CATFNov 18 2024

As the first week of negotiations conclude COP29 in Azerbaijan, a new report from Clean Air Task Force (CATF) details how advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) are accelerating the development of fusion energy technologies. With real-world examples featuring 16 case studies, the report showcases how AI and HPC are already driving progress in the fusion sector.

"Artificial intelligence is advancing at an unprecedented rate, driving demand for clean firm power," said Sehila Gonzalez de Vicente, Global Director, Fusion Energy at CATF. "Fusion energy has the potential to help meet that demand with a stable, emissions-free power source that can operate around the clock. We see a unique opportunity for these technologies to progress hand-in-hand, with AI helping accelerate fusion's development while fusion provides the clean energy necessary to sustain AI energy demand. This symbiotic relationship could be transformative for technological innovation and the climate."

Fusion energy is the process by which lighter atomic nuclei, such as hydrogen, merge to form a heavier nucleus, releasing substantial energy. This is the same reaction that powers stars, including the Sun, and requires extremely high temperatures. The deuterium-tritium reaction, which requires the lowest ignition temperature, is the most widely studied and expected to be the main method for generating grid-scale electricity in early stages of fusion power development. As a clean and nearly limitless source of energy, fusion energy holds great promise for powering the growing computational demands of AI and HPC.

As a clean energy source, fusion power is:

Emissions-Free: Fusion generates no greenhouse gas emissions during operation, avoiding harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and sulfur oxides (SOx). Abundant: Fusion relies on deuterium and tritium, resources readily available from water and lithium. Firm: Fusion can provide continuous, reliable baseload power, essential for maintaining grid stability and replacing fossil fuels. Safe: Fusion energy does not create long-lived radioactive waste and poses fewer long-term environmental risks.

Key findings from the report include:

The arrival of new cloud-based computing tools and AI accelerates prospects for commercialized fusion energy The new ecosystem for high-performance computing and Artificial Intelligence will be critical in both how we deliver and use fusion energy The fusion-tech nexus could deliver revolutionary results in materials science, control systems, superconductors

With over $7 billion invested in private fusion companies -- more than $6 billion raised since 2020 -- the sector has seen significant growth, expanding from 10 companies in 2017 to over 40 today. According to the International Energy Agency, overall capital investment by Amazon, Google, and Microsoft in datacenter infrastructure made up 0.5% of US GDP in 2023 -- higher than the entire US oil and gas industry.

The report, supported by Amazon Web Services, will be presented at COP29 in Baku at the #B12 booth hosted by ITER in the Green Zone. An archived recording will be available at www.catf.us/events/.

Read the full report and executive summary here.

Source:

CATF