With the U.S. aiming to eliminate net carbon emissions from its economy by 2050, leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) will be critical to transforming the nation’s energy infrastructure at an unprecedented scale, according to a new report from leading scientists at the U.S. national laboratories. The report, titled “AI for Energy,” outlines how the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) can harness AI’s capabilities to accelerate the nationwide transition to clean energy sources and technologies needed to meet the 2050 net zero goal. It provides a bold roadmap for tackling key challenges across nuclear power, the electric grid, carbon management, energy storage and energy materials.
“AI can manage extraordinary complexity and make vital connections across disciplines, data types and priorities in ways conventional methods cannot,” said Rick Stevens of Argonne National Laboratory, a lead author. “This allows AI to find solutions for grand challenges involving massive, rapid clean energy deployment.”
According to the report, three common AI-driven needs cut across the different energy sectors: computer-aided design and testing of new materials and systems; improved quantification of uncertainties in scientific predictions; and integration of diverse data formats and sources. Overcoming these hurdles using AI could yield enormous benefits, reducing costs associated with designing, deploying and maintaining new energy infrastructure by hundreds of billions of dollars while cutting timelines by up to 50%.
“AI has immense potential to compress the cycles for getting clean technologies to market at lower costs,” said Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz of Argonne. “But realizing this potential requires unprecedented coordination between scientists, industry and policymakers.” The AI for Energy report represents a strong first step, arising from a December 2023 summit at Argonne that convened around 100 AI, machine learning and energy experts. After intensive collaboration over three months, scientists from 10 DOE national labs finalized the document.
“Argonne was proud to help lead this crucial effort leveraging our AI and clean energy expertise,” said Claus Daniel, also of Argonne. “We’re excited to support DOE in driving U.S. leadership in clean tech innovation to secure our energy independence for decades to come.”
With robust AI integration across the energy landscape, the nation may be better positioned to meet its ambitious climate goals through technology-driven decarbonization while ensuring long-term energy security.
