ISTANBUL

The member nations of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) bloc vowed “responsible adoption” Thursday of artificial intelligence (AI) in the energy sector.

A statement at the end of a two-day APEC meeting in South Korea addressed the region’s energy challenges, underlining the use of advanced energy storage, power grid and efficiency solutions.

The ministers noted the rising demand for electricity across the region, and underscored the importance of “diversifying power sources, supporting investment, fostering technological innovation, enabling efficient market operations to strengthen flexibility, resilience and stability of power systems.”

They also stressed the necessity to modernize and expand grid infrastructure across the region, including storage systems, microgrids, smart distribution networks and subsea cables.

The APEC ministers also “highlighted the innovative potential of AI in energy systems,” from predictive analytics to demand management, as well as urging the “responsible adoption of AI” in the energy sector.

The Aug. 27 - 28 meeting was ahead of an APEC leaders’ summit slated for the end of October, which will take place in the southeastern coastal city of Gyeongju, South Korea, as Seoul assumed the APEC Chair for 2025.

APEC, a regional economic forum founded in 1989, consists of 21 members, including the US, China, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia and Russia.​​​​​​​