On May 17, 2025, in Brasília (Brazil), BRICS energy ministers signed off on the new Roadmap for BRICS Energy Cooperation 2025–2030—a document that, at first glance, might seem like just another multilateral pledge. But dig deeper, and it’s clear this roadmap signals a shift in how emerging economies intend to shape the global energy and digital landscape. The roadmap’s four pillars—strengthening BRICS energy coordination, expanding cooperation for energy security and just transitions, improving joint governance, and boosting trade and investment—are ambitious. But it’s not simply about building more power plants or trading more oil. It’s about forging a new model of South-South collaboration—one that recognizes the unique challenges and opportunities of the Global South, and leverages the collective strengths of BRICS nations to set global standards for energy, technology, and development.

The urgency is clear. BRICS countries represent over 40% of the world’s population and a rapidly growing share of global energy demand. While stalwart members like China, India, and Brazil are global leaders in wind and solar power, new members still rely heavily on fossil fuels. The group’s collective action is crucial for both decarbonizing the global energy system and ensuring equitable access to affordable, reliable power.

But the energy transition is not happening in isolation. The digital economy—powered by AI, big data, and smart infrastructure—is reshaping how energy is produced, distributed, and consumed. For BRICS, the intersection of energy and digitalization is both a challenge and an unprecedented opportunity.

Across BRICS, artificial intelligence is already moving from buzzword to backbone. In Brazil, AI models are optimizing wind and solar integration; in China, the world’s largest investor in renewable energy and AI, sophisticated smart grids powered by machine learning are balancing supply and demand in real time and also managing traffic; in Russia, smart grids powered by machine learning are balancing supply and demand in real time. India’s digital platforms, often powered by locally developed AI, are connecting rural communities to both energy and climate data, making the transition more inclusive.

Recent studies confirm that AI innovation and digital economy growth are positively correlated with improved energy efficiency and environmental sustainability in BRICS nations. AI not only helps optimize supply chains and reduce waste, but also enables smarter investments in infrastructure and more resilient energy systems.

Digital Economy initiatives—such as the expansion of 5G, cloud computing, and digital payments—are making it possible to deploy smart meters, virtual power plants, and decentralized energy markets at scale. These advancements are crucial for integrating distributed renewables, managing demand, and ensuring that even the most remote communities are not left behind.

The BRICS approach is distinctive for its emphasis on:

• Technological Sovereignty: Prioritizing domestic innovation and reducing dependence on foreign technologies, especially in critical sectors like AI and clean energy equipment.
• Inclusive Development: Ensuring that energy and digital advances reach marginalized populations, bridging the digital divide, and promoting social inclusion.
• Multilateral Governance: Advocating for fair, transparent standards in carbon accounting, AI ethics, and digital trade, and using collective bargaining power to shape global rules.

Yet, challenges remain. Disparities in digital infrastructure, financing gaps for clean energy, and the risk of new members locking in fossil fuel investments all threaten to slow progress. The BRICS roadmap acknowledges these hurdles, calling for increased investment, knowledge sharing, and the creation of new platforms for joint research and policy coordination.

With the New Development Bank stepping up financing for digital and energy infrastructure, and the proposed BRICS-wide AI research mechanism uniting academia and industry, the bloc is poised to become a global leader in the convergence of energy and digital transformation.

As the digital revolution accelerates, the BRICS model—rooted in cooperation, innovation, and inclusivity—offers a compelling alternative to the status quo. The world will be watching as these emerging giants turn ambition into action, setting new benchmarks for sustainable growth in the age of AI and the digital economy.