Why AI is key to transforming Ireland’s utility infrastructure delivery

AI affords an opportunity to go further and faster than before, enabling a step change in how critical national infrastructure – across water, electricity and gas – is delivered.

In brief

• Ireland’s NDP 2025 commits €275 billion to accelerate infrastructure delivery but planning bottlenecks and labour shortages could stymie timely progress.
• AI offers utilities a way to plan better, deliver faster and operate more reliably, thereby helping turn NDP ambition into reality.
• Utility leaders must act now: define goals, build data teams, invest in tools, pilot solutions and ensure transparency in AI-driven decisions.

Ireland’s National Development Plan (NDP) Review 2025 sets out an ambition that calls for a fundamental shift in how the country delivers critical national infrastructure. The objectives are clear: to support sustainable population growth and strengthen Ireland’s global competitiveness by continuing to attract foreign direct investment.

Four ways AI can transform the value chain of utility infrastructure

AI as a strategic planning partner: AI helps planners to simulate a large range of scenarios such as forecasting future demand, predicting energy generation to estimating costs and climate impacts. The use of digital twins can guide the decision-making process around where and when to reinforce water, electricity and gas networks.

AI as a catalyst for delivery and safety: During construction, AI integrates data across design, procurement and operations to provide real-time insights. By using information from sensors, drones and digital models, AI provides early warning systems and helps manage projects more efficiently. This makes work such as building substations or laying cables and pipes safer.

AI as a foundation for operations: AI shifts network operations from reactive monitoring to proactive optimisation. It enables predictive maintenance, automated response and data-driven decision-making. This speeds up repairs, improves reliability and keeps networks running smoothly.

AI as an interpreter of community needs: AI can analyse data on mobility, energy use, environment and public feedback to help utilities understand what local communities need and plan services accordingly.

Roadmap for utility leaders to drive infrastructure transformation

To turn ambition into action, utility leaders should focus on the following five key steps. 

Define purpose and value: Identify the biggest challenges such as delays or cost overruns and set measurable goals like faster delivery, lower costs or improved safety. Make sure everyone understands why AI matters to your organisation.

Build a multi-disciplinary data team: Bring together technical experts and industry specialists to ensure AI solutions are practical and meet real utility infrastructure needs.

Deploy robust data tools and infrastructure: Invest in scalable platforms that connect asset, geospatial and performance data. Ensure systems in the field work seamlessly with enterprise platforms.

Incubate, experiment, prototype, then scale and improve: Pilot AI use cases such as predictive maintenance for transformers, wastewater plants, and pipes. Once validated, expend the use of AI across the value chain for smarter, faster and more resilient outcomes.

Prioritise human oversight alongside transparent AI use: As AI becomes more embedded in decision-making, maintain transparency, auditability and human oversight to build public trust.

Summary

New water, electricity and gas connections are at the heart of Ireland’s critical infrastructure, underpinning population growth and global competitiveness. The NDP Review 2025 calls for a step change in delivery, backed by an unprecedented scale of investment. Yet planning delays, supply chain pressures and workforce shortages remain major hurdles. This moment presents an opportunity to rethink how utility infrastructure is planned, built and operated. By leveraging AI and data-driven insights, utilities can plan ahead, deliver projects more efficiently and keep networks running reliably.