Harnessing AI’s potential to accelerate the energy transition

The clock is ticking on achieving climate targets and humanity is facing a tall order: to reverse a centuries’ worth of emissions that have accumulated in the atmosphere, and cool our warming planet by 2050. 

The UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Emissions Gap Report 2023 conveys that the world is breaking unwanted records on climate change. With all-time highs in greenhouse gas emissions and global average temperature, nations are called to strengthen their low-carbon efforts in line with the Paris Agreement and the 1.5°C pathway. 

Digitalisation, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), is emerging as a potent solution to meet ambitious climate pledges and accelerate the energy transition. 

Optimistic climate scenarios show that change is possible — but the change must be achieved faster and more deliberately. AI might not be the first solution that comes to mind when thinking about the energy transition but the energy industry is recognising that human expertise and insights, amplified by digital technologies, can help unpack the enormity of the energy shift. 

GHD’s SHOCKED report, one of the largest global research studies conducted among energy sector leaders, shows that 80 percent of high-growth energy companies identify digitalisation as an effective strategy to support the decarbonisation of energy supplies. In addition, 71 percent globally said they had fast-tracked investment in AI. 

AI can provide transformative insights into the interconnected domains of energy, water and environment that impact all sectors, primarily agriculture, manufacturing and urban development. It can offer recommendations on energy consumption patterns, water usage and waste generation, which can facilitate more efficient allocation of resources and enable more sustainable practices. 

The power of data comes to the fore in organisations’ quest to make smarter decisions and explore better approaches. Multimodal generative AI — the ability to process and generate data from multiple sources such as text, image and audio to create more precise predictions — equips organisations to study the effects of climate change, pollution and other environmental factors. 

However, despite its potential, GHD’s SHOCKED report reveals that many energy leaders agreed that the sector is behind other industries in implementing new technologies or innovations to advance their net zero goals.  

The long-term survivability of the planet relies on the initiatives and innovations undertaken today. Let’s look at the specific benefits of AI-powered capabilities to support climate neutrality across multiple domains:

Sustainable design: Creating a built environment that is sustainable and resilient starts with the design process. Generative AI can optimise the design in the conceptual phase to balance the aesthetic appeal, functionality and environmental impact — imagine buildings that are visually striking, energy-efficient and purpose-built. It can also elevate new designs beyond the current trends. 

Climate modelling: AI-powered climate modelling and projection systems can create potential climate scenarios, factoring in greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation rates and ocean warming, among other phenomena. This can help assess risks, anticipate impacts, inform policymaking and devise mitigation strategies.

Biodiversity conservation: Organisations and conservationists can use AI to enhance biodiversity protection through improved monitoring, data collection and analysis. AI can simulate different ecosystems under unique environmental scenarios to provide insights into animal behaviour and habitats and predict threats, especially to endangered species. 

Pollution control and waste management: The rising amount of waste generated in the ecosystem, especially from industrial sources, leads to heightened pollution levels. AI can aid in green manufacturing, smart recycling and efficient waste sorting, altogether helping facilitate optimal waste management and circular economy. 

Water resource management: Water utilities can leverage AI’s ability to simulate various scenarios to assess water quality and ensure adequate supply. The technology can detect anomalies and predict shortages and maintenance requirements to minimise downtime. It also enables improved wastewater recovery, treatment and reuse. 

Energy optimisation: Various applications of AI for optimal energy use can be seen from energy-efficient buildings to smart grids. Energy demand and supply scenarios illustrate opportunities for ideal energy generation and distribution. AI-enabled data collection and analysis can also help improve equipment performance and detect anomalies. 

With AI’s power within reach, and the right pool of data, nations and industries can develop integrated strategies to address greenhouse gas emissions, revolutionise sustainable design and develop green technology — ultimately co-creating a carbon-neutral world for future generations.

AI isn’t just another passing technology hype; it is a critical enabler in fostering more sustainable practices and transforming global energy systems. However, its potency comes with inherent risks and challenges. It is crucial to tread the said pathways with caution and safeguards. 

GHD Digital recently launched its AI Centre of Excellence to empower clients to harness the full potential of AI and related technologies. Our team can be your partner as you forge ahead with your net zero journey, combining deep industry expertise with state-of-the-art AI technology and data science.