AI and Cloud Computing Surge Threatens Clean Energy Transition

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On Thu, 21 Nov, 4:06 PM UTC

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The rapid growth in electricity demand from data centers, driven by AI and cloud computing, is leading to increased reliance on fossil fuels, potentially delaying the transition to clean energy.

AI and Cloud Computing Drive Surge in Fossil Fuel Use

The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing is causing an unexpected surge in electricity demand, leading to increased reliance on fossil fuels and potentially delaying the transition to clean energy 123. This trend is raising concerns among utilities, power regulators, and researchers across multiple countries.

Impact on Energy Infrastructure

In the United States, which hosts a third of the world's data centers, utilities are responding to the growing demand by:

  1. Adding new gas plants
  2. Delaying retirements of fossil-fuel power plants
  3. Adjusting long-term renewable energy projections

For instance, Dominion, a utility serving Northern Virginia's massive concentration of data centers, is building a 1,000-megawatt gas plant and has reduced its 15-year renewable energy projection from 95% to 80% 13.

Global Implications

The trend extends beyond the U.S., with potential impacts in Europe and Asia:

  • In Poland, new data center projects may partially rely on coal due to insufficient renewable energy capacity 12.
  • Germany and Malaysia could also see increased coal usage in their energy mix 13.
  • Ireland, where data centers account for over 20% of electricity consumption, is delaying the retirement of older generators to meet demand 1.

Environmental Concerns

The environmental impact of this trend is significant:

  • Morgan Stanley projects that the global data center industry will produce around 2.billion metric tons of CO2-equivalent by 2030, comparable to Russia's annual emissions 12.
  • The shift towards fossil fuels could worsen U.S. emissions performance for decades, according to clean-energy consultancy RMI 13.

Industry Response and Challenges

Tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon have made commitments to source renewable energy and achieve net-zero emissions. However, these efforts often involve redirecting existing clean power rather than adding new capacity to the grid 123.

Policy and Regulation

The situation presents a challenge for global climate goals:

  • At COP29 in Baku, 68 countries endorsed a declaration to limit the environmental impact of digitalization 123.
  • The trend highlights the need for accelerated deployment of clean energy sources to keep pace with growing demand from the tech sector.

Future Outlook

As data centers continue to proliferate, the energy sector faces a critical challenge in balancing the demand for reliable power with the urgent need for decarbonization. The situation underscores the importance of rapid clean energy deployment and innovative solutions to meet the growing energy needs of the digital age.

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