From Power Plant to Platform: How Asia’s Utilities are Adopting AI for Energy Efficiency

Artificial intelligence is playing an increasingly pivotal role in how utilities manage energy systems. In Asia, several companies are deploying AI not just to streamline operations but to reimagine how power infrastructure is designed and maintained.

In the Philippines, Aboitiz Power Corporation is advancing “Project Arkanghel,” a digital twin initiative developed in partnership with Thailand-based REPCO NEX, a subsidiary of SCG Chemicals. The project is being applied to AboitizPower’s coal-fired plants, Therma Visayas and Therma South. By creating real-time digital replicas of these facilities, the company aims to enhance predictive maintenance and operational decision-making.

Digital twins allow operators to simulate scenarios and detect potential failures before they happen. This approach minimizes downtime and extends asset life – factors that directly affect both profitability and reliability.

Thailand’s national energy company, PTT, is also allocating significant investment toward innovation. In 2025, 6% of its THB 18 billion (approximately USD 500 million) capital budget has been set aside for AI and robotics initiatives. Among them are the ‘Horrus’ drone system, designed for exploration and infrastructure inspection, and the ‘OURANOS’ robotic wellhead operator, which aims to reduce risk in high-pressure environments.

In Chinese Taipei, Formosa Smart Energy, a subsidiary of Formosa Plastics Group, has entered into a strategic alliance with Poland’s SKB Group to export AI-based energy management systems to Europe. These systems use predictive algorithms to monitor and control power usage, contributing to more efficient and sustainable operations.

As these examples show, utilities in Asia are leveraging digital intelligence to evolve from conventional power providers into adaptive, data-driven enterprises. This digital shift will be a major focus at the AI, Climate & Energy Summit Asia 2025, where the role of AI in enabling smarter, more efficient utilities will take center stage.

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Rex Sayson

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