GEMM November Newsletter
- Pragatie
- Nov 25
- 5 min read
Keeping you up-to-date on the latest in renewable energy and sustainability.
Welcome to the August edition of the GEMM Energy Monthly Newsletter. We aim to bring you the latest in renewable energy advancements, highlight sustainability efforts, showcase GEMM's current projects, and provide valuable insights for a brighter, more sustainable future.
Energy Demands from AI Datacenters to Quadruple by 2030
The International Energy Agency (IEA) just dropped a major forecast—and guess what? AI isn’t just learning, generating, and predicting. It’s eating. A lot.
By 2030, AI could be gulping down almost as much electricity as the entire country of Japan does today. Yep, one decade, one Japan-sized appetite.
But here's the twist: the IEA says the climate threat might be overhyped. (Plot twist!)
Data Centers: The New Energy Monsters
Right now, a single big data center can use as much electricity as 100,000 homes. And the next generation? They’ll use 20 times more. Why? Because AI demands supercomputers, GPUs, and servers that run nonstop.
In the US alone, powering AI could soon require more electricity than all heavy industries combined—steel, cement, chemicals, everything.
And global data center demand? Expected to double by 2030. AI-driven centers alone? Quadruple. It’s giving “my GPU is overheating” vibes…but on a planetary scale.
Not necessarily. The IEA argues that while AI eats energy, it can also save it—if used wisely.
Think:
Smarter, more flexible electricity grids
Better efficiency in factories and buildings
Improved public transport and traffic systems
Faster exploration of minerals needed for clean tech
Optimized city planning
Even protecting critical infrastructure
AI could help cut emissions while creating demand. It’s like having a friend who orders too much food—but also shares it strategically.
The catch? Left alone, AI could:
Push countries back to fossil fuels
Bring gas and even coal plants back into the picture
Drain freshwater supplies in already dry regions (data center cooling needs water—lots of it)
Some experts say the IEA is being too optimistic. They warn that without strong government policies, AI could do more harm than good.
AI is reshaping our world—and our energy bills. It's powerful, useful, and a little out of control. Whether it becomes a climate hero or a climate headache depends on what happens next.
Governments, companies, and tech leaders need to act fast.
Because one thing’s for sure: AI isn’t slowing down. And neither is its energy appetite.
US Energy Market- Rising Energy Demand
Google’s New Power Move: Teaching AI to Chill During Energy Rush Hour
The race to build bigger, smarter AI keeps heating up—and so does the electric grid. In fact, some U.S. utilities are seeing so many power requests from tech giants that it’s outpacing what the grid can actually supply. Yep, AI is officially that hungry.
To help ease the pressure, Google just struck a first-of-its-kind deal with two major utilities—Indiana Michigan Power and the Tennessee Valley Authority. The plan? When the grid is stressed and electricity demand is surging, Google’s data centers will dial back their AI workloads. Think of it as putting machine learning on “energy-saving mode” during peak hours.
This type of “demand-response” program isn’t new—industries like heavy manufacturing and even crypto miners have done it for years. But for AI data centers?
This is a whole new chapter.
Google says these agreements can help connect large power-hungry facilities faster, reduce the need to build new plants, and make it easier for grid operators to keep the lights on for everyone else. And with energy demand skyrocketing thanks to AI’s growth, don’t be surprised if more tech companies jump on this grid-friendly trend.
Environmental Burden of United States Data Centers in the Artificial Intelligence Era
If you’ve noticed the world buzzing a little louder lately, it’s not just the AI hype—it’s the data centers powering it all. These digital giants are popping up across the U.S. at record speed, and we wanted to understand what that means for our energy grid and the planet.
So, we dug into detailed data from 2,132 U.S. data centers operating from September 2023 to August 2024. Here’s what we found:
Data centers now suck up over 4% of all electricity used in the U.S.More than half (56%) of that power still comes from fossil fuels.That adds up to 105+ million tons of CO₂e—about 2.18% of total U.S. emissions.
To put it simply: data centers are power hungry, and their electricity is dirtier than the national average—48% more carbon-intensive, in fact.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. We built a full data pipeline and visualization toolkit that helps track how these facilities impact the environment—today and in the future. Because the more clearly we see the problem, the smarter (and greener) the solutions can be.
The AI revolution is here. Now it’s time to make sure the energy revolution keeps up.
Local
Is AI About to Jack Up Your Electric Bill?
Pennsylvania is rolling out the red carpet for massive new data centers — the kind that power AI, cloud storage, video calls, and yes… even ChatGPT. Sounds futuristic and exciting, right? Well, there’s a catch: these hyperscale computing hubs could put serious strain on the state’s power grid — and your wallet.
Big names like Amazon are investing billions to build data campuses across Pennsylvania, including former power plant sites and research campuses. These centers don’t just run on electricity — they gulp it. From powering endless servers to keeping them cool, their energy appetite rivals that of small cities.
So what does that mean for regular folks? Recent electricity rate hikes (up to 15% in some areas) may already reflect the anticipated surge in demand. Grid operator PJM now predicts power usage from large facilities could more than triple by 2030. And when demand skyrockets, costs usually follow.
Advocacy groups are stepping in, urging regulators to make sure these tech giants pay their fair share — especially for costly grid upgrades — instead of passing the burden onto everyday households. Think of it like this: if a new mansion needs a freshly paved road, should the whole neighborhood pay for it?
The twist? We all benefit from data centers. Every cloud photo, Zoom call, and AI-generated email runs through one. The real question is: what price are we willing to pay for digital convenience?
The future may bring smarter solutions too. Some tech companies are experimenting with AI that adjusts energy use during peak times, helping stabilize the grid.
Impressive? Absolutely. But as Pennsylvania plugs into the future, the key will be balancing innovation with affordability.
Stay connected!
We're excited to continue this journey with you, by sharing news and insights on sustainability and progressing our path toward a better future. Stay tuned for our newsletter next month.
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