German Digital Minister: Solution needed for AI energy consumption

German Federal Digital Minister Karsten Wildberger believes rising electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence (AI) can be met in the coming years with existing power supplies, but said longer-term solutions will be needed.

Speaking to dpa at the end of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Wildberger said discussions were already underway at the European level.

He pointed to talks he had held with Norway in the Indian capital, noting the country's geographical advantage in renewable energy, particularly hydropower.

Experts warn that the rapid expansion of large data centres as part of the AI boom will significantly increase electricity demand.

At the same time, the European Union is aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, ruling out the long-term use of coal and gas for power generation. Germany has also completed its nuclear power phase-out.

Wildberger expressed optimism about nuclear fusion as a future climate-neutral energy source.

Unlike conventional nuclear fission reactors, fusion does not produce carbon emissions during operation and generates significantly less long-lived radioactive waste. However, scientists have yet to overcome major technical hurdles to make it commercially viable.

So far, the technology remains at the experimental stage.

"In the long term — in 10 years' time - this could be an important building block," Wildberger said. "In the short and medium term, we need other solutions, of course. That includes renewables."

The German government has set a goal of building the world's first fusion power plant in Germany.