By Gavin Wang, CEO of Huawei Iraq

The Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), built on ICT networks and technologies, is leading us into an intelligent era where there will be 100 billion connections and 40 billion smart devices worldwide by 2025. However, this rapid rate of digital transformation will bring its own challenges.

Advanced technologies generate large volumes of data, traffic and consume vast amounts of energy. The global ICT energy consumption accounts for 2% of the global total electricity consumption and is expected to reach 5% by 2030. Indeed, energy is the critical foundation of our future digital economy. Still, the digitalization of the energy industry can, in turn, pave the way for a brighter, cleaner and greener future for our society.

Iraq is currently one of the world’s largest crude oil producers and holds the equivalent of eight percent of the world’s total supply. But as the leading world economies transition towards sustainable sources of power, Iraq realizes that it needs to prioritize the development of its energy sector, which has suffered from underinvestment in recent years due to the challenges the country has faced in the last decade.

There is an opportunity for the country to review its energy recovery plan through the lenses of intelligent technologies and green energy sources. Green energy, generated from natural resources, such as sunlight, wind or water is a renewable energy source. In recent years, more governments are taking the advantageous steps of implementing energy efficiency policies in addition to improving renewable capacity and decarbonizing electricity generation. However, the transition may lag if there isn’t enough support from policymakers, businesses and other organizations.

Digital power integrates digital technology and power electronic technology to accomplish the conversion, storage, and control of electric energy. It helps build a simple, reliable, green, and smart energy target network and supports the development of the digital world. Digital power helps improve energy efficiency and provides a reliable and sustainable energy source. Advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, big data, and Internet of Things (IoT) can play a pivotal role in transforming Iraq’s energy sector.

For example, AI technologies can predict and identify potential risks in advance, changing passive maintenance to proactive prevention. With the application of AI and big data, site and data center energy infrastructure can realize digital visualization, intelligent and automation-driven O&M (operations and maintenance). As a leading global ICT provider, Huawei incorporates AI and Cloud with PV for optimal power generation, thus turning solar power plants into highly efficient, safe and reliable clean power sources.

Huawei firmly believes that technology could help us make positive changes and deliver a digital and sustainable future. By integrating power electronics and digital technologies, Huawei can help Iraq achieve green power generation and efficient power consumption, which can promote digital transformation and the development of Iraq’s digital economy. By working closely with the Iraqi government, Huawei can help build the foundation of Iraq’s digital economy.