In 2010, the European Commission allocated €200 billion into smart energy assets. It was one of the most ambitious commitments to a zero-carbon power infrastructure transition. How has the Commission fared over time, especially when considering the disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and better printed circuit boards (PCBs) hitting the market?
The AI Continent Action Plan
This project’s values embrace many aspects of sustainability and environmental fairness, including ensuring fundamental rights and maintaining a human-centric framework for the buildout. The AI Continent Action Plan advocates for AI’s usefulness while acknowledging its ability to disrupt sovereignty and security.
It’s a five-step process, with each phase clarifying its expected timetable and financial investment. They are:
- Expanding computing infrastructure, like AI factories, gigafactories and the cloud.
- Creating a data union strategy that boosts information accessibility.
- Upskilling workers, students and educators for the AI generation.
- Developing sector-specific algorithms for industry-wide adoption.
- Fostering public trust with AI implementation.
These resources will be invaluable for facilitating smarter power consumption across the continent. Crucial steps like upskilling workers and designing sector-specific algorithms could help technologies like solar panels increase their average efficiency from 22.5% to new heights.
The HyPELignum Project
The European Union (EU) has made significant financial contributions to deal with its growing e-waste problem. The HyPELignum Project is an ongoing research effort to redesign PCBs with wood-based materials, making them biodegradable. It also leverages additive manufacturing without relying on conventional resources like petroleum-based products.
Therefore, critical renewable electricity components could be produced with zero-carbon strategies, including controversially polluting mechanisms like inks and substrates. Eventually, the effort could encourage further wood recycling.
AI is also helping PCB designs become more efficient so they use fewer resources to construct and less energy to operate. For example, an AI could observe a PCB’s layout, detecting potential heat dissipation or noise interference concerns based on design alone. Doing so allows engineers to redesign PCBs without manufacturers wasting copious materials to print poorly performing components.
REPowerEU
The REPowerEU project has been active since May 2022, and it is a direct response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Previously reliant upon Russian imports, the Commission determined that supplier diversification and power savings were vital for eco-conscious infrastructure and tech adoption.
Because of REPowerEU, coal imports have dropped to zero, and oil imports have also been cut from 27% to 3%. In collaboration with the EU Energy Supply and aggregate purchasing platforms, the continent has been able to achieve greater independence and smarter asset pooling for cleaner electricity distribution.
The Common European Energy Data Space
Much of the continent’s data exists in siloes. Connecting these data resources is crucial for enabling faster tech deployment, whether it be for AI or greener grids. Knowledge-sharing is a critical component of leveling digital asset accessibility across countries. The Common European Energy Data Space initiative also helps strengthen interoperability, solving compatibility issues with disparate technologies and stages of digital transformation.
GenAI4EU
In 2024, the Commission dedicated some of its efforts to startups and small businesses to forge trustworthiness in AI systems and innovation. The GenAI4EU communication project includes a regulatory framework and impact assessment guide for assessing AI, suggesting the importance of industrial collaboration with smaller entities.
The model’s goals include optimizing local grids, empowering electric vehicle (EV) adoption and regulating consumption. These outcomes are expected to be reached by February 2026.
Common European Reference Framework (CERF) for Energy
Experts designed a new aspect of CERF to mobilize consumer-instigated energy-saving efforts, which was inspired by the EU’s Digitalization of Energy Action Plan. It is a collaboration between the Electricity Coordination Group and the Smart Grids Task Force championing many tasks to near-100% completion, including but not limited to:
- Expanding public and anonymized smart meter data through an app.
- Helping specific consumers with energy concerns, including EV and solar panel owners.
- Creating interoperability frameworks for electrical infrastructure interfaces.
- Educating consumers on eco-friendly advice and consumption reductions.
- Incentivizing load-shifting.
The application the project created also guides households on how to optimize their consumption behaviors. It shows them the best times to use electricity, highlights improvement areas in the building where they can save and reinforces new habit formation to contribute to a better energy for the continent.
Forging a New EU
Rewiring many nations is a massive undertaking for the European Commission. It requires managing seemingly countless moving parts, from curbing e-waste to upgrading outdated energy distribution systems. Results become possible because of the efforts of specialized projects and initiatives, allocating resources to the pain points that matter most. Eventually, the continent could become the global leader in clean power, AI implementation and eco-made tech materials.
About the author: Jane works as an environmental and energy writer. She is also the founder and editor-in-chief of Environment.co.
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