Title: Dr. Sultan Al Jaber: The Connection Between AI and Energy Resource URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90vga277CG0 Publication Date: 2025-02-12 Format Type: Podcast Reading Time: 35 minutes Contributors: Brad Smith;Sultan Al Jaber; Source: Microsoft (YouTube) Keywords: [Sustainability, Artificial Intelligence, Energy Transition, Renewable Energy Investment, UAE Consensus COP28] Job Profiles: Policy Advisor;Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO);Sustainability Task Forces;Artificial Intelligence Engineer;Data Analyst; Synopsis: In this podcast episode, Tools and Weapons host Brad Smith speaks with COP28 president Dr. Sultan Al Jaber about the intersection of AI and green energy, and the role oil companies can play in a decarbonized future. Takeaways: [Dr. Al Jaber sees AI as essential to optimizing current energy systems before fully building new ones., AI can make energy grids more resilient and efficient through predictive analytics and digital twins., Integrating AI and energy systems could help meet the growing energy demand of data centers, potentially requiring innovations equivalent to building dozens of new nuclear plants., The UAE’s Masdar initiative positions the country as a global leader in both renewable energy and pragmatic energy policy., COP28’s success stemmed from inclusivity and realism, culminating in the UAE Consensus—an agreement advancing a fair energy transition.] Summary: The episode features a deep conversation between Microsoft President Brad Smith and Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), who also served as the President of COP28. Dr. Al Jaber outlines the transformation of ADNOC to align with sustainability goals—reducing emissions, integrating AI, and expanding investments into renewables and low-carbon energy. He emphasizes that artificial intelligence and energy are now interdependent sectors, with AI enabling efficiency gains, decarbonization, and improved integration of renewable sources into the grid. As data center demand surges, AI’s energy needs are rapidly increasing, which presents both challenges and investment opportunities. Dr. Al Jaber calls for optimizing existing energy infrastructure using AI before fully shifting to new systems. He describes efforts to reduce carbon intensity in natural gas production and to commercialize carbon capture and storage technology. He also shares insights from leading COP28, where the UAE’s diplomatic inclusivity and practical approach led to landmark achievements including the UAE Consensus. This included the first-ever COP agreement with firm language on transitioning energy systems, methane reduction, and deforestation deadlines. Inclusivity extended to indigenous groups, private-sector stakeholders, and fossil fuel producers—positioning them as part of the solution. Masdar’s global footprint in renewable energy and Masdar City’s innovation ecosystem illustrate how early investments in sustainability now yield strategic global leadership for the UAE. Content: ## Introduction **Host’s Note** On this episode of *Tools and Weapons*, the host welcomes a distinguished leader from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) who stands at the nexus of traditional and renewable energy. As the chief executive of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company and founding chair of the world’s largest renewable‐energy investor, he offers an uncommon perspective on decarbonization, artificial intelligence (AI), and global climate diplomacy. ## Leadership Mandate at Abu Dhabi’s National Oil Company ### Three Strategic Objectives When appointed to transform the energy company, the executive received a mandate structured around three pillars: 1. Reinventing the company as a progressive, global‐scale energy leader 2. Decarbonizing operations to achieve the lowest carbon intensity among large producers 3. Future‐proofing the business by investing in low‐carbon solutions—particularly AI, digitalization, and renewable energy—both domestically and abroad ### AI as an Enabler Experience on this transformation journey has underscored that AI does more than accelerate change; it alters its very pace. Three “mega-trends” will shape the next decade: - The rapid advancement of AI - The global energy transition - The rise of emerging markets, especially in the Global South By marrying AI with energy, the company has already reduced emissions by one million metric tons in 2023 alone—and created substantial value in the process. ## Meeting Projected Energy Demands ### Data Centers and Electricity Consumption There are approximately 1,600 major data centers worldwide consuming 400 terawatt-hours (TWh) of power annually—an amount poised to double to 700 TWh by 2030 (equivalent to Canada’s total electricity use). Meeting this surge would require: - Adding twenty to twenty-five nuclear reactors in the United States alone - 200 billion m³ of natural gas per year to compensate for renewable intermittency and storage limitations ### Optimizing the