The growth of AI and data centers is sharpening the energy industry's need to expand supply while lowering emissions, dmg events President Christopher Hudson told Gulf News at ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi.
Hudson said oil and gas, renewable energy and emerging technologies all have roles in meeting global needs. “We’ve got to look at all forms of energy,” he told Gulf News.
The Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) said an earlier survey found 71% of respondents saw AI as more of an opportunity than a risk, a finding in EconoTimes’ survey coverage.
Hudson said expanding data centers will require more electricity, but AI could also help operators detect pipeline leaks and manage infrastructure more efficiently, reducing waste and emissions. The technology adds to power demand while offering tools that could help energy companies use resources more efficiently.
He said no single energy pathway fits every sector. In industrial uses, replacing coal with natural gas can reduce emissions without eliminating them. Aviation, heavy transport and petrochemicals face technical and infrastructure limits, Hudson said. He cited nuclear fusion as one possible future technology while stressing that the industry must also use resources available today.
Hudson described the UAE’s energy supply as a combination: solar and nuclear contribute to electricity generation, while hydrocarbons support other industrial and manufacturing activity. He said no company or country can meet global energy needs alone, calling for international cooperation. Private investment, he added, can help fund the technologies and infrastructure required, as energy companies pursue new investment opportunities and partnerships.
Hudson also pointed to millions of people without reliable electricity and, separately, to communities where children study using fuel-powered lamps. He said broader energy access can support education, health care, living standards and economic opportunity. “More energy to more people,” he said.
