At ADIPEC, Wood is showcasing how AI is transforming energy and data centres, and driving smarter decisions, cutting emissions, and powering the Middle East’s net-zero ambitions, Nick Shorten tells OGN

It isn’t 'new news' that the energy sector, data centres and AI are increasingly interconnected.

'With the potential to revolutionise how we build and operate today, AI’s value lies not in the technology itself, but in how it is harnessed to solve the most pressing challenges of energy companies,' Nick Shorten, Executive President of Projects at Wood, tells OGN energy magazine.

When it comes to making investment decisions, Wood’s clients look to it to help them leverage digital and AI benefits – right solution, right first time – across the entire asset lifecycle.

Wood is a technology-agnostic partner to operators. The company helps them identify the right solutions to create competitive advantage today, future-proofing operations tomorrow.

Data centres are the engine rooms that power these digital solutions, and developing them sustainably in alignment with net-zero aspirations is a key priority across the Middle East region.

WOOD’S AI SHOWCASE AT ADIPEC

Nick Shorten

The relationship between energy and AI is rapidly redefining the boundaries of possibility.

At ADIPEC, Wood will demonstrate AI’s capability as a strategic enabler in the capital phase of a project, helping to drive smarter decision-making, support delivery, mitigate risk, accelerate front-end engineering and control costs.

For existing operations, AI enables real-time optimisation, predictive maintenance and enhances safety.

This helps clients reduce emissions and downtime, while improving asset performance overall.

Wood’s commitment to innovation is helping clients with strategic digital transformation through both the company’s own solutions and strategic partnerships.

This allows clients to harness complex data, leading to better decision making.

Through AI, digital twins and predictive technologies, Wood is enabling smarter, safer operations.

For example, Wood’s maintAI solution has delivered a 25 per cent reduction in maintenance costs while significantly reducing operational risk exposure.

'Our solutions helped ADNOC’s greenhouse gas strategy realise a $1 billion design cost reduction, while another Middle East project was able minimise downtime by dramatically cutting manual processes,' says Shorten.

Suhail Diaz Valderrama

These prove that digital efforts are not just visionary, but vital and already delivering results.

Meanwhile, commenting on Wood’s participation at ADIPEC, Shorten says: 'ADIPEC 2025 promises to unite global leaders, industry experts and innovators to shape the future of our sector.

'In an era where AI demands immense energy and infrastructure, the theme ‘Energy. Intelligence. Impact’ resonates powerfully, capturing the urgency and opportunity driving the industry’s transformation.

'At Wood, we believe this demands more than bold ideas; it requires investment, collaboration and innovation,' says Shorten.

BLAZING A TRAIL FOR THE EXPANSION & DECARBONISATION OF DATA CENTRES

In an era defined by energy transformation, few embody its spirit like Suhail Diaz Valderrama, Wood’s Director of Future Energy in the Middle East.

On Day 4 of the ADIPEC Technical Conference (November 6 at 10.30 am), Valderrama will be speaking on ‘Technical Pathways for Middle East Data Centre Decarbonisation: Leveraging Global Best Practices and GCC Case Studies’ in the Capital Suite 8.

Already a hot topic across the region, it’s gaining even more traction thanks to the GCC’s extreme climate, high cooling needs and water scarcity, alongside its strategic advantages: abundant solar energy, sovereign wealth and national and regional net-zero goals.

Originally from Venezuela, Valderrama qualified as a chemical engineer, and has dedicated over 25 years to oil, gas and energy, spanning the entire value chain in Latin America, Europe and the Middle East.

Her passion for the energy transition began during postgraduate studies in the UK, and deepened in the Middle East, where her first role combined energy transition with energy efficiency.

This inspired Valderrama to focus on energy efficiency, carbon modelling, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) and emerging energy sources.

She is a frequent speaker at industry events and regularly shares insights with over 37,000 followers on LinkedIn.

Valderrama is excited by the possibilities for new and innovative energies across the Middle East, given its leading position in the global energy transformation.

The Energy Transition Hub team in the Middle East

'This region has extraordinary natural resources and people, strong leadership and a collaborative spirit, all of which creates opportunities in both conventional and emerging energies,' she says.

She believes that given expanding digital infrastructure and the sustainability ambitions of the Middle East, the biggest growth areas are AI, big data, energy storage and future fuels like SAF.

Valderrama leads the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE)’s Mena Hydrogen Working Group, which comprises 12 regional experts, who discuss the broader energy narrative and the role of hydrogen in the energy mix: Its optimal applications and how market expectations on its potential have shifted since the initial hype.

She believes these topics have evolved to greater maturity and that diverse perspectives are essential, and says decarbonisation should not be just about reducing emissions, but in fact energy efficiency and innovative energy solutions should, and must coexist.

To ensure project bankability, dual materiality, which considers financial aspects alongside materiality assessments, should be incorporated into company strategy.

Valderrama is also committed to developing the next generation of leaders. 'It’s a topic close to my heart. Last year, I took part in an ADIPEC panel highlighting the Voices of Tomorrow, which was so rewarding.'

She also enjoys what she describes as the 'extraordinary opportunity to lead the decarbonisation and sustainability community in the UAE, with experts and young professionals at the SPE'.

Her role as an SPE officer inspires her to share knowledge, but also to continue learning.

'Supporting young professionals through mentorship, a well-defined competency framework and active involvement, is crucial,' she says.

Valderrama also has an industry advisory role for Khalifa University, supporting the chemical and petroleum engineering programmes. And for the past six years, she has been part of the Technical Committee for the ADIPEC University, which spans universities across the Mena region.

'I’m proud that Wood is committed to developing young local professionals,' she says, adding that Wood has launched the Energy Transition Academy, a programme designed to train its teams on this topic.

She says young professionals across the region are engaging with the hub, asking to learn by shadowing Wood’s subject matter experts.

'This helps attract and retain talent and fosters a culture of continuous learning. It’s our responsibility as role models and leaders to support the next generation on their journey,' she adds.

Valderrama was instrumental in the launch of the Energy Transition Hub in the Middle East last year.

About the hub, she says: 'Ken Ede, Wood’s Senior Vice-President for Projects, and Stuart Turl, Vice-President Consulting, are the visionaries behind it. They brought in the right people. Since launch, we’ve been creating opportunities and building capabilities across the region. We’re constantly learning, adapting and expanding into new segments and countries within our strategic focus.'

Unsurprisingly, Valderrama’s aspiration for our sector is to drive growth, leveraging knowledge, experience and teamwork to build a thriving regional economy.

This relies on the adoption of new technologies, robust business models, and a balanced future energy mix.

'The Middle East has all the key elements and drivers to be a global leader at the forefront of energy transformation', she says, adding: 'We can make it together, as one team.'

Wood will be exhibiting at Stand 6350, Hall 6, at ADIPEC 2025.