KPMG
AI IN SUSTAINABILITY
Right now, the global energy sector has to contend with conflicting demands. First is the demand for renewable energy, without which our world will be at the mercy of climate change.
Second is the demand for greater amounts of energy overall. Population growth, the rise of AI and computing, and the growing electrification of technologies previously powered by fossil fuels all necessitate more power.
Then, the energy sector must also consider the distribution of energy. Electrical grids are, for the vast majority of civilisations around the world, the means by which energy is transported. These complex, sprawling pieces of infrastructure were first introduced in the late 19th century and have been upgraded and modernised in piecemeal fashion in the years since.
Today, though, the simple truth is this: electrical grids will require huge renovations to cope with the demands of tomorrow.
Unlike fossil fuels, the supply of most renewable energy is inherently intermittent.
Solar panels require sunlight, turbines require wind and tidal power is inextricably tied to the natural ebb and flow of the oceans. This means that our energy infrastructure must be able to cope with surges and droughts in power, which experts worry our grids will be unable to manage, potentially leading to unreliable supplies and voltage instability.
CREDIT: JACK TAYLOR VIA GETTY IMAGES
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KPMG
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154 May 2025