Eni: technological innovation as a key driver of decarbonisation

The underlying strategy is clear: technological innovation as a key element in driving forward the decarbonisation process through an energy and technology mix that will enable carbon neutrality to be achieved by 2050, whilst ensuring that everyone has access to energy that is sustainable from a social and environmental perspective. This is because, for Eni, technological transition and carbon neutrality must go hand in hand with the need for a ‘technologically neutral’ approach, utilising both tried-and-tested solutions and cutting-edge technologies.

Hence the decision by the group led by Claudio Descalzi to focus on a model of technological innovation based on three ‘pillars’: 1) highly specialised in-house expertise combined with a flexible approach; 2) alliances and collaborations with research centres and universities (including international ones), as well as with industrial partners; 3) and, finally, the ‘open innovation’ system, which contributes to value creation by mitigating the risks associated with the Six-Legged Dog’s activities, whilst also capitalising on the significant benefits derived from cooperation with other players in the technology ecosystem.

In short, a highly complex mosaic, within which the use of artificial intelligence also plays a part; for Eni, this represents a key technology for its transformation and is utilised in various areas to improve operations, accelerate research and development, and create value for stakeholders. However, this is always done through a strategic and responsible approach, with a strong focus on ethics and the centrality of the human being.

To drive the development and implementation of AI, supercomputing is regarded as a crucial component, as it provides the computing power needed to handle large volumes of data and train complex models. There are several areas of application within the group. The first is operational optimisation: Eni uses AI to improve the efficiency, safety and reliability of its industrial assets. This includes predictive maintenance, process optimisation and energy management.

The second area encompasses the entire field of research and development. The reason is clear: AI is a key driver for accelerating the development of new energy technologies and solutions, including the discovery of new materials, process optimisation and the development of digital twins. But it also provides significant support to employees, as the group uses AI to streamline work processes and create ‘co-pilot’ tools to enhance capabilities and improve the quality of work.