What Changes Are Needed in Energy Infrastructure to Keep Pace with the Rapid Growth of AI?
By Kinza T. & Zarnab Fayyaz
AI’s rapid growth is no longer just a technology story - it is becoming an energy infrastructure test.
The World Energy Council’s 2026 World Energy Trilemma Report highlights a growing challenge for the energy system: keeping pace with rising electricity demand driven by AI, data centres, and digital infrastructure. As data centres and digital systems place new pressure on electricity demand, the real question is not only whether more power can be generated, but whether grids, storage, planning processes, and legacy systems can adapt quickly enough.
Green Minds asked industry leaders for their perspective.
“Modernize Grids, Streamline Planning and Invest in Flexibility”
Ijaz Abbasi
Senior Engineer Distribution, BC Hydro
Ijaz highlights the need to accelerate grid modernization, infrastructure planning, and flexibility as AI and digital infrastructure drive new demand.
“To keep pace with the rapid growth of AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure, utilities, regulators, and industry stakeholders must accelerate grid modernization and streamline infrastructure planning and permitting processes.”
He also emphasizes flexibility through storage, system monitoring, and demand-side management:
“Equally important is investing in grid flexibility through energy storage, advanced system monitoring, and demand-side management to ensure reliability while integrating new large-scale loads and renewable resources.”
“Integrating New Energy Infrastructure with Existing Systems Presents Major Challenges”
Gad Helleli Welwart
Founder & Owner, GHnergy SP | Power Plants and Renewable Energy Professional Consulting Services
From an execution perspective, Gad highlights four key execution challenges when integrating new energy infrastructure with existing systems:
- “Legacy Systems: Transitioning from older SCADA systems to modern ones.
- Communication Protocols: Managing compatibility issues with modern RTUs and protocol standards.
- Cybersecurity: Securing integration points across both legacy and modern infrastructure.
- Protection & Control: Adapting protection and control methodologies to accommodate new system dynamics.”
His perspective shows that integrating new infrastructure requires modernizing legacy systems, ensuring communication compatibility, strengthening cybersecurity, and adapting protection and control systems.
“Integrating New Energy Infrastructure with Existing Systems Presents Major Challenges”
Senior Fellow, Energy Storage and Electrification, Top 3 player
The expert points to the need for clearer processes and a more sustainable approach to the lifecycle of stationary energy storage systems.
“For stationary energy storage adoption, what is critical is to have clear, unambiguous, and scalable system certification processes, along with extending the supply chain to a closed-loop service, so that such energy storage systems can be effectively recycled.”
The Green Minds Take
Across the three perspectives, one thing stands out: keeping pace with AI-driven demand is as much an integration challenge as it is a generation challenge.
From modernizing legacy systems and expanding grid flexibility to making storage easier to scale, the experts point to several practical pieces that need to move together.
The takeaway? Building more power is only part of the equation. The bigger challenge is making sure the systems around it can keep up.