Could the emergence of genAI lead to an energy shortage?

Within the document, the organization highlighted that electricity suppliers, clients of data centers, and other significant consumers had all raised alarms about the capability to cope with the demand, and “virtually unanimously, they suggested expediting the installation of generation and storage, deferring retirements, and boosting investments in current assets.”

These enhancements involve the “upgrading and reauthorizing of existing nuclear and hydroelectric facilities,” as well as showcasing novel, environmentally friendly, reliable, cost-effective, and manageable technologies with immediacy. “In most scenarios, [interested parties] view fresh natural gas production expansions — alongside solar, wind, and batteries — as the main feasible choice available today to ensure stability,” as per the document.

“We will call for all energy sources, which also encompass geothermal and hydrogen,” Graham from IDC stated. “The energy usage of AI is truly on the rise. You can draw some parallels with cloud. The distinguishing aspect about AI is the scale of energy use per server.”

About Author

AndyC

Andy Curtis is an award-winning security consultant, researcher and public speaker. He has been working in the computer security industry since the early 1990s, having been employed by state and federal government, leading healthcare and banking providers across three continents. He has given talks about computer security for some of the world’s largest companies, worked with law enforcement agencies on investigations into hacking groups, and is a regular voice on TV and radio explaining IT security threats.

See author's posts