AI to Prop Up Fossil Fuels and Slow Emissions Decline, BNEF Says
The world’s efforts to cut emissions over the next decade will be slowed by the rise of AI.
A visitor observes a computer bay at a data center in Paris, France.
Photographer: Nathan Laine/BloombergThe world likely hit peak energy-related emissions in 2024. But the decline in the coming decade will be slowed due in large part to data center expansion powered by fossil fuels, according to the latest New Energy Outlook report from BloombergNEF.
While renewables and storage are expected to make up more than half of the power capacity needed by 2035 to meet data center demand, almost two-thirds of additional electricity generation will come from fossil fuels like coal and gas, BNEF said Tuesday in its New Energy Outlook report. That’s because of the possibility of data centers helping to extend the life of existing coal and gas plants, the report said.