Recording of Tuesday, June 23, 2026 | The smarter E Europe Conferences 2026 | Language: English | Duration: 10:01 .

The Crucial Role of Grid Digitalization and AI in the Energy Transition

Grid digitalization is vital for modernizing Europe's energy infrastructure and enabling the integration of renewable energy sources. It enhances operational efficiency, reliability, and flexibility within energy systems, ultimately supporting sustainability goals. A 100-page study by T&D Europe highlights the transformative role of AI, identifying it as an essential part of digital grid initiatives rather than a standalone solution. Comprehensive reevaluation of existing grid management and regulation is necessary to fully harness advanced digital capabilities. Current challenges include a mix of legacy systems and emerging technologies, necessitating a unified governance framework and regulatory adaptations that focus on output-based incentives. Successful implementation relies on a robust data ecosystem, ensuring accessibility and interoperability for effective stakeholder collaboration. Moreover, the integration of digital tools and enhanced data analytics is crucial for optimizing energy supply and demand management, thus facilitating a seamless energy transition.

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Speaker

Christiane Mann
Chair of the T&D Europe Working Group on Grid Digitalisation
T&D Europe
Belgium

Talk of session: Can We Trust AI to Run the Grid? From Data Infrastructure to Operational Intelligence

Grid operators are no longer asking whether AI belongs in control rooms, but when they will be able to rely on it. AI tools for forecasting imbalances, detecting congestion, supporting dispatch decisions as well as enabling digital twins and edge intelligence are advancing rapidly. At the same time, European frameworks are evolving to support data-driven grid operation.But trust is not built on model accuracy alone - it requires real-world deployment, transparent validation and clear human oversight. During this 90-minute session, speakers will share concrete results from deployed systems. Find out where AI-assisted operation has delivered measurable improvements, what data infrastructure is genuinely needed and what regulatory conditions can help a tool move from the pilot phase to one that becomes part of daily operations.

Further Talks of this session:

Welcome & Introduction

Speaker

Luís Vale Cunha
Board Member, European Affairs, Policy & EU Projects
E.DSO and E-REDES

To Talk

From Data to Decisions: Operational Lessons from AI in Utility-Scale Battery Storage

Speaker

Steve Merrick
Staff Product Manager
Wärtsilä Energy Storage
USA

To Talk

Empowering Grid Operators: Intelligent AI Agents for Next-Generation Energy Networks

Speaker

Smaran Subbaiah
AI Product Manager
Siemens AG
Germany

To Talk

Hedging Risks in a PV-Heavy Market: Data-Driven Solutions to Forecast Grid Imbalance

Speaker

Diya Achi
R&D Data Scientist
CSEM SA
Switzerland

To Talk

Smarter Grids Through Edge Intelligence: ADI's Vision for the Energy Transition

Speaker

Christoph Scharfenort
Manager Sales & Business Development DACH
VT Electron (ADI)
Ireland

To Talk

Panel Discussion: What Does It Take for a Grid Operator to Trust AI in Daily Operations?

To Talk

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