Widespread applications of AI are modernising the electricity grid making it smarter and more responsive to the changing needs of customers. We are gaining real-time visibility into grid performance and energy demand enabling automated energy flow adjustments, faster outage response, and proactive prevention of potential issues—enhancing both reliability and efficiency across the system.

As new technology continues to reshape the energy landscape, the traditional relationship between utilities and customers is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Smart meters, IoT devices, and AI-powered analytics are unlocking unprecedented visibility into both grid operations and customer behaviour.

Electricity distribution infrastructure is increasingly vulnerable to vegetation encroachment, extreme weather, and natural disasters. SCADA, LiDAR, and remote sensing can use AI and machine learning to detect and predict threats—before they become outages.

Even as the energy industry learns how quantum could impact their future, hiring physicists just isn't on the radar. How can organisations build quantum-savvy teams without needing a PhD on every resume? We must be creative to tap into quantum talent, from upskilling existing staff to forming smart partnerships.

As our distribution networks get smarter and more connected, keeping that data safe and flowing smoothly is more important than ever. How can quantum communication play a role in protecting the security and efficiency of our energy systems—whether it's protecting grid communications, enabling better coordination between distributed systems, or just opening up new possibilities we haven’t thought of yet.

Decentralised, dynamic, and democratised energy marketplaces are enabling new business models—including peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading, community self-consumption, and transactive energy. These innovations are reshaping how electricity is generated, traded, and valued, unlocking new roles for consumers, producers, and prosumers alike.

Quantum technologies are rapidly evolving from theoretical breakthroughs to practical tools with the potential to transform industries. Achieving the quantum advantage in real-world applications requires more than technical progress. It demands robust collaboration across academia, industry, and government to develop purpose-built algorithms, scalable systems, and domain-specific solutions.