Artificial intelligence causes a drastic increase in electricity consumption in Israel: This is according to data presented at the Knesset’s technology committee discussion today (Monday). Experts who participated in the discussion expressed concern about the increases in electricity demand and warned that Israel is not prepared for the necessary energy increases.
In the discussion, it emerged that as a result of the artificial intelligence revolution, the International Energy Agency (IEA) reports that global electricity consumption will increase by 3.4% per year, preliminary data in Israel speak of an addition of about 500 megawatts in the coming years, equivalent to the electricity consumption of about half a million people.
On the other hand, the discussion brought up the significant contribution of the use of artificial intelligence and its integration within the framework of smart and efficient management of energy systems, improvement of demand forecasts, improvement of service to the consumer and more, but also new dangers derived from this to the energy security of the system.
Yonit Goldberga partner in a consulting firm on server farms and digital infrastructures said: “The State of Israel is only going backwards, while the whole world is going forward. From 8th place in developments in the field of artificial intelligence, we fell to 20th place. Oracle is considering establishing a server farm in Israel. If there are such server farms here, there will be more jobs and more technology. This is a national advantage, there must be a call for the establishment of AI centers of the cloud giants in the country.’
“Many countries in the entire world, and in particular in our region, understand the importance and potential of a national vision in the field of artificial intelligence and its effects,” said the chairman of the committee, MK Orit Farkash HaCohen“However, the Israeli government unfortunately does not have any strategy in relation to this. There is no guiding hand here either, and while many countries are preparing for this and positioning themselves – Israel is retreating, and is missing out on huge investments that could reach it. The government has the duty not to be complacent and to lead a clear national initiative supported by budgets significant so that Israel will stand in line with the rest of the countries in the world.”
The chairman of the committee called on the government to prepare for the electricity sector, understand the challenges, formulate a policy and provide incentives to increase demand management. She also demanded to receive from the Ministry of Energy and the other entities listed in the committee’s recommendations a report on the implementation status in six months.