Figure 1 Almost two-thirds of energy leaders view AI as a top organizational priority AI as a corporate priority, 2024 - 2026 | 2024 | 14% | 31% | 47% | 7% | 2% | | 45% | | 2025 | 9% | 33% | 49% | 8% | 2% | | 42% | | 2026 | 26% | 36% | 34% | 3% | 62% The top priority One of the top two priorities Don’t know / Not relevant One of many priorities Not a priority While supply volatility and disruption Realizing those benefits will “Energy and artificial  is increasing, the system is also depend on the foundations around intelligence are being asked to carry more, and the the technology: sufficient power, becoming increasingly industry remains split on whether trusted governance, common interconnected, with infrastructure can cope. The IEA standards, skilled people and each playing a vital role in projects that electricity demand from infrastructure capable of supporting shaping the future of the data centers will reach roughly 950 a more intelligent energy system. other. Realizing their full TWh by 20301, arriving on networks potential requires an From investment to returns integrated approach that that must also absorb electrification and rising demand. Just over half of The economics are also becoming aligns energy and digital more operational. Falling costs are infrastructure, advances leaders are confident that existing infrastructure can meet AI-driven making AI more accessible, but innovation, and invests electricity demand through 2030. agentic systems and continuous in human capabilities. Forty-seven percent are not. Little workloads are increasing By strengthening this consumption. As AI moves into connection, we can has changed on that question over production, organizations are under build more secure, the past year. growing pressure to justify recurring efficient, and resilient Reliable power for AI depends on spend and secure future investment. energy systems while more than generation and electricity Adoption is no longer enough. Value supporting sustainable networks. Gas-fired capacity can must be measured through better economic growth.” support growing, concentrated decisions, improved workflows, demand only when production, stronger resilience and reduced H.E. Suhail Mohamed processing, transportation and operational risk. Al Mazrouei storage are developed in step with Minister of Energy The early evidence on returns is and Infrastructure, power generation and the grid. The encouraging. Sixty-three percent United Arab Emirates resilience challenge is therefore one of leaders believe that AI of integration across the full energy- investments already made have delivery chain. either met or exceeded cost. This heightens the importance of Confidence is even stronger how the sector should judge AI’s looking ahead: nearly nine in ten value. Beyond productivity, AI can expect future investments to cover help optimize assets, forecast risk, or exceed costs, and almost half coordinate power flows and expect returns within three years. strengthen the resilience of supply. 1 Key Questions on Energy and AI, World Energy Outlook Special Report, IEA, April 2026, https://www.iea.org/reports/key-questions-on-energy-and-ai 10