Electricity prices will continue to rise in the era of "electricity-eating hippos" AI - Lang Son Newspaper: Latest, accurate, reputable news

On average, a search using a synthetic AI like ChatGPT consumes 2.9Wh of electricity, which is 10 times more power than the average 0.3Wh used for a search on Google.

High-voltage power lines in Kuwait City (Kuwait). (Photo: Getty Images/VNA)

Many analyses have shown that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an “electricity-eating hippopotamus” and that countries and leading companies in the world that are trying to anticipate the AI ​​era must also take proactive steps to ensure competitiveness related to electrical energy.

The more developed, the more electricity is used.

The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its “Electricity 2024” report said that an average search using synthetic AI like ChatGPT consumes 2.9 watts (Wh) of electricity.

This power consumption is 10 times higher than the average 0.3Wh used for a single Google search.

Some analysis shows that it takes about 1-2 nuclear power plants to operate a semiconductor factory using AI technology.

Having the right power infrastructure for high-tech industries has become the top criterion for whether a country can lead the fourth industrial revolution centered on AI and semiconductors, said Dankook University energy economics professor Cho Hong-jong.

According to Professor Cho Hong-jong, considering the case of Korea, if electric power is not developed into a high-tech industry, the competitiveness of major export industries will be lost.

At present, building environmentally friendly power plants is not everything, but more urgent is the ability to improve the power shortage and the severe lack of transmission and distribution networks connecting power plants and high-tech factories.

In the past, it was thought that the more developed a country is, the less electricity it uses, but current reality shows the opposite.

First, the goal of carbon neutrality means that all energy, including that used in transport, must come from clean sources.

Instead of burning oil to run a car, the idea is to generate electricity using solar power and then charge it into a battery to run an electric car. We have no choice but to use more electricity to do the same job.

Second, AI has become the core of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. However, AI uses so much electricity that it can be said that AI is developed by electricity.

In developed countries like the US, having a stable power source to attract AI data centers is a hot topic.

With both carbon neutrality and AI development goals, advanced countries with more advanced technology will naturally use more electricity.

In South Korea, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix plan to build 10 advanced semiconductor factories in a semiconductor technology cluster in Yongin city, 60km southeast of Seoul.

The South Korean government has said it will secure 10 gigawatts (GW) of power to power the high-tech cluster. That means each semiconductor factory will need a nuclear power plant to ensure enough electricity to operate. The generating capacity of a nuclear power plant is about 1.3 gigawatts.

South Korea's total power generation capacity is currently 110 gigawatts, and so the Yongin high-tech cluster alone will use about 10% of this.

Electricity Prices Continue to Rise in the AI ​​Era

Statistics show that investment in power generation facilities in Korea has increased 5.3 times since 1990. However, investment in transmission networks has increased only 1.5 times during the same period.

In terms of power sources: Solar and wind energy are characterized by their intermittent nature and many fluctuations due to weather factors. This will make it difficult to provide a stable power source for high-tech industries, where power supply must be guaranteed 24/24 and regularly throughout 365 days a year.

According to the IEA report, an average search using synthetic AI like ChatGPT consumes 2.9 watts (Wh) of electricity. (Photo: AFP/TTXVN)

There must be backup equipment when there is a power shortage and there must be storage equipment when there is an overload. That will make the cost of electricity higher. In addition, renewable energy must take advantage of natural conditions.

Solar and wind power must be installed in sunny or windy places, often remote areas.

Therefore, the problem of power transmission network from these places to industrial zones where many people live will certainly arise.

South Korea's solar and wind power plants are mainly located on the southern coast, while nuclear power plants are concentrated on the eastern coast. Therefore, strengthening the power transmission network will lead to increased costs.

If South Korea were to convert all its energy to clean electricity, the country would incur huge costs.

Europe, which pushed clean electrification ahead of South Korea, is suffering from rising costs and worsening inflation, which is eroding competitiveness.

These are factors that the Korean Government needs to consider in choosing the speed of clean energy conversion to ensure maintaining growth momentum and competitiveness.

Currently, Korea is applying a unified electricity price system nationwide, making it difficult to differentiate prices by region.

Even though there is surplus electricity in rural areas, where many power plants are located, it will be difficult to convince urban users that they should shoulder a larger share of the costs of the transmission and distribution network. This means that urban areas will have to pay higher electricity prices.

With the current high-tech development plan, experts point out that Korea needs to find ways to build power plants close to high-tech plants. Whether it is natural gas or nuclear power, ensuring stable and competitive electricity is the top priority.

In the long term, Korea must secure sufficient clean energy production technology and expand its transmission network. However, it is important for the public to understand that to meet its development goals, the cost of electricity generation and transmission will increase significantly, which means that electricity prices will continue to rise./.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/gia-dien-se-tiep-tuc-tang-trong-ky-nguyen-cua-ha-ma-an-dien-ai-5027567.html