AI offers companies opportunities in climate protection
Artificial intelligence (AI) offers companies tools for climate protection. This is shown in a white paper from swisscleantech. It is based on the experience of companies operating in Switzerland, such as Swisscom and Siemens. It also describes ways to increase the energy efficiency of data centres.
Artificial intelligence offers numerous tools that companies can use to improve their climate protection and adapt their business to climate change. This is shown in a white paper that the swisscleantech association has developed with the consulting firm Accenture. The paper offers both a practical methodology for companies to analyse their own measures and a detailed overview of the market.
Representatives of companies operating in Switzerland show which AI tools they are already using. Swisscom, for example, uses the solution from 42hacks, based in Trogen AR, to optimise the mobility of its employees thanks to the AI-supported analysis of their mobile phone data. The algorithms of viboo from Dübendorf ZH enable the intelligent control of thermostats and heating systems.
Siemens has turned the Siemens Smart Infrastructure campus in Zug, which will be completed in 2023, into a climate-neutral showcase project for the sustainability of buildings. At the centre of this is the digital building platform Building X, which is part of Siemens Xcelerator.
Google and SAP also discuss their AI-supported climate protection measures in the white paper.
The widespread use of AI will increase the energy requirements of data centres. Their share of global electricity consumption could rise from the current 1 to 2 per cent to 10 per cent by 2030. The white paper also shows how their energy efficiency can be increased. “Rising power consumption can already be partially mitigated through the use of AI and other efficiency measures,” swisscleantech Co-Managing Director Michael Mandl is quoted as saying in a press release accompanying the white paper. “However, this will require further regulatory and political efforts.”
In general, swisscleantech emphasises the opportunities offered by AI. “Our analysis has shown that AI already offers enormous potential to help companies achieve their climate targets,” says Co-President Fabian Etter.