AI provides new opportunities for climate protection

Zurich - Tools that use Artificial Intelligence (KI) can help companies take climate mitigation measures. This is one finding from a whitepaper by swisscleantech. It is based on insights into practical experience shared by companies based in Switzerland, such as Swisscom and Siemens. The papers also highlights ways to improve the energy efficiency of data centers.

(CONNECT) Artificial Intelligence provides a large number of tools that companies can use for climate protection and enhancing their adaptation to the impacts of climate change. This is a finding from a whitepaper compiled by the business association swisscleantech in collaboration with Accenture. The paper presents both a practice-oriented methodology for companies to analyze their measures and a detailed market overview.

Sustainability leaders from companies operating in Switzerland outline which AI tools they currently use to achieve their climate targets. For example, Swisscom is working with 42hacks, a startup based in Trogen in the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden. Their solution will help optimize the mobility of its employees through AI analysis of anonymized mobile phone data. The algorithms of viboo from Dübendorf in the canton of Zurich are used to intelligently control thermostats and heating systems.

For Siemens, the climate-neutral campus of Siemens Smart Infrastructure in Zug, which was completed in 2023, is a flagship initiative for the sustainability of buildings. Central to this is the digital buildings platform Building X, which is part of Siemens Xcelerator.

Google and SAP highlight their AI-driven tools for climate change in the whitepaper.

The wide-ranging application of AI will be useful in optimizing the energy consumption of data centers. Their share of global electricity consumption is set to rise from 1-2 percent at present to about 10 percent by 2030. The whitepaper outlines how their energy efficiency can be improved. “Increasing electricity consumption can to some extent already be cushioned by the use of AI itself and other efficiency measures,” said swisscleantech Co-Managing Director Michael Mandl in a press release on the publication of the whitepaper. “However, further political and regulatory effort is required to achieve this.”

Overall, swisscleantech emphasizes the manifold opportunities provided by AI. “Our analysis has proven that AI already offers great potential for companies to achieve their climate targets,” said Co-President Fabian Etter. ce/stk