What is the role of AI in the future of Energy?You read about artificial intelligence or AI every day. But I was surprised that Ai could be a factor in the energy transition, both as a sophisticated way of developing new solutions and optimizing current processes but also as a new source of growing energy demand with the new data centers and computing chips that are very energy-hungry. Data centers are not what they used to be before the AI revolution. data centers have exploded in size in terms of power consumption. Ten years ago, a 30-megawatt (MW) center was considered large. Today, a 200-MW facility is considered normal and a 1GW center is proposed. I don’t think the utilities saw this coming. I think this was a surprise to most folks. In our episode today we have USC professor Dr. Benham Jafarpour from the USC Information Sciences Institute to help us better understand the opportunities and challenges of AI and how these new hyperscale data centers are impacting energy demand forecasts. Some of the tech companies from Silicon Valley are even turning to private power contracts where they negotiate deals with geothermal and even nuclear power generators to run their new data centers. The new AI GPU chips are very energy-hungry and have changed the way data centers have to be operated. This should be another real eye-opener for all of us.ReferencesSubsurface Energy and Environmental Systems (SEES) https://sees.usc.edu/ https://carboncredits.com/u-s-data-centers-power-demand-surges-to-46000-mw-whats-driving-the-growth/

Sometimes we worry too much about emerging technologies that we forget that there are powerful natural solutions as well, say like photosynthesis that takes carbon dioxide and water out of the air and converts it into chemical energy. Plants, especially hard wood trees, are the superheroes of the carbon cycle. The water cycle is essential for life. The problem is when human activity gets in the way of the earth’s processes that are trying to achieve balance for a livable planet. Maybe we should try to help the earth instead of fighting against it? As part of our “getting back to nature” episode, we have the privilege to talk to Flora Moon of Expressworks on nature-based solutions to climate change. We need to keep our minds open to different kinds of solutions for the Energy Transition and Flora is one of those experts we need to listen to. If we can better understand natural processes like the carbon cycle and the water cycle and help it along a little bit, we will have a powerful ally in the energy transition.

references

https://www.nature.org/en-us/what-we-do/our-insights/perspectives/natural-climate-solutions/

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2022/05/19/what-you-need-to-know-about-nature-based-solutions-to-climate-change

Welcome to the Future of Energy podcast brought to you by the University of Southern California Ershaghi Center for Energy Transition. On this podcast we dive into the technologies, policies, and bold ideas shaping our transition to a low carbon future. In this episode we are joined by a visionary entrepreneur who is transforming the future of energy, Teague Egan founder and CEO of Energy X. Since founding the company in 2018, Egan has led the development of groundbreaking technologies in lithium extraction and energy storage- core innovations that will determine the success of the global clean energy transition. Energy X is behind major initiatives like Project Black Giant in Chile and Project Lone Star in the US and holds over 120 patents. From AI to nanotechnology, Egan's work spans the frontiers of science and business, and his journey from USC alumnus to energy pioneer is as inspiring as it isimpactful. Join us in this conversation as we explore the future of batteries, the economics of energy and innovation, and what it really takes to build a more sustainable world.References: https://energyx.com/Producer: Elisabeth Arnold WeissEditor: Abhineet Kumar