133. AI, Datacenters and Energy - May24

133. AI, Datacenters and Energy - May24

"McKinsey, BCG and S&P Global Commodity Insights project electricity demand tied to data centers to increase at a CAGR of 15% through 2030." “Booming AI demand threatens global electricity supply (FT)”. Media and consultants have recently raised the alarm about the unquenchable energy thirst of AI and datacentres. Can we believe those predictions or is it another scaremongering wave like we saw 15 years ago, when prophets predicted that the internet would soon consume 50% of the world power?

Laurent and Gerard prefer to go directly to the source. So, we have invited Michael Terrell, Senior Director Energy and Climate at Google. Google is one of the Top 5 purchasers of Green Electricity in the world, and Michael is one of the key architects for providing 24/7 green power to their 28 datacenters around the world.

With Michael, we analyse why datacenters consume so much energy. We also discuss why the overall grid has not melted down despite ominous predictions a decade ago, as energy efficiency improvements have been spectacular. We talk about fostering the purchase of green energy and especially 24/7. We discuss new tech, whether software (Tapestry) or hardtech (geothermal, nuclear, LDES) and why Google and others BigTech are fostering them. Finally, we discuss the development of AI and its impact on the future demand.

All in all, a great discussion but more importantly a very optimistic dialogue, where we see that we – the Energy Transition Brotherhood – are a force for good and we will defeat – easily – the old guard of fossil fuel lobbyists and scaremongers.

We thank Amundi for supporting our show

Episoder(174)

151. Peak Fossil Fuels - Sep24

151. Peak Fossil Fuels - Sep24

ExxonMobil forecasts 2050 Oil demand be the same as today. We believe that they are just “talking their books.”To discuss the future of the Energy system as well as the fight against Climate Change, w...

23 Sep 202425min

150. The new Valuation of Wind Assets

150. The new Valuation of Wind Assets

As Europe has reached 270GW wind power (vs 150GW USA), corresponding to a value of 500bnEUR, we dig into the value of those assets. Gerard being out, Laurent brought his friend Mortimer Menzel, Managi...

16 Sep 202413min

149. Hydropower in a 24/7 Clean Energy System - Sep24

149. Hydropower in a 24/7 Clean Energy System - Sep24

As wind and solar become ubiquitous, the value of hydropower goes up. Hydropower is becoming the ultimate clean energy, as it is flexible and easily dispatchable.Hydropower is concentrated in certain ...

9 Sep 202430min

148. Batteries: the Great Consolidation

148. Batteries: the Great Consolidation

“Summer has come and passed / The innocent can never last / Wake me up when September ends”. Like John Wick, Laurent thinks he is back.So we have a very energetic Minutes to start September. With Gera...

2 Sep 202412min

147. Decarbonising buildings - Aug24

147. Decarbonising buildings - Aug24

How to decarbonise buildings? That’s an important topic because that sector accounts for 37% of all emissions, making it one of the three pillars of decarbonisation next to electricity generation and ...

26 Aug 202431min

146. NREL: “Our Renewable Energy Future” - Aug24

146. NREL: “Our Renewable Energy Future” - Aug24

A special interview with one of the great minds of the Energy Transition. Dr. Doug Arent is the Executive Director of Strategic Public– Private Partnerships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory...

19 Aug 202431min

145. Clash of Titans (Barnard vs Martin) – Industrial Heat Redefined

145. Clash of Titans (Barnard vs Martin) – Industrial Heat Redefined

During Summer season, we bring you back the best of our sister show, Redefining Energy TECH, where host Michael Barnard invites Paul Martin for a very long and geekie conversation about innovative sol...

12 Aug 20241h 29min

144. Bill Gates and Energy (2/2) – the Investments / Breakthrough Energy Ventures

144. Bill Gates and Energy (2/2) – the Investments / Breakthrough Energy Ventures

In episode 143, Gerard, Laurent and Michael have discussed the philosophy of Bill Gates when it comes to the Energy Transition, and the root causes of his flawed thesis. Let see now if this transpires...

4 Aug 202418min

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