China plans to embed AI in energy infrastructure to optimise power grid efficiency
Top energy firms and tech companies are being drawn into state-backed pilots to align surging computing demand with more efficient energy usage
With victory in the global race to build artificial intelligence capacity heavily dependent on resilient power systems, China is urging domestic enterprises to launch pilot projects that integrate the cutting-edge technology into the energy sector.
To support the plan, Beijing has released an official list of application scenarios ranging from smart grids to autonomous coal mines. Energy enterprises would be able to partner with artificial intelligence providers and jointly submit proposals for state-backed pilot projects, the National Energy Administration (NEA) announced on Wednesday.
Alibaba Cloud is the AI and cloud computing unit of Alibaba Group Holding, owner of the South China Morning Post.
The definitive list of 51 “high-value” application scenarios spanned eight core sectors, including power grids, renewables, hydropower, thermal power, coal, oil and gas.
“By spelling out these explicit application scenarios, the government is pushing the industry to move from conceptual rhetoric to concrete implementation, marking a highly significant step forward,” said Lin Boqiang, dean of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.