Climate neutrality in the EU: Google would like to help with AI

Google would like to use artificial intelligence to help the European Union achieve its climate targets. In a white paper, the US company explains that generative AI could help to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by around 5 to 10 percent by 2030. This would be equivalent to the EU's total annual emissions. In Europe, productivity increases of up to 1.4 percent per year are possible, it continues. The EU itself has not yet commented on the offer.

The fact that the US company is making such public overtures could have something to do with the fact that the issue of climate protection is no longer of particular interest at government level in Google's home country. However, this public promotion of its capabilities is also likely to be driven by business interests in securing major partners in the AI business field in good time. Finally, such a cooperation could have a positive impact on Google's reputation. A partnership with the EU could also indirectly allow Google to exert more influence on the regulation of tech companies.

Three major areas

The publicly available paper divides the conceivable AI measures into three main areas: Enable, Deploy and Guide. In the first sector, Google states that more climate-relevant data must first be made available, be it through the digitization of analogue data sets or a greater spread of data collection devices such as smart meters and drones. This will enable AI to draw the right conclusions and develop measures in the subsequent steps. The first step is also about training the use of AI and planning the infrastructure for the future to be climate-resilient with the help of AI.

The second step (deploy) is about using AI for climate protection. The aim here is to define climate priorities in the public sector. In the private sector, the energy sector, industry, transportation, and agriculture in particular could then be encouraged to use AI solutions. In the energy sector, for example, to overcome grid bottlenecks and for grid planning, such as with battery storage. In the transport sector, AI could contribute to more efficient planning and play a role in crop monitoring, pest control, harvesting, and food distribution in agriculture.

EU target: climate-neutral by 2050

The third area (Guide) then deals with control: here, for example, the decarbonization of data centers is a goal by using intelligent systems for energy adaptation and the use of waste heat. Measures are also suggested in the electricity market, for example in long-term energy storage, next-generation nuclear power or advanced geothermal energy.

The EU has set itself the goal of being completely climate-neutral by 2050. In this context, Google itself emphasizes that the company currently operates seven data centers in Europe and has signed contracts to purchase more than 3.7 gigawatts of renewable energy.

(mki)