With the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology, the demand for electricity is constantly increasing. According to a recent report by Gartner, the newly installed servers consumed 195 terawatt-hours of electricity last year, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 18 million households. It is expected that by 2027, this number will soar to 500 terawatt-hours, roughly matching the annual electricity demand of 46 million households.
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Moreover, the electricity consumption of existing data centers reached 349 terawatt-hours in 2022. This indicates that with the widespread adoption and application of artificial intelligence, the electricity demand of future data centers will experience explosive growth. Without sufficient renewable energy supply, this will lead to increased environmental pollution.
To address this challenge, businesses and governments need to increase investment and development in renewable energy. For instance, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has invested over $375 million in nuclear fusion energy, aiming to find cleaner and more sustainable sources of electricity. This investment is aimed at meeting the growing demand for electricity in the future and reducing carbon emissions during the training and use of AI.
As the demand for electricity rises sharply, the electricity supply issue for data centers urgently needs to be resolved. Only through technological innovation and policy support can we meet the needs of AI development while protecting our environment.
Key Points:
⚡️ By 2027, the electricity demand of new servers is expected to reach 500 terawatt-hours, equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 46 million households.
🌍 In 2022, the electricity consumption of existing data centers reached 349 terawatt-hours, and future demand growth may lead to severe electricity shortages.
🔋 Investing in renewable energy has become urgent, and Sam Altman has invested over $375 million in nuclear fusion energy.