How energy will shape the future of AI (and vice versa)
While the history of artificial intelligence is long, ChatGPT’s public launch in late 2022 captured the world’s attention and pushed AI to the top of business and political agendas. Just a few years later, AI has evolved into an industry worth trillions of dollars that is already transforming how we live and work. Yet any conversation about the future of AI inevitably leads to the topic of energy. In this episode, host Dan Hewitt speaks with Thomas Spencer and Siddharth Singh, lead authors of the IEA’s groundbreaking new report, Energy and AI. They unpack why the huge expectations for AI hinge on meeting fast-growing demand for electricity from data centres, and how the IEA developed authoritative global projections for AI’s energy demand over the next decade. They also describe the ways AI is already transforming the energy sector, as well as AI’s implications for energy security and global emissions.
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31:31
The nuclear energy comeback
This year, electricity generated from nuclear power is set to reach a record high. Dozens of nuclear reactors are currently under construction, and government support for the sector is at its highest level since the oil crisis in the 1970s. These trends point to a major global comeback for nuclear energy after a prolonged period of stagnation. In this episode, host Dan Hewitt is joined by Brent Wanner, the head of the IEA’s Power Sector Unit. Drawing on important findings from a recent IEA report, The Path to a New Era for Nuclear Energy, they discuss the factors driving nuclear energy’s renewed momentum. They also dig into the key challenges, such as project delays and cost overruns, that need to be overcome for it to play a more significant role in the future energy landscape.
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29:22
Geothermal energy: The future beneath our feet
It's abundant. It's clean. And it’s right beneath our feet. So why is geothermal energy often overlooked in the global energy conversation? Despite its massive potential, geothermal only meets about 1% of global electricity demand today. So, what’s holding it back? And could new technologies transform the way we think about geothermal energy and who can access it? Joining host Dan Hewitt to explore these questions are Heymi Bahar and Rebecca Schulz, senior analysts at the International Energy Agency and co-authors of the IEA’s latest report on the subject, The Future of Geothermal Energy.
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36:27
Why global energy demand is surging
What does the world of energy look like today? In this episode of the IEA’s Everything Energy podcast, which is back from an extended break, we delve into this topic, guided by a brand-new IEA report. The Global Energy Review 2025 is the first assessment of 2024 trends across the energy sector based on the latest data. It shows that growth in energy demand surged in 2024 to almost twice its recent average as the consumption of electricity rose around the world. Why is this so significant? What fuels and technologies helped meet the increase in demand? And what has been the effect on global emissions? Host Dan Hewitt and Laura Cozzi, the IEA’s Director of Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks, discuss these questions and more.
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28:20
Gender diversity in the energy sector
In this episode of the podcast - our first for 2021 - we welcome Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Director Sustainability, Technology and Outlooks and Lucila Arboleya, Energy Economics and Financial Analyst at the IEA, to discuss key challenges and opportunities facing gender diversity in the energy sector - widely regarded as one of the least gender diverse parts of the economy.
Everything Energy is a podcast by the International Energy Agency. Through expert interviews, it delves into today’s biggest global energy topics – providing valuable insights on important trends based on the latest data and analysis.
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