Digital News

　　On September 8, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration jointly released the Implementation Opinions on Promoting High-Quality Development of “Artificial Intelligence +” in the Energy Sector (hereinafter referred to as the Opinions).

　　The Opinions set forth the goal that by 2027, a preliminary innovation system integrating energy and artificial intelligence (AI) will be established, the foundation for coordinated development of computing power and electricity will be continuously strengthened, AI-driven breakthroughs in core energy technologies will be achieved, and applications will become broader and deeper. The plan calls for promoting the deep application of more than five specialized large AI models in industries such as power grids, power generation, coal, and oil & gas; identifying over ten replicable, scalable, and competitive key demonstration projects; exploring empowerment paths for one hundred typical application scenarios; cultivating a batch of AI technology research and innovation platforms in the energy sector; formulating and refining one hundred technical standards; training a cohort of cross-disciplinary talent in energy and AI; and exploring the establishment of a financial support system for AI technology research and application in the energy sector. This aims to create an AI innovation development model in the energy sector suited to China’s national conditions, with initial results in sector-wide intelligence already emerging.

　　By 2030, specialized AI technologies and applications in the energy sector are expected to reach a world-leading level. The coordinated mechanism for computing power and electricity will be further improved, and a green, economical, safe, and efficient energy usage model for computing will be established.. Theoretical and technological innovations arising from the integration of energy and AI will achieve significant results, enabling cross-domain, cross-industry, and cross-business AI applications in the energy sector. Breakthroughs will be made in areas such as intelligent power regulation, smart energy resource exploration, and intelligent forecasting of new energy, while embodied intelligence and scientific intelligence will be applied in key scenarios. A batch of globally leading “AI+” energy R&D innovation platforms and interdisciplinary talent training bases will be formed, supported by a more comprehensive policy framework, continuously guiding efficient, healthy, and orderly AI-driven innovation in the energy sector and laying a solid foundation for high-quality energy development.

　　The Opinions identify eight specific “AI+” application scenarios in the energy sector. According to officials from the Science and Technology Department of the National Energy Administration, the Opinions advance industry applications in coordination with foundational capability supply, deploying a series of key tasks from the perspectives of application scenario empowerment and key technology provision, and explicitly detailing R&D and application priorities in dedicated sections.

　　First, all energy scenarios should be empowered across the board. The Opinions systematically deploy AI applications across eight scenarios: power grids, new energy industries, renewable energy, hydropower, thermal power, nuclear power, coal, and oil & gas, covering coal, electricity, oil, and gas. This promotes the shared benefits of AI development in the energy sector, supports digital and intelligent upgrades of traditional fossil fuel industries, accelerates deep integration of AI with new energy, new energy business models, and energy cross-sectors, and fosters the growth of new energy industries and business models. Vertically, the Opinions enhance AI’s role in improving efficiency and quality throughout energy equipment manufacturing, production, transmission, dispatch, and consumption, thereby raising overall system efficiency.

　　Second, dedicated sections clarify the construction paths for typical scenarios. In adherence to the principles of strategic guidance and precise implementation, the focus should be placed on directions with urgent intelligent transformation needs, complete data foundations, clear application value, and strong potential for scalable application. A dedicated section specifies 37 key AI+ energy integration development tasks covering over 100 scenarios: six in oil & gas, five each in coal, power grids, hydropower, and new energy industries, four in thermal power, and three in nuclear power. Construction paths and targets are also defined for each task.

　　Third, the provision of key common technologies should be strengthened. Centered on data, computing power, and algorithms, the Opinions proposes to systematically build a foundational support system for AI applications and outlines three key common technology directions for AI in the energy sector: solidifying the data foundation by accelerating the formation of high-quality datasets and ensuring full-process data security and reliability; strengthening computing power support through coordinated resource planning and establishing a deeply integrated computing-electricity development mechanism; and enhancing model foundational capabilities by promoting deep integration of AI with energy sector software and accelerating breakthroughs in green and low-carbon AI technologies.