Page 29 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2019 publication
P. 29
Autumn 2019 European Energy Innovation 29
DIGITALIZATION
In its recent Strategy, the European driving energy efficiency through Today, the AI technology is leveraged
Commission recognises AI as one smart grid systems. It plays a key to optimise the energy consumption
of the most strategic technologies role in the deployment of deep of data centers. To harness their full
of the 21st century, underlining predictive capabilities that optimise sustainability potential, it is crucial
its transformational potential to the integration of renewable energy that the growing demand of data
tackle some of the most pressing sources. centers is met with clean electricity
environment challenges. sources.
AI is an excellent solution for a
The power of AI in supporting the better coordination of decentralised The power sector’s commitment to
decarbonisation of society energy networks, improving overall clean energy supply
Industries are currently under operational efficiency and reducing The future electricity mix will
pressure to transform their business energy waste. AI and the Internet hence be crucial to ensure overall
models and accelerate the shift to of Things (IoT) have gained traction carbon emissions reductions, as
a low-carbon future. Many of them thanks to their ability to measure, AI developments and applications
have already been impacted and manage and optimise the energy use. increase the electricity use. A
transformed by AI. This technology Furthermore, these technologies are recent study from Eurelectric,
has the unique power to support reliable assets to monitor the state of representing the interests of the
the decarbonisation endeavours by energy infrastructures. Not only can electricity sector in Europe, shows
they signal the need for maintenance that it is feasible to meet increasing
through early fault prediction, but demand while fully decarbonising the
they can also forecast external power sector well before 2050 in a
disruptions such as hurricanes and cost-effective way. Renewables are
earthquakes, thus allowing for a said to represent more than 80% of
better preparation. electricity supply by 2045 driven by
rapid cost decline, increasing capacity
Beyond these benefits in the sphere factors, and large untapped resource
of electricity infrastructure, AI and potentials.
IoT will accelerate the electrification
of transport. As algorithms improve Eurelectric’s upcoming AI forum
the battery energy management and Deep decarbonisation will require
increase the mileage of each charge, huge efforts towards electrification.
the anxiety range of drivers will The use of clean electricity in
substantially reduce. final energy consumption should
indeed reach 60%, versus 22%
Through its multiple applications, today. Understanding the role that
AI could contribute to the UN’s AI could play in reach this objective,
Sustainable Development Goals Eurelectric launches an AI discussion
by ensuring access to affordable, forum. While learning from the
reliable, and clean energy for all. disruptions that AI produced in
other industries, the forum will aim
The growing energy need of data at helping utilities benefit from this
centres technology. The forum will address
The advancements of the AI numerous questions ranging from
technology, and especially its deep how to leverage the power of data
learning subset, are heavily reliant on in the electricity sector to designing
the development of energy intensive the AI and data-driven utility of the
data centres. Therefore, in the near future.
future, it is very likely to register an
increased energy demand, as data The AI technology won’t be developed
growth will outpace the improvements and applied by the tech sector alone.
in computational power. Europe is It needs our collaboration. Hence,
a flourishing environment for data the Eurelectric forum should develop
centers. In the past ten years, their a unity of views and actions for the
number has grown to such an extent European electric utilities, allowing
that they now account for 3-4% of the power sector to successfully find
EU’s power consumption. its way in the AI global race. l
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
