There’s an ongoing struggle for balance between the usefulness of AI and its energy demands. Generative AI and large language models are highly energy-intensive, with ChatGPT consuming up to 10 times more electricity than a standard Google search, and the energy consumption of data centres projected to double by 2026.

But at the same time, AI has the potential to significantly improve energy efficiency. Co-host Laura Young Laura speaks with Ben Sigrin, Senior Product Manager at GridBeyond, about how the company uses AI to manage energy behind-the-meter (on the consumer side), optimising energy use in buildings and reducing carbon emissions.

AI is also transforming sectors like transportation and agriculture by enhancing overall energy efficiency. Digital twins - virtual models that replicate real-world conditions—could eliminate 5-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. NVIDIA, which you my know as the maker of the graphic processors that are used to train AI, has built its own version of these digital twin models. Director of Product Marketing Shar Narasimhan talks to Carolyn about Earth2, a mammoth digital replica of Earth used to model the extreme weather and climate change that affect our energy networks, and about how AI energy demands are being addressed in the industry.

In this special edition of The Clean Energy Revolution, we bring you highlights from a panel discussion, ‘Women Leading the Energy Transition’, hosted at New York University during Climate Week.

The discussion is moderated by Sandy Grace, Vice President of US Policy and Regulatory Strategy for National Grid, who sits down to talk with women working in various roles addressing the clean energy transition.

You’ll hear from panellists including Naomi Boness (Stanford University), Hadia Sheerazi (Rocky Mountain Institute), Amy Myers Jaffe (NYU), and one of this podcast’s co-hosts Dr. Carolyn Kissane (NYU), as they share their career journeys, current challenges, and opportunities needed to ensure a robust, equitable and sustainable energy transition.

Be sure to tune in to hear about the impactful work happening in policy, academia, NGOs, and startups, as well as the incredible and inspirational stories of some of the women at the forefront of the energy transition. This special episode is not to be missed.

It’s an exciting time for geothermal energy. The US Department of Energy predicts geothermal power generation capacity to grow by 26 times by 2050, potentially providing almost 10% of the US’ total power needs. To talk about the policy and technology that’s needed to achieve this goal is Kevin Jones, enhanced geothermal program manager at the DOE. He speaks to Carolyn Kissane about pilot projects in the US and the pioneering work they are doing.

What makes geothermal so exciting is its reliability as it’s available 24/7, whatever the weather. Enhanced geothermal systems are also revolutionising the field, allowing for the extraction of heat from deeper, previously unreachable rock formations. This cutting-edge technology opens up vast new areas for geothermal development, even in regions without traditional geothermal activity. Michael Webber is a professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Texas in Austin, and he also joins the show to talk Carolyn through the technology that could unlock enough power to meet 3-5% of the world’s demands by 2050.

It's not only electricity generation that geothermal energy can provide. It has use as a heat source too, and co-host Laura Young finds out how the UK’s only geothermal plant works as she talks to Eden Geothermal CEO Gus Grand.

The views expressed in this podcast are those of the participants and do not reflect the activities of National Grid