From GPUs to Quantum: Rethinking AI Compute for the Electric Grid

May 13, 2026
Forum
DERMS , Edge Computing , Asset Management , Hyperscale , Digital Transformation

The utility industry is caught in a high-stakes balancing act: deploying AI to manage a smarter grid while struggling to feed the energy-hungry GPUs that make AI possible. This session, hosted by EPRI’s Open Power AI Consortium, moves beyond the hype to look at the physical compute layer of the energy transition. We will discuss the applications of AI that are providing the most value today, innovations that are being developed for tomorrow, and meeting the energy demands of AI in the future – including whether the future of the grid relies on traditional GPU scaling or a fundamental shift toward advanced computing modalities, such as optical and quantum computing.

Speakers
Sreedhar Sistu
Sreedhar Sistu, Vice President of AI Offers - Schnieder Electric
Jeremy Renshaw
Jeremy Renshaw, Executive Director – AI & Quantum - EPRI