The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas usually highlights cool gadgets and technology. But this year, it also drew attention from energy companies, as tech firms must face their rising energy needs due to cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI).
Sebastien Fiedorow, leader of Aerleum, a French start-up that makes synthetic fuel from carbon dioxide, said the show feels different now than it did five years ago. He believes energy companies are starting to matter more.
Data centers, which store lots of information, used 4.4% of the U.S. electricity in 2023, and that number could double by 2028 according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Gary Shapiro, head of the organization behind CES, mentioned that this year’s show focused on energy solutions for tech companies.
One company, LV Energy from the Netherlands, creates electricity from sound and vibrations. Its director, Satish Jawalapersad, noted that being at CES is a big deal, but their lack of mention of AI hurt their appeal.
Another company, DataGreen, aims to build smaller, eco-friendly data centers using renewable energy to save tech firms money. However, big tech companies have not shown interest yet, according to DataGreen’s AI chief, Julien Choukroun. He believes that when these companies realize how much they can save, they will start to pay attention.
Jordan Huyghe from Otrera, which designs small nuclear reactors, said that big companies like Amazon and Microsoft need to invest in energy solutions. Recently, Amazon has become the largest buyer of renewable energy, and Microsoft is reopening a nuclear power plant to supply its data centers.
While smaller companies struggle for visibility, LV Energy’s director said they are finding interest in the U.S. market. Fiedorow from Aerleum believes tech’s focus on energy is definitely growing, showing a shift in mindset at CES.
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