'Volatile' generative AI has changed the power demand game: Hitachi Energy CEO

Demand volatility during the generative AI learning process has introduced a whole new factor into managing energy systems, says Andreas Schierenbeck

Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO. Hitachi Energy
Andreas Schierenbeck, CEO. Hitachi EnergyPhoto: Hitachi Energy

The volatility of demand for power from generative artificial intelligence is posing entirely new problems for electricity networks, the CEO of Hitachi Energy has warned.

While plenty of global attention has focused on trying to estimate the scale of future power demand from AI data centres, grid operators and planners need to pay close attention to managing the fast-moving peaks and troughs generated by the AI generative learning process itself, Andreas Schierenbeck told Recharge.

“We are finding two big differences in terms of energy demand from data centres used for generative AI," he said.