With the impact of the pandemic and the increasing need of pursuing greener and sustainable alternatives, the utilities sector has witnessed an emergence in the adoption of digital technology, and is expected to climb as power demand rises to drive economic development, said the organisers of an upcoming industry event in Abu Dhabi.

The digitalisation of the utilities sector will be delved into deeper at the World Utilities Congress which runs this month (May 9 to 11) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), convening more than 10,000 global utilities professionals to explore critical topics, including the future of low carbon power and water supplies.

The World Utilities Congress, to be hosted by Abu Dhabi energy group Taqa, provides an unrivalled platform to explore the latest products, innovations, and technological advancements across the global utilities landscape.

With a dedicated strategic panel on Digital Transformation and Technological Innovations, the event aims to bring together water and power leaders to provide insights on building resilient low carbon business models with agile automated digital operations.

With global energy demand set to double by 2050, major sustainability concerns are pushing an energy efficiency agenda forward. The UAE has to meet ambitious targets as part of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which includes reducing the carbon footprint of power generation by 70 per cent, while also reaching Net Zero by 2050. These developments, coupled with technological disruptions, are expected to be key to supporting the global economies.

Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, the event organisers, said: “Adopting digital technologies will help utility company managers increase the efficiency of their assets, save energy and water, and lead to an overall more sustainable country.”

“Data will also play an integral role in decision-making, both for current projects and future developments, paving the way for a new energy ecosystem,” he added.