How Clean Energy Integrates With AI Development

The next tech war isn't about chips—it's about electricity. Companies need more power for AI than 150 nuclear plants combined Here's the contrarian solution nobody's seeing... Think of AI like a digital factory that runs 24/7, consuming massive amounts of electricity to process data. As companies race to build more powerful AI, they're facing an unexpected bottleneck: finding enough power to run their systems. Most tech companies are planning to build natural gas plants next to their data centers, assuming it's the fastest way to get power. But new research reveals a surprising alternative: 1. The Hidden Opportunity - Solar farms paired with batteries could power AI centers - Existing technology, just never done at this scale - Works especially well in sunny states like Texas - Includes backup generators for reliability 2. The Competitive Edge - Solar can be built in 2 years vs 3+ for gas plants - Grid connections take 5+ years (too slow for AI race) - Enough suitable private land for 4x projected needs - Most sites already mapped with owners identified 3. The Economic Reality - Nearly same cost as gas plants ($93 vs $86 per MWh) - No fuel price risk unlike gas - Extra tax credits in many locations - Avoids future carbon regulations Here's why this matters: The tech company that moves first could secure power 12-18 months faster than competitors. In the AI race, that timing advantage could be worth billions. The fact that it also prevents 4 billion tons of emissions is a bonus. Question for tech leaders: If you could get massive computing power a year before your competitors, how would that change your AI strategy? What's holding you back from exploring this path? #AI #Innovation #CleanEnergy #TechStrategy

💡𝗪𝗲’𝘃𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗽𝗼𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗔𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀...💡 Data centers now use more electricity than 115 countries combined, and just 100 TWh less than all of Sub-Saharan Africa. Here are 4 takeaways from the latest International Energy Agency (IEA) 𝗘𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗜 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 that stood out: 1. 𝗡𝗼 𝗔𝗜 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆. In 2024, data centers consumed around 𝟰𝟭𝟱 𝗧𝗪𝗵, 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟭.𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘂𝘀𝗲. A typical AI-focused data center uses as much electricity as 𝟭𝟬𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀, and the largest ones under construction will consume as much as 𝟮 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀. As demand scales, affordable, reliable, and clean electricity will be essential to power AI services and determine where AI innovation thrives. 2. 𝗡𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗔𝗜. AI is being deployed across the global energy system to meet a wide range of objectives, from forecasting and integrating variable renewable generation and balancing electricity networks, to improving system efficiency and reducing emissions. AI can also pinpoint grid faults, reducing outage durations by 30–50% and supporting more timely maintenance of infrastructure. 3. 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗼𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱. Half of new data center electricity needs are already being met by renewables. By 2035, renewables generation is expected to grow by over 450 TWh, underpinned by fast deployment, falling costs, and proactive procurement strategies of major tech companies. 4. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀. Persistent barriers, from fragmented data access and limited digital infrastructure to skills shortages and cybersecurity risks, are holding back progress. Effective policy and regulatory action are needed to enable the energy sector to seize AI’s transformative potential. 𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: In a world where nearly 700 million people still lack access to electricity, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗜 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀, 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗱.  🌍 Stay tuned to learn how we use AI and Earth Observation through the Energy Access Explorer to democratize access to both data, and energy! #sdg7 #sdg17 #dataforgood #AI #energyaccess #energytransition Energy Access Explorer WRI Africa WRI India WRI Polsky Center for the Global Energy Transition World Resources Institute

More than 4 years — that's how long it takes to build power projects in the U.S., more than double the time it took just 15 years ago. This lag in electricity grid planning, coupled with the urgent need for sustainable solutions, presents a significant challenge to economic growth, especially with AI's potential to add over a trillion dollars annually to U.S. GDP by 2030. To address this, Google is partnering with Intersect Power and TPG Rise Climate to co-locate data centers with new clean energy plants. This innovative approach: 🟢 Synchronizes clean power generation with data center growth, ensuring reliable and carbon-free energy for AI. 🟢 Reduces the timeline to operation by bringing data centers online alongside their dedicated power source. 🟢 Minimizes the need for new transmission infrastructure by building where power is generated. This strategy not only accelerates the transition to a carbon-free future for AI but also helps alleviate grid constraints and improve overall reliability. It's a crucial step towards responsible and sustainable digital infrastructure development. In other words - I think this makes common sense :) Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g59kP5cp #AI #CleanEnergy #DataCenters #Sustainability #Innovation #GoogleCloud #Infrastructure

The latest power couple? Data centers and renewable energy.  RMI’s latest analysis finds that pairing new data centers with new wind, solar, and energy storage near existing power plants can supply the electricity needed for AI growth without increasing costs for businesses and local communities.  For big tech, having on-site carbon-free electricity for their data centers supplies a reliable energy source, helps avoid transmission upgrade costs, and provides the opportunity to sell surplus energy back to the grid. Even if data center growth slows, the new clean energy resources would still support grid reliability and reduce costs for communities. Many have been asking about the role of AI and data centers in the energy transition, so I encourage you to dig into this work by Alexander Engel, David Posner, and Uday Varadarajan.  https://lnkd.in/gBTA23ty   

Could the intersection of data centers, #AI, and sustainability offer real opportunities for our industry?   The short answer? Yes.   While AI’s energy needs are growing rapidly, the same technologies can be used to drive substantial energy savings. At CBRE, we’re focusing on three approaches:   1. Using AI to optimize building energy use 2. Integrating smart power grids 3. Strategically locating data centers where they can utilize renewable energy (like waste heat!)   The potential return is remarkable. Our analysis shows that these strategies can deliver massive energy and carbon savings that far outweigh the resources invested. This isn’t just good for our planet—it’s smart business. When we design these data centers thoughtfully and intentionally, these facilities can become active participants in the green economy.    If we can make one thing clear from these findings, it’s that #sustainability and technology can and should advance together. https://lnkd.in/edZ6CTWy