Existing Energy System Rather than build an entirely new system from scratch, the immediate opportunity lies in optimizing current infrastructure. Saving one electron today is significantly cheaper and faster than generating a new one tomorrow. AI can enable predictive grid management, digital twins, and energy‐management systems to maximize efficiency. ## Integrating AI and Renewable Energy ### Interdependence of AI and Energy AI and energy are tightly interwoven. On the demand side, AI can predict consumption patterns and stabilize grids; on the supply side, it facilitates integration of wind, solar, and other renewables. For instance, machine learning has already contributed to emissions reductions at scale and remains critical to meeting future targets. ### Investment Opportunities As AI adoption grows, so will demand for green electrons. The executive’s organization is exploring co-investments in renewable projects worldwide, aiming to expand capacity and ensure a steady, low-carbon power supply for AI applications. ## Decarbonizing Natural Gas ### Variance in Carbon Intensity Not all energy units are equal. Natural gas, often regarded as a lower-carbon alternative to coal, can still carry significant emissions depending on extraction and processing methods. ### Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Abu Dhabi has scaled up CCS technologies, capturing large volumes of CO₂ to reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of its gas operations. The goal is an additional 25 percent reduction in carbon intensity by 2030. ## Renewable Energy Endeavors ### Early Commitment to Sustainability In 2006, the UAE leadership launched a dedicated economic‐development program for renewable energy. This initiative led to the creation of Masdar, which now operates 26 gigawatts of clean‐energy capacity and aims for 100 gigawatts globally. ### Global Footprint Masdar has investments in more than forty countries and continues to deploy capital at scale, driving down costs and enhancing technology performance across solar, wind, and other renewable sources. ## Masdar City: A Living Laboratory ### Purpose and Design Masdar City was envisioned as an ecosystem where policymakers, financiers, start-ups, and researchers converge to advance clean‐energy solutions. ### Key Tenants - Over 4,000 small and medium enterprises engaged in clean‐tech innovation - A graduate university dedicated to AI research - The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a United Nations-affiliated body promoting global renewables ## The Last Barrel of Oil: A Symbolic Vision In 2015, the UAE’s president declared that the nation would celebrate the delivery of its “last barrel of oil”—not as a catastrophe but as the culmination of a successful, diversified energy economy. This rallying cry has shaped public- and private-sector policies ever since. ## Presiding Over COP28 ### Unlikely Stewardship Before COP28, many saw a national oil executive as an improbable climate leader. Yet this perceived conflict of interest became a strategic advantage: - It facilitated candid, pragmatic dialogue - It leveraged the host nation’s convening power to bring diverse stakeholders together - It ensured a solutions-oriented approach rather than finger-pointing ### The UAE Consensus COP28 achieved several historic breakthroughs: 1. Inclusion of a “just and responsible energy transition” in the negotiated text 2. First-ever global commitments for renewable energy and efficiency targets by 2030 3. Immediate operationalization of a Loss and Damage fund 4. A clear 2030 deadline for ending deforestation 5. Engaging heavy-emitting industries—oil and gas pledged zero methane by 2030 and net zero by 2050 6. Mobilization of US $85 billion in new climate finance, alongside reforms of international financial institutions ### Principles of Success The inclusive “Conference of Partners” track invited business, finance, and philanthropy to participate in shaping outcomes. Close diplomatic ties with major emitters (United States, China, India, etc.) also bridged divides and fostered solidarity. ## Engaging Indigenous Communities As part of a global fact-finding mission, the COP28 presidency met with indigenous groups in Brazil, Bangladesh, Africa, and elsewhere. These dialogues enriched the understanding of local priorities and informed an inclusive, context-sensitive approach to climate action. ## Conclusion and Next Steps The world still requires hundreds of millions of new electricity connections and far greater energy output. Achieving this demand sustainably will rely on: - Ongoing optimization of existing oil, gas, and electrical grids - Large-scale deployment of decarbonized hydrocarbons, nuclear, and renewables - Continued integration of AI to enhance stability, efficiency, and emissions reductions *Tools and Weapons* will continue to track these developments, including progress toward COP29 and beyond. Follow or subscribe for further insights into technology’s role in tackling society’s greatest challenges.