Adapting Central Asia to the AI Age: Exploring Strategies for Connection
In the heart of Asia, a transformative shift is underway. Central Asian nations are embarking on a journey to unify their electrical grids, a move that could pave the way towards a more stable and green electricity supply, and position the region as a leader in AI technologies that require reliable, clean power.
The high carbon footprint of large language models (LLMs) serves as a stark reminder of the environmental impact of AI. Training one such model can emit around 300,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide, roughly five times the lifetime emissions of an average car. However, AI technologies, particularly agentic AI, can also optimize grid operations, dynamically balancing supply and demand, maximizing renewable utilization, reducing emissions, and enhancing grid resilience.
Anna Lobanova, of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), highlights the benefits of power system connectivity in Central Asia. If there's more wind in one country, the prices drop, allowing for the export of electricity at lower prices to neighbouring countries within one day. This interconnected system facilitates the smoothing of fluctuations in renewable energy sources like solar and wind, balancing supply and demand across the region's interconnected grids.
Central Asian countries are setting ambitious goals to increase their renewable energy capacity. Kazakhstan aims to have half of its energy mix come from renewables by 2050, while Uzbekistan sets a goal to have a quarter of its energy come from renewables by 2030. These objectives can be better achieved through grid interconnectivity that leverages regional renewable resources efficiently.
Currently, several initiatives are promoting this regional connectivity and renewable integration. Discussions and agreements between Central Asian states and China on creating a unified power grid and green energy corridors are underway. These include plans to build high-voltage cross-border transmission lines linking Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and China, allowing seasonal energy exchange and better resource utilization. Uzbekistan has also initiated projects to develop energy corridors towards Europe and China, emphasising the strategic importance of synchronized grids for economic and environmental benefits.
ESCAP, in collaboration with UNECE, has been promoting an integrated power system in Central Asia for several years. The convenience of AI chat-bots, such as ChatGPT, uses about 2.9 watt-hours of electricity per query, compared to 0.3 watt-hours for a traditional internet search. However, the demand for electricity is expected to more than double in the next five years due to the rise of AI, potentially matching Japan's current level of electricity consumption.
Central Asian nations can leverage Soviet-era infrastructure to create a unified electricity trading market. In Northern Europe, over 90% of the electricity powering data centers comes from renewable sources. This unified market would allow Central Asian countries to access a broader range of energy resources, including renewable sources.
However, most electricity continues to be powered by fossil fuels. As of 2022, 62% of the electricity generated in Kazakhstan came from coal. This underscores the need for a shift towards renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions across sectors, including AI.
In conclusion, power system interconnectivity in Central Asia acts as a critical enabler for integrating renewables more effectively, enhancing grid stability, and reducing carbon emissions across sectors including AI. Efforts such as transnational grid synchronization, green energy corridors, and AI integration into grid management are current initiatives driving this transformation. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the position of The Astana Times.
- The environmental impact of AI, such as the carbon footprint of large language models, necessitates optimizing AI technologies to reduce emissions and enhance grid resilience.
- AI, particularly agentic AI, can optimize grid operations, dynamically balancing supply and demand, maximizing renewable utilization, and reducing emissions in environmental-science endeavors.
- The financial aspect of this transformation includes cost savings through the smoothing of fluctuations in renewable energy sources via interconnected grids, and tapping into a broader range of renewable energy resources.
- Technology advancements, including AI and artificial-intelligence, play a significant role in this transformative shift, as they can facilitate the unification of electrical grids, improve grid management, and help create a sustainable energy industry in Central Asia.
