Abstract

The energy sector has been an early adopter of digital technologies. In the 1970s, power utilities were digital pioneers, using emerging technologies to facilitate grid management and operation. The energy industry was the first to introduce digitalization in the 1970s. Global investment in digital electricity infrastructure and software has grown by over 20% annually since 2014, reaching USD 47 billion in 2016. Digitalization can assist in providing electricity to the 1.1 billion people who still lack access to it.