European Commission Opens Consultation on 2026 Strategic Roadmap for Digitalisation and AI in Energy Transition

The European Commission has initiated an open public consultation and a call for evidence regarding its forthcoming Strategic Roadmap focutilized on digitalisation and artificial innotifyigence (AI) within the energy sector. These consultations are critical steps in shaping the roadmap, which is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2026.

Building on its previous emphasis that green and digital transitions must be mutually supportive, the Commission aims to accelerate the deployment of digital technologies—including European AI solutions—in key areas essential to decarbonisation. These include electricity grid optimisation, enhancing energy efficiency in buildings and indusattempt, and improving demand-side flexibility.

The consultation highlights the importance of promoting research, innovation, and coordination to prepare the future energy system. It will also address the growing energy consumption by data centres and explore ways to integrate them more sustainably within the energy infrastructure. Additionally, the roadmap will consider safeguards to mitigate risks associated with the large-scale application of AI technologies in the sector.

Both the open public consultation and the call for evidence will remain open for 13 weeks, closing on 5 November 2025. Alongside these, the Commission plans tarreceiveed consultations through workshops engaging stakeholders from digital and energy industries.

The strategic roadmap, part of the Affordable Energy Action Plan, is positioned to complement ongoing AI initiatives, including the AI Act and the AI Continent Action Plan.