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EPRI, a non-profit dedicated to electricity research and development, has announced a partnership with Microsoft to innovate AI solutions specifically for the energy sector. This collaboration was unveiled during DISTRIBUTECH 2025, the foremost event in North America focused on electricity transmission and distribution.
The initiative is part of the Open Power AI Consortium, where EPRI and Microsoft will work alongside energy organizations worldwide to enhance various aspects of grid management, including reliability, workforce safety, and predictive capabilities. Their goal is to equip utilities with real-time intelligence and advanced forecasting models utilizing artificial intelligence.
As a founding member of this consortium, which includes over 30 energy companies, Microsoft aims to leverage cutting-edge digital technologies to transform the way electricity is generated, transmitted, and consumed. This consortium seeks to foster a collaborative environment where utilities, startups, academic institutions, and technology firms can come together to develop and test AI applications.
“In the next decade, we anticipate that AI will significantly reshape the power industry, offering tools that enhance grid reliability, improve asset performance, and promote more effective energy management,” remarked EPRI’s President and CEO, Arshad Mansoor. He emphasized that EPRI’s collaboration with Microsoft is poised to lead this essential transformation towards a more resilient and cost-effective energy landscape.
EPRI will also participate in the forthcoming Global Nonprofit Leaders Summit, where CEOs will discuss strategies to leverage AI for impactful, mission-driven outcomes.
Understanding the Open Power AI Consortium
Last week, EPRI launched the Open Power AI Consortium during NVIDIA’s GTC event, aiming to create an open AI model specifically designed for the power sector. This initiative is expected to expedite the adoption of AI technologies that can lower operational costs while enhancing customer experiences in the energy market.
The consortium will benefit from insights provided by an Executive Advisory Group, which includes leaders from several significant energy companies such as ACWA (NOMAC), Alliant Energy, Ameren, Constellation, Con Edison, CPS Energy, Dairyland Power Cooperative, Duke Energy, and many others. These companies span a diverse range of expertise, addressing essential needs within the sector.
Additionally, technology firms including Articul8, AWS, Linux Foundation Energy, Microsoft, NVIDIA, Oracle, Rolls-Royce SMR Limited, SHI, and WWT will join this consortium as affiliated members, with additional organizations expected to participate in the future.
The consortium is set to concentrate on three key areas of development:
- Creating and maintaining open-source AI and Gen AI models specifically aimed at meeting the challenges of the power sector.
- Establishing a sandbox environment to foster the development and validation of AI applications in partnership with startups, academia, national laboratories, utilities, and other tech companies.
- Deploying AI models that utilize global knowledge and experience, while integrating learnings to advance innovation and mitigate risks associated with implementation.
Source
www.renewableenergyworld.com