Artificial intelligence at the heart of smart grids: between performance and the imperative of sustainability
We’re here! After several months of collaborative work, Think Smartgrids is proud to publish its brand new white paper:
“AI Barometer 2025: Maturity, Use Cases, and Sustainability in Smart Grids.”
Faced with the rise of renewable energies, the decentralization of production, and the massive electrification of energy uses, AI is no longer a technical option: it is an essential strategic lever for managing the complexity of our electrical grids.
What are the key takeaways from this 2025 edition?
Gradually confirmed operational maturity: AI delivers concrete and immediate benefits. It optimizes the supply-demand balance (renewable energy forecasting, flexibility management), transforms maintenance (90% early failure detection via digital twins), and strengthens cybersecurity. More and more projects are in production, even though the majority are still in the proof-of-concept or build stage.
The challenge of environmental footprint (Red AI vs. Green AI): While AI makes our networks more efficient, it is also extremely resource-intensive (energy, cooling water, critical metals). For sustainable development, we must integrate eco-design from the outset.
Open Source as an accelerator: A true engine of innovation, the use of open-source components promotes transparency, interoperability, and reduces costs for the entire ecosystem.
Our 5 key recommendations for the sector:
- Systematically question the relevance of using AI (Avoid – Reduce – Compensate).
- Integrate a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and an algorithmic efficiency criterion from the design stage.
- Ensure data quality and reliability.
- Prioritize modular and open-source architectures.
- Implement resource-sharing mechanisms under common governance.
A huge thank you to all the member companies of the Think Smartgrids AI working group for their expertise, to the industry stakeholders who responded to our survey, and to the students of École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC) for their essential contribution on the challenges of regulation and sustainability.
👉 Find the barometer here: https://extranet.thinksmartgrids.fr/?get_group_doc=9/1780301121-barometre_ia_2025.pdf
