Based on Collaboration Between EPRI and Microsoft
In March 2025, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), in partnership with Microsoft, announced the formation of the Open Power AI Consortium. This group includes over 30 major energy companies, several tech firms, and universities, aiming to develop open and specialized artificial intelligence models for use in power generation, transmission, and distribution sectors (epri.com).
Main Goals of the Consortium
- Develop and test AI models, data sets, and libraries (including Generative AI) tailored for the power industry
- Provide a sandbox environment for AI application testing with help from operators, startups, and academia
- Accelerate the deployment of AI applications in power grids such as predictive maintenance, load optimization, and resilience enhancement
Key Members
Notable members include:
- Tech companies: Microsoft, NVIDIA, AWS, Oracle, Articul8
- Major power operators: Duke Energy, PG&E, Con Edison, Southern Company, Saudi Electricity Company, ENOWA (NEOM), and others (epri.com, blogs.nvidia.com)
Why Does This Consortium Matter?
- Enhances knowledge exchange between industries and technology to develop AI models
- Enables usage of grid-level data and equipment without confidentiality and ownership concerns
- Aligns with smart grid modernization trends—critical for managing distributed generation and load optimization
Consortium Strategy Overview
- Develop AI standard models specific to power grids
- Create a shared testing platform for model validation
Adopt early experiences and rapidly translate them into real industrial applications with consortium members’ collaboration
Message to the Future of Smart Grids
Arshad Mansoor, CEO of EPRI, described the project as a beginning of a decade-long transformation in the power industry, stating:
“AI can enable improvements in grid sustainability, safety, and economics” (renewableenergyworld.com).
Vincent Sorgi from PPL also emphasized that such specialized collaboration can speed up AI adoption in the industry (blogs.nvidia.com).
Impact on Industry and Opportunities for Aras Energy
- Grid-level data modeling: Using AI to analyze load and grid resilience
- Predictive equipment maintenance: Early fault detection via operational data analysis
- Integration with smart grid projects: Applying AI standard models in power plants and grids
- Regional strategic alignment: Aras Energy can partner or transfer knowledge to align with global digitalization trends in power networks
With the establishment of the Open Power AI Consortium, the power industry takes a major step towards smartification and digital strategy. This initiative could trigger transformations like increased grid resilience, cost reductions, and accelerated widespread AI adoption in energy industries.
For companies like Aras Energy, this signals a huge opportunity to develop intelligent solutions, leverage global knowledge, and collaborate with leading industries to actively shape the future of energy.
