Uniper partners with Microsoft to scale AI and drive productivity

German energy company Uniper is intensifying its collaboration with Microsoft to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to boost efficiency across its business processes.

The collaboration will focus on identifying, evaluating, and implementing specific use cases, as well as establishing an AI lab at Uniper's Düsseldorf site.

A key focus is also the further development of the company-wide AI and data strategy, integrating data from different sources, and ensuring high data quality.

Uniper will contribute by ensuring the solutions are tailored to the specific needs and challenges of the energy industry. Microsoft will bring its experience with cross-industry technology solutions and the latest developments in AI.

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The partnership includes clearly defined criteria regarding data protection and security policies, to maintain security of the data used in AI applications at all times.

A central pillar of the collaboration between Uniper and Microsoft is also promoting a culture that supports AI as a tool for collaboration. Uniper intends to boost employee trust in AI applications, which will in turn allow them to fully realize their potential.

“Jutta Dönges, CFO of Uniper, commented in a statement: "Our strategic partnership with Microsoft opens up possibilities that were unthinkable until recently. I am convinced that we can accelerate the energy transition and increase our productivity and competitiveness by scaling up the use of AI.

"The benefits of using AI are obvious to us and already give us a tailwind in many areas by optimizing business processes and strategic tasks. Together with Microsoft, we will develop further use cases step by step and make Uniper one of the leading AI companies in the energy sector" concluded Dönges.

Uniper and Microsoft have been collaborating for several years to drive digital transformation.

Over the past eight years, Uniper has replaced old data centres and implemented a cloud-first strategy. Uniper has also been working to create a modern workplace, introducing the AI assistant Microsoft Copilot for all employees.

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Today, Uniper uses AI specifically in power plants to optimise operations and make critical know-how accessible to the plant team at all times. The company also uses AI-supported management systems in Microsoft's Azure Cloud, allowing operating teams to access relevant technical references more quickly.

Uniper is also using AI to make better energy trading decisions, which can be influenced by various factors such as weather, political decisions, or rapidly changing market parameters. AI can help evaluate past transactions, identify certain patterns, and derive a recommendation for the best time to buy or sell.

Agnes Heftberger, CEO of Microsoft Germany added: "Uniper is a pioneer when it comes to strategically anchoring Artificial Intelligence in the company...Impressive examples of this are the early rollout of M365 Copilot for all employees and the use of AI in power plant operations and energy trading.

"We are convinced that by using AI in a targeted manner, we can significantly accelerate the digital transformation of the energy industry and thus make a significant contribution to the energy transition."