The Energy Transition and the Role AI Plays

Infrastructure. Some forecasts suggest that data centres could account for up to 14% of global emissions by 2030, with AI contributing a growing share. Yet AI is also an enabler of decarbonization, optimizing energy systems, supply chains, and industrial processes in ways previously unimaginable.

This session will explore the duality of AI in the energy transition. On one hand, AI’s surging energy needs present a formidable challenge, threatening to increase fossil fuel reliance if renewable generation cannot keep pace. On the other, AI offers powerful tools for cutting emissions, increasing energy efficiency, and accelerating the adoption of clean energy technologies.

As the energy transition gathers pace, how do we ensure AI is a driver of progress and not a liability? What investments and partnerships are needed between hyperscalers, utilities, and developers to scale renewables fast enough to meet AI demand? How are companies like Microsoft, GE Vernova, and Octopus designing solutions that align AI growth with sustainability goals?