What could the Metaverse mean for the utilities industry? 

Since Facebook launched its rebrand in 2021, the Metaverse has taken business and tech spheres by storm. Although implementation is a long way off, the potential that it holds is endless. 

But what could this mean for utilities? 

Imagine if you could slide on a headset and take a virtual site visit. You’d be able to maintain and monitor assets without any geological constraints. Train field staff virtually and offer them remote assistance whenever it’s needed. What’s more, utilities could do this in the most operationally and cost-efficient manner. 

The most exciting possibilities lie in the opportunity this presents to reach Net-Zero. Virtual reality will enable the energy industry to supercharge the mass deployment of renewable energy. IoT and AI devices on physical assets can be integrated with virtual realities to build a more accurate picture of energy consumption and efficiency. 

Could the Metaverse really be the new frontier of the green transition? 

Interestingly, the technology required to run the Metaverse itself is incredibly energy intensive. As a result, some companies are beginning to switch to renewable sources to power their projects. Google is investing $2billion in wind and solar to power its data centres and what’s more, Amazon has become the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy in the world.  

Whilst the future is uncertain, it’s clear that in whatever capacity, the Metaverse holds the power for tremendous change in the energy and water sector.