In a groundbreaking partnership, Enbridge Inc., one of North America’s leading energy infrastructure companies, is using artificial intelligence (AI) to drive progress in safety, emissions reduction, and operational efficiency. This ambitious move highlights how technology can revolutionize energy management and environmental sustainability.
Enbridge, headquartered in Calgary, began its digital evolution more than five years ago, laying the groundwork for what has now become a powerful AI-driven strategy. This ongoing transformation is aimed at optimizing performance while ensuring environmental stewardship.
Back in 2020, Enbridge took the first major step in its technological journey, launching a company-wide digital overhaul designed to enhance productivity and give employees modern, efficient tools. Microsoft played a pivotal role in this transformation, providing the secure and adaptable tech infrastructure that enabled Enbridge’s success.
“Our long-term collaboration with Microsoft has enabled us to apply cutting edge technology, which is helping to solve critical business problems and deliver powerful outcomes,” said Bhushan Ivaturi, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Enbridge. “The investments we’re making today will play a critical role in enabling technological solutions to the biggest challenges in the evolution of our energy systems as we transition to a lower-carbon future.”
A significant outcome of this partnership has been the migration of more than 80% of Enbridge’s digital operations to Microsoft Azure’s cloud platform within just two years. This cloud shift not only boosted computational power and data security but also trimmed down Enbridge’s carbon footprint by reducing the need for large physical data centers. By decommissioning older servers, Enbridge not only achieved energy efficiency but also emerged as an AI leader in the energy sector.
Enbridge’s employees are now reaping the benefits of this shift. With the implementation of Microsoft 365 Copilot, nearly a third of the workforce has seen enhanced productivity, while company-wide access to AI-driven tools like Bing Enterprise and ChatENB—an in-house chatbot powered by Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service—has streamlined internal communications.
“The Enbridge leadership team drove a cloud-first strategy, a big bet that opened the door to broader opportunity that positions Enbridge today to take full advantage of AI,” said Tom Kubik, Enterprise Commercial Multi-Industry Lead at Microsoft Canada. “We are proud of the work we’ve done together and are working towards our common goals of supporting a more connected and collaborative workforce and increasing data and analytics capabilities.”
AI Initiatives Enhancing Enbridge’s Operations
Enbridge is now applying AI across its operations, aiming to improve asset management, operational efficiency, and safety while contributing to broader sustainability efforts. Key AI-powered initiatives include:
Energy Optimizer
One standout development is Enbridge’s “Energy Optimizer” tool, which uses AI to provide real-time operational data to its Control Center. This enables operators to make more informed decisions about how to move energy through Enbridge’s network as efficiently as possible. By fine-tuning the energy required, Enbridge is seeing tangible results in reducing both costs and greenhouse gas emissions, while ensuring the reliable and safe operation of its extensive pipeline network.
Right of Way Monitoring
The company has also turned to AI to enhance its surveillance of pipeline corridors. Traditionally, Enbridge has used aerial patrols to spot potentially hazardous conditions or disruptions. Now, with AI analyzing this data, the company is able to detect and respond to issues faster and more accurately. This high-tech approach not only boosts safety by improving threat detection but also cuts the risk of third-party damage to its infrastructure.
Integrity Engine
Another vital tool in Enbridge’s AI arsenal is the “Integrity Engine,” which automates pipeline integrity management. By using AI-driven analytics and machine learning models, Enbridge can quickly pinpoint areas in need of maintenance. This system also streamlines workflows, improves data analysis, and simplifies maintenance processes, resulting in faster, more effective responses to asset health issues—all while maintaining high safety standards.
Enbridge’s use of AI, supported by Microsoft’s advanced technologies, showcases the company’s commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation. Through these initiatives, Enbridge is enhancing the safety and efficiency of its operations while continuing to lead efforts to reduce emissions and improve environmental responsibility.
