The explosive growth of the artificial intelligence industry, a boom that is still only in its infancy, is already triggering surging electricity demand that is set to intensify in the near future. The hundreds of millions of people who are now regularly using AI are equivalent to millions of new homes being added to the power grid. This number will only keep growing.
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The past decade has been largely characterized by energy policies that support the “Green Agenda,” with all kinds of measures aiming for a transition to renewable energy sources.
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Massive tax breaks and subsidies were handed out to the solar and wind energy sectors, while fossil fuels were heavily penalized, especially as the race to net-zero emissions picked up pace. Nuclear energy also suffered serious reputational attacks, particularly from politicians and environmental groups.
The rise of AI, however, presents a challenge that requires pragmatism rather than idealism. The energy demands of the new industry cannot be fully accommodated within the existing policy framework in most advanced economies.
