A contest is looking for solutions to the defining problem of AI: soaring electricity consumption.
The Energy Innovation for AI Startup Challenge launches amid increasing concern over the environmental costs of artificial intelligence.
The International Energy Agency (IEA), just last month, warned that the global electricity demand for data centres will more than double by 2030 – with AI as the main driver. The demand from AI-only data centres is expected to quadruple.
This surge threatens to exacerbate an already critical problem. According to the IEA, growth in global energy consumption was almost twice as high as its recent average last year. The increase in energy demand is expected to accelerate climate change, strain infrastructure and widen inequality.
This is a problem that’s partly caused by technology. It’s a problem that we also need to solve with tech. This is what sparked the Energy Innovation for AI Startup Challenge. The contest, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), the world’s biggest startup competition for entrepreneurs addressing challenges around the globe, and run in partnership by TNW is looking for startups that can address AI’s growing appetite to energy. The challenge is open to a wide range of ideas from advanced renewables, next-gen energy systems, smart grids, and data centre optimization. Young Sohn, the co-founder and chairman of XTC as well as the founding managing director of Walden Catalyst Ventures, said that new approaches are essential.
He told TNW that “the next era of AI can’t be built on yesterday’s energy paradigms.” “We challenge innovators to deliver transformative solutions to energy that will power the AI Revolution sustainably.”
The application for the challenge is open now – but startups must act fast. The deadline for submissions is April 30.
On June 19 five finalists will present their ideas at the TNW Conference in Amsterdam . The startups will also gain global exposure and connect with top-tier corporate leaders, policymakers, and investors. Sohn, who will be discussing the future of deep technology at TNW Conference along with former ASML CEO Peter Wennink, encouraged startups to submit their ideas. He said: “Show us the breakthroughs you’ve made in advanced renewables and high-density storage, intelligent grid architectures or novel harvesting technology — systems that will enable AI to scale responsibly.”
The five selected startups will determine how the world balances technology progress with planetary limits.
We have a special deal for those who want to watch Young Sohn’s discussion with Peter Wennink or any other event on the packed agenda for TNW Conference. Use the code TNWXMEDIA2025 to get 30% off your ticket.
