I worked in IT for an energy utility company and saw DS teams work and presentation. The DS team was given mandates like optimise the maintenance schedule for a coal fired power plant. Optimise the turning on/off hydro electricity based on water flow, weather, electricity market rates. Optimise bids to electricity market (works like a stock market). Automatically evaluate Solar panel installation suitability from aerial photos of roof and tree cover, maps, sun angle, location etc. Aren't they interesting problems to solve.