AI & Energy: A powerful equation for a sustainable future
At the AI Action Summit in Paris, ENGIE showcased the deep interconnection between AI and energy. As AI accelerates the demand for carbon-free power, ENGIE is enabling data centers to decarbonize at scale while also leveraging AI to optimize energy systems.
- Blog
- 10/02/2025
The rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries at an unprecedented pace. But behind breakthrough innovations, there is a hidden challenge: energy. AI is stimulating exponential growth in data centers, intensifying the need for carbon-free electricity.
On this occasion, Stéphane Pirotte, Head of European Sales & Origination at ENGIE Global Energy Management & Sales, shares his expert perspective on this dual transformation:
• Providing carbon-free energy to power AI and enabling data centers to decarbonize at scale.
• Leveraging AI to optimize energy systems and accelerate the energy transition.
(Carbon-free) Energy for AI
As data centers become the backbone of the digital economy, their energy footprint is skyrocketing. The challenge is bold: securing large-scale, reliable, and carbon-free electricity. Stéphane Pirotte highlights the scale of this transformation:
“Data center power consumption is projected to grow from 460 TWh in 2022 to 1,300 TWh by 2030. At the same time, major operators aim to meet 24/7 carbon-free energy targets, ensuring that every hour of consumption is matched by carbon-free generation.”
ENGIE is partnering with industry leaders to turn this vision into reality. Our approach focuses on three key levers:
- Accelerating access to renewable energy through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) backed by ENGIE’s 80 GW renewable energy target by 2030. In 2024, ENGIE signed 85 PPAs across five continents, solidifying its position as a global leader in renewable energy agreements
- Enhancing 24/7 carbon-free energy scores by integrating storage systems and dispatchable renewable energy alongside wind and solar power.
- Optimizing site selection and deploying new digital infrastructure by strategically co-locating data centers near renewable assets under development, reducing transmission constraints and accelerating the energy transition. ENGIE is already exploring a selection of sites in Europe and in the U.S., representing a potential 8 GW of future data center load.
“Combining renewables with low-carbon flexibility assets, primarily Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), allows for faster deployment and more competitive solutions than gas turbines or nuclear power” emphasizes Stéphane.
AI for (Carbon-Free) Energy
AI is also transforming the way energy is produced, stored, and consumed. By integrating AI across the entire value chain, ENGIE is pushing the boundaries of efficiency and sustainability to enable its mission to accelerate energy transition by:
- Optimizing battery storage operations to maximize flexibility and grid stability.
- Improving renewable generation forecasts with AI-driven modeling, reducing uncertainty and balancing supply and demand in real time.
- Improving customer engagement through digital tools like Stakeholder Suite, which streamlines interactions with local communities for smoother project deployment.
The results speak for themselves. “In 2024, our AI-powered forecasting models reduced execution times by 90%, improving decision-making and cutting costs” notes Stéphane. These innovations are paving the way for a more resilient, low-carbon energy system.
AI and energy are inextricably linked, and ENGIE is at the forefront of ensuring a sustainable digital future. “By aligning AI-driven innovations with carbon-free energy solutions, we can meet the energy demands of tomorrow’s digital economy while accelerating the net-zero transition” concludes Stéphane.
With a commitment to collaboration, ENGIE collaborates with industry giants like Google, Microsoft, AWS, Apple and Equinix to design tailored solutions that seamlessly balance innovation, sustainability, and resilience in the energy sector.