How will the data industry control the future of clean energy?

How will the data industry control the future of clean energy?

From SwitchedOn Australia by RenewEconomy

February 18, 2026 · 50 min

About this episode

Luis F. Gonzalez discusses the role of the data industry in shaping the future of clean energy and the implications of AI on energy infrastructure.

What if the clean energy transition is ultimately led not by utilities or renewable energy companies, but by the data and AI industry? Luis F. Gonzalez, Chief Data and AI Officer at Aboitiz Power, argues that as data and energy become more intertwined, it will be the data sector that finances, shapes and champions decarbonisation. He says AI doesn’t just consume electricity — it changes the economics of who builds and controls energy infrastructure. And although he doesn’t want Face Book to run our power grids, he argues the only type of company capable of massive data brokerage for millions of consumer energy resources is a data company. While openly optimistic about the benefits of intelligence-driven systems, he also acknowledges the risks of monopoly power and that energy regulators are not yet ready for what’s to come.

People in this episode

Guest: Luis F. Gonzalez

Topics covered

  • clean energy
  • data industry
  • AI
  • decarbonisation
  • energy infrastructure
  • monopoly power

Keywords

  • clean energy transition
  • data and AI
  • energy economics
  • decarbonisation
  • energy regulators

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Aboitiz Power, Face Book

More episodes of SwitchedOn Australia

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the SwitchedOn Australia podcast page.