In the new world of EVs and AI, renewable green energy means more gas or coal capacity, not less

It is no secret that the expanding suite of AI technologies are becoming powerful drivers of additional demand for electricity. They are, simply put, enormous energy hogs. This technological revolution seems destined to soon overwhelm and dominate almost every aspect of modern society, but there’s a catch: It is taking place simultaneously with coordinated efforts by national and international governments to prematurely do away with some of the cheapest and most abundant forms of 24/7 power generation.

The energy hogs, in other words, are lined up at the electricity trough, but that trough is being forced to run dry by ill-considered public policies.

Popular Science published an excellent analysis on March 25 detailing AI’s exploding power demands and how developers are responding to the growing challenge of sourcing the generating power they will need. The challenge is illustrated in a recent report by the IEA that estimates the AI models and cryptocurrency mining operations could result in a doubling of power demands from data centers globally. Another recent study estimates that “energy demands from AI servers in 2027 could be on par with those of Argentina, the Netherlands or Sweden combined.”