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Global Energy Demand May Grow Up To 10 Times In The Next Decade With Advancements In Artificial Intelligence, Driving Bills Up By 50% In The US And Pressuring Investments In Renewable Energy, Warns Envision Founder
Artificial intelligence could increase global demand for electricity in the next decade by as much as ten times, raising electricity bills by up to 50% in the United States and pressuring investments in renewable energy, according to Envision’s founder, Zhang Lei.
Artificial Intelligence Can Widen Energy Poverty
Artificial intelligence, with its high energy demands, risks pushing millions into energy poverty, Zhang Lei told the Financial Times.
He stated that the argument for renewable energy is now driven by mathematics and long-term prosperity.
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“We need to build this renewable energy system not just because of the climate crisis,” he said. “It’s because of long-term prosperity.” According to him, artificial intelligence requires an infinite, inexpensive system powered by AI.
Zhang estimates that global demand for electricity could increase up to ten times in the next decade. At the same time, fossil fuels are likely to become more expensive to extract as reserves dwindle, with a risk of higher energy bills.
Electric Bills Are Already Rising With The Advancement Of Artificial Intelligence
According to the executive, competition for energy generated by artificial intelligence has already raised electricity bills in some parts of the United States by up to 50%.
He claimed that many people may end up in situations of energy poverty.
IEA forecasts indicate that electricity consumption from data centers will grow by 15% per year until 2030. As a result, these facilities could account for 3% of total global energy consumption.
According to the US Energy Information Administration, the average residential bill in Virginia rose by 13% in 2025.
The state has become a preferred destination for data centers and reports bills about 30% above 2021 levels.
US Government And Challenges
In January, the Trump administration stated it would take steps to ensure that the development of artificial intelligence would not affect electricity bills.
However, the White House also acted to hinder the expansion of renewable energy in the United States.
Zhang expressed great optimism about the amount of energy that artificial intelligence will require. He received the President’s Award from the Energy Institute in London this month.
“AI will be the largest energy consumer in our history,” he stated. He added that previous uses, such as lighting, transportation, and heating, were limited by the size of the population.
Envision Invests In Zero-Emission Data Centers
Envision has begun building its own data centers in China and plans to expand zero-emission projects worldwide. The company also has divisions for batteries and green hydrogen.
The company owns the only gigafactory for electric car batteries in the UK. According to Zhang, artificial intelligence technology will be incorporated into all of the company’s products.
He stated that these systems will understand climate patterns, the energy market, when electricity will become more expensive, and network stability.
Zhang denied that this layer of AI represents a security risk outside of China, citing appropriate safeguards.
For him, there is no limit to the amount of computational power that artificial intelligence may demand.
“We are just using AI to model our language,” he said. “More energy will make AI smarter, and a smarter AI will require more energy.”
Envision was founded in 2007, is headquartered in the Huangpu District of Shanghai, and employs between 1,000 and 5,000 employees.
The company operates in China, Germany, France, the UK, Spain, Denmark, India, Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Australia, the US, and the United Arab Emirates.
With information from Folha de São Paulo.
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