the energy industry’s AI transformation. Recognizing the importance of the cloud in driving digital transformation, sustainability, and business growth, we commissioned Forrester Consulting to survey energy executives on the benefits and impact of moving to an open, cloud-based platform. According to the 2023 survey, expected benefits of cloud migration include better data management and insights, lower costs, and higher operational efficiency and security. To learn more about cloud migration in the energy industry, download this Forrester infographic.

The power of partnerships and co-innovation

As energy companies continue to evolve, we work closely with our partners to help customers in several key areas including:

• Intelligent grid solutions that improve reliability and efficiency throughout the grid lifecycle with decentralized energy generation, renewables integration, and customer-centric services.
• Innovating in an interactive digital space of the industrial metaverse by combining digital twins, IoT, AI, and augmented reality.
• Microsoft Fabric to connect every data source and analytics service together on a single, AI-powered platform.
• Advancing energy transition solutions with Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability to record, report, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and accelerable low-and no-carbon energy sources.

Together with our partners, we also recently launched the Energy Transition Center of Excellence at the Houston Microsoft Technology Center (MTC). The Center of Excellence showcases leading energy transition solutions to provide customers an opportunity to learn first-hand the solutions offered by Microsoft and our global partner ecosystem to accelerate decarbonization and net-zero objectives. The center’s partner technologies include hydrogen production, offshore wind optimization, emissions management, carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS), home energy management, and repowering coal plants. Watch the Energy Transition Center of Excellence video to learn more.

Working together for a sustainable future

From individual consumers to global corporations, we must all work together for solutions that advance us toward a cleaner, sustainable future for all. We’re excited to continue to co-innovate with our partners and customers to meet the needs of the ever-evolving energy industry and the world we live in.

Resources

• Learn more about themes and actions critical for energy transition.
• Read more about how Microsoft partners with energy companies to accelerate digital transformation.
• Discover ways that data and analytics are shaping the energy transition.
• Microsoft brings mixed reality and new immersive collaboration tools to industrial metaverse customers.
• Learn more about how Microsoft works to enable the sustainable growth of renewables in the mining industry.
• Enable your data to do more in the cloud with our Azure Data Manager for Energy.
• To learn how to attract, train, and retain employees for your next-generation workforce, visit our transform your workforce employee retention website.
• To learn more about Microsoft for Energy and Resources, visit our future of energy industry solutions website.

¹Rising global energy use complicates path to net zero, John Kemp, Reuters, 2021.

²Carbon Majors Report, Climate Accountability Institute, 2020.

The post Partnerships for a sustainable future at Microsoft Inspire and Reuters Global Energy Transition 2023 appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.

To move toward a secure and sustainable future, the world needs holistic solutions that optimize operational efficiency and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy. Energy leaders are turning to Microsoft for technologies that power transformation including the Microsoft Cloud, AI, machine learning, the Internet of Things (IoT), and mixed reality.

Around the world, leading organizations are leveraging digital technologies to transform their workforce, operate for the future, and create new business models with intelligent, data-driven, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) first solutions that improve performance and sustainability. I wrote about some of these innovations in my recent blog on the energy sector and the industrial metaverse, and look forward to sharing more.

Microsoft for Energy u0026amp; Resources

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Innovative solutions to accelerate decarbonization

To meet their net-zero goals, companies need support across their energy transition journeys to reduce CO2 emissions, capture and store carbon, generate green hydrogen, repower coal, and optimize wind turbines. To support customers across their decarbonization journeys, we’re excited to announce the grand opening of the Energy Transition Center of Excellence at the Houston Microsoft Technology Center (MTC). The new Microsoft Center of Excellence will showcase leading energy transition solutions and give customers an opportunity to learn first-hand the solutions offered by Microsoft and our global partner ecosystem.

Customers can experience a new energy future through immersive, interactive exhibits on leading energy solutions built by our partners and powered by Microsoft. These solutions are innovative, transformational, and pivotal to companies achieving their sustainability goals and are also grounded in the urgent priority of providing secure and reliable energy access and equity for all. Microsoft Energy Transition Center partners and technologies include:

• AspenTech and Emerson: Digital technology pathway for scaling up the hydrogen economy. AspenTech and Emerson solutions are designed to help address the challenges of capital expenditure (CAPEX) and lifecycle operating cost of production, supply chain, and storage infrastructure to expedite speed to market.
• Bentley: Going digital in offshore wind. Bentley provides digital solutions to help stakeholders work together more effectively, design, implement and operate offshore structures, and deliver a clear line of sight across the whole operation.
• Cognite: Cognite data fusion for sustainability. Cognite Data Fusion® automates the ingestion, consolidation, contextualization, and access to operational, engineering, and IT data from multiple sources to enable operators to take action to help reduce emissions and waste in real-time.
• EY: Hydrogen Pathways to further decarbonization. EY’s Hydrogen Pathways is a molecular accounting platform, combining asset planning with operational insights to create a holistic view for hydrogen production.
• Honeywell: End-to-end enterprise emissions management. Honeywell Emissions Management Suite is an end-to-end solution that provides greenhouse gas emissions measurement, monitoring, reporting, reduction, and more to drive insights that support the company’s decarbonization goals.
• Schneider Electric: Prosumers and the new energy landscape. Utilities are at the heart of the new energy landscape, a paradigm shift to bidirectional energy driven by prosumers. Discover how Schneider Electric and its portfolio of prosumer companies are accelerating the new energy landscape.
• SLB: For a balanced planet. SLB solutions include using AI, automation, and comprehensive data management to create new levels of efficiency and performance across the Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) value chain.
• Switch Energy Alliance: Energy equity and energy access. Switch Energy Alliance’s global video and web-based approach engages students and general viewers in a positive conversation to work collaboratively on energy challenges.
• TerraPraxis: TeraPraxis REPOWER. TerraPraxis REPOWER is a standardized system designed to repurpose existing coal plants to produce clean energy.

