Financing the future: energy, AI, and global resilience

The energy sector is entering a new phase of transition, driven by technological innovation, rising demand, and the accelerating impact of AI. The rapid growth of data centres and the increasing need for grid resilience are adding new layers of complexity, while shifting geopolitical realities and evolving global policies present both significant challenges and opportunities. These dynamics also underscore the critical role of finance in enabling the infrastructure and innovation required to meet future energy needs.

In this Energy Talk, Eric Cantor, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Moelis & Company, will explore how the rise of AI is reshaping energy demand, with data centre growth and grid resilience becoming critical priorities. He will examine how secure supply chains and reliable infrastructure are central to meeting these new pressures while navigating increasingly complex political and geopolitical realities that are reshaping global energy policy in the US, Europe, and beyond. In addition, Cantor will highlight the role of public–private partnerships in financing the next wave of energy infrastructure, and how AI itself can drive efficiencies across storage, distribution, and system management, accelerating the transition while strengthening resilience.

Global shifts: navigating an era of diverging priorities

The global energy transition is entering a new phase defined by recalibration rather than acceleration, as governments seek to reconcile climate ambition with the realities of affordability, access, and security. The rollback of U.S. climate incentives under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the introduction of the European Union’s Clean Industrial Deal have revealed a fragmented policy landscape where national priorities increasingly diverge. Amid this complexity, energy ministries are reshaping their strategies to sustain economic resilience, advancing renewables and power sector reform while modernising legacy systems to ensure reliability and investment continuity. The resurgence of hydrocarbons, volatility in critical minerals, and renewed regional competition for energy supply are further compelling governments to strengthen domestic capacity and pursue pragmatic cooperation across borders. Against this backdrop, the core question is not whether to decarbonise, but how to align transition goals with growth, fiscal stability, and social development.

Attendee Insights:

Gain perspective on how energy leaders are redefining the balance between security, sustainability, and industrial strength to deliver credible decarbonisation in a rapidly shifting global landscape.