Are we ready for the true operational impact of AI in the energy sector?

Recently, over 73% of surveyed C-suite DNV energy customers stated they are about to launch AI pilots or go live with deployments in the next 12 months, the industry is rapidly moving from experimentation to large-scale adoption. But as these complex, interconnected systems go online, are we unknowingly introducing hidden vulnerabilities into our critical infrastructure?

At Go Digital Energy 2026, Hari Vamadevan, Senior Vice President and Regional Director, Energy Systems UK and Ireland at DNV, explored the urgent need to balance rapid digital innovation with rigorous safety standards.

Drawing on DNV’s extensive experience in risk management, Hari outlined the critical path from reactive troubleshooting to proactive AI assurance.

Key Takeaways from the Keynote:

• The AI Energy Paradox: While AI will accelerate the energy transition, the sheer energy requirements are massive; global forecasts predict that in 2045, 45% of all global electricity demand will come from data centers.
• Mitigating Hidden Hazards: The unpredictable interactions between humans and AI could pose the greatest threat to operational safety.
• Building the “AI Safety Case”: To ensure responsible innovation, the industry must develop specific safety case templates for AI, conceptually similar to the safety cases introduced for offshore operators after the 1988 Piper Alpha disaster.
• Avoiding the “Gospel Out” Trap: Blind trust in AI outputs when the underlying data is flawed is highly dangerous; moving beyond the old adage of “garbage in, garbage out,” the real danger in modern decision-making is “garbage in, Gospel out”.
• Actionable Frameworks: DNV’s Recommended Practice for the assurance of AI-enabled systems (DNV-RP-0671) provides guidance on evaluating AI trustworthiness and is currently referenced as a use case by the UK Government.

Download the full presentation to discover how to secure the future of our digitalised, decarbonised energy systems.

Further Reading & Related Resources

• AI Insights: Rising to the challenge across the UK energy system Based on interviews with key organizations across the UK energy sector, this DNV research report explores how AI can accelerate the energy transition. It highlights the urgent need to bridge the “trust gap” and overcome cultural and data-sharing barriers to fully realize AI’s potential in our transitioning energy landscape.