Generative AI is an energy hog

Chris Baraniuk writes on the BBC News website about the impact on electricity grids from the growth in generative AI. Electricity grids creak as AI demands soar There’s a big problem with generative AI, says Sasha Luccioni at Hugging Face, a machine-learning company. Generative AI is an energy hog. “Every time you query the … Continue reading Generative AI is an energy hog →

Energy in Demand News, January 14, 2024

EiD welcomes that the IEA published Renewables 2023 this week. It is encouraging to see that the world added 50% more renewable capacity in 2023 than in 2022 and next 5 years will see fastest growth yet. The IEA says that the world’s capacity to generate renewable electricity is expanding faster than at any time … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, January 14, 2024 →

Ghana’s energy transition – Ghana’s electricity conundrum

In an article on The Conversation website, Naaborle Sackeyfio, Associate Professor of Global and Intercultural Studies, Miami University discusses the electricity crisis in Ghana and what it will take to put it on a sustainable foundation. Ghana’s electricity crisis is holding the country back - how it got here For well over a decade … Continue reading Ghana’s energy transition – Ghana’s electricity conundrum →

Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa

Mansoor Hamayun, the co-founder and chief executive of Bboxx, started out with a university project to bring solar power to a few villages in Rwanda. Now he is set to expand tenfold across sub-Saharan Africa. In an article on the Guardian website, Jillian Ambrose discusses what Mr. Hamayun is trying to achieve. ‘Electricity is … Continue reading Bringing off-grid, pay-as-you-go power to Africa →

Motorists are increasingly opting for large electric SUVs but the environmental impact of these vehicles should not be underestimated

Laura Lander, Lecturer in Engineering, King's College London and Grazia Todeschini, Reader in Engineering also at King's College London, write on The Conversation website about the environmental impact of large electric vehicles. Why surging sales of large electric vehicles raises environmental red flags Electric cars are getting bigger and heavier. In 2019, 30% of … Continue reading Motorists are increasingly opting for large electric SUVs but the environmental impact of these vehicles should not be underestimated →

Power companies in the US are turning to virtual power plants

In an article on The Conversation website, Daniel Cohan, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Rice University, discusses the growing role of virtual power plants as electricity demand is surging. What is a virtual power plant? An energy expert explains After nearly two decades of stagnation, U.S. electricity demand is surging, driven … Continue reading Power companies in the US are turning to virtual power plants →

UK passes Energy Act

Laws have been passed in the UK to help unlock £100bn of private investment in energy infrastructure, accelerate development of offshore wind and bring more competition to networks. The UK Energy Act 2023, which has received Royal Assent, will deliver a more efficient energy system in the long term, helping to keep costs low. … Continue reading UK passes Energy Act →

Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023

We are now about two months away from COP28 in Dubai. All of us are anxious that real progress is made because the signs of climate crisis are growing and there definitely is a need to ramp up ambition and action. We were discouraged this week when EU member states this week adopted a common … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, October 22nd, 2023 →

New IEA report on electricity grids and secure energy transitions

Following the report by EEA-ACER on power systems this week, the IEA has also come out on a new report on electricity grids. The first-of-its-kind global study finds the world must add or replace 80 million km of grids by 2040, equal to all grids globally today, to meet national climate targets and support energy … Continue reading New IEA report on electricity grids and secure energy transitions →

New joint EEA-ACER report on need for more flexibility Iin the EU power system to ramp up renewable power capacity

EU Member States need to massively ramp up their renewable power capacity in the coming years. This increase in renewables from variable sources, such as wind and solar, will also increase the need for ‘flexibility’ in the EU electricity system. A joint report released this week by two EU agencies, EEA and ACER, demonstrates how … Continue reading New joint EEA-ACER report on need for more flexibility Iin the EU power system to ramp up renewable power capacity →