Learning and connecting with global energy leaders at CERAWeek 2023

The Microsoft team is participating in CERAWeek 2023, the preeminent annual gathering of energy, finance, and technology leaders, on March 6 to 10, 2023 in Houston, Texas. The event is focused on navigating a turbulent world through the lens of energy, climate, and security. Microsoft energy leaders will share perspectives on topics that include unlocking data with cloud-based technologies, decarbonization solutions, alternative energy sources, and digitalization of the grid.

At CERAWeek 2023, I am looking forward to joining a panel with leaders from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Repsol, and Schneider Electric to discuss Company Strategies to Lower Emissions. Critical issues we’ll address are new energy technologies needed for the energy transition, how effectively they are supporting sustainability goals, and the role of digital technology in enabling and accelerating these new energy scenarios.

The Microsoft team will also participate in sessions that include:

• Hydrogen in Backup Power Applications with Joanna Mainguy, Industry Director EMEA, Energy and Resources Industry.
• Powering the Future: Digital Solutions for a Resilient, Secure, and Low-Carbon Grid with Per Christian Honningsvaag, Business Leader EMEA, Energy and Resources Industry.
• Scaling Innovation for Energy Transition Solutions with Dave Wisenteiner, General Manager, Worldwide Energy and Resources Industry.
• Successful CCUS Scale-ups: Dependent on Integrated Hubs and Markets? with Sverre Brandsberg, Chief Technology Officer, Microsoft Cloud for Industry.
• Unleashing the Power of Subsurface Data with OSDU in the Cloud with Stacey Lusk and Neeraj Joshi, Principal Program Managers, Worldwide Energy and Resources Industry.

Enabling carbon capture on an industrial scale

Microsoft technologies help to reshape the energy value chain at every stage, from planning and development to production, distribution, and consumption. As more governments and businesses commit to climate action plans for a greener future, we anticipate that digital solutions for energy challenges will become increasingly important. For example, in 2020 Norway updated its commitment to the Paris Agreement with an aggressive plan to cut overall emissions by at least 50 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels.¹ As part of that initiative, the country is focusing on CCUS.

The Norwegian government teamed with Aker Carbon Capture, a consortium of three oil and gas companies called Northern Lights, and Microsoft to build a large-scale carbon capture plant at a Norcem cement factory in the town of Brevik. The energy and cement industries have a mutual interest in CCUS solutions. Because the cement industry is one of the largest producers of greenhouse gas, the solution developed at the Norcem factory is an important step in reshaping the industry. The project will become part of a nationwide system to capture emissions from multiple sources across Norway, including the energy industry.

Norway had been storing carbon dioxide in subsea reservoirs since 1996 but required carbon capture on an industrial scale to meet its goal of a nationwide system. To help solve the challenge, Microsoft engineers are building an integrated digital platform to track carbon dioxide from the point of emission to storage. The platform will track every step of the value chain, including the physical movement of carbon dioxide, its complex handling processes, and financial transactions. The new platform brings together Microsoft cloud technologies such as AI and high-performance computing to gather, monitor, and analyze data. While the first step is to capture 400,000 tons of CO2 annually at Brevik, the ultimate goal is to turn the data platform into an industry standard with the potential to accelerate movement toward Europe’s climate goals.

This project is another great example of how digital technology can be used to move the world closer to net-zero goals and speed the transition to cleaner energy. We look forward to connecting with you at CERAWeek 2023. We also hope you can experience our new Microsoft Energy Transition Center of Excellence and the latest innovations we are building with our partners to power a sustainable energy future.

Discover more

• 3 key takeaways from CERAWeek 2022 and a cleaner future for the energy transition. 
• Learn more about themes and actions critical for energy transition. 
• Read more about how Microsoft partners with energy companies to accelerate digital transformation.
• Microsoft brings mixed reality and new immersive collaboration tools to industrial metaverse customers.
• Learn more about how Microsoft works to enable the sustainable growth of renewables in the mining industry.
• Enable your data to do more in the cloud with our energy data manager.
• To learn how to attract, train, and retain employees for your next-generation workforce, visit our transform your workforce employee retention website.
• To learn more about Microsoft for Energy and Resources, visit our future of energy industry solutions website. 

¹Norway’s long term low emission strategy for 2050.

The post CERAWeek 2023: Microsoft launches the Energy Transition Center of Excellence appeared first on The Microsoft Cloud Blog.