The relationship between AI development and communication energy

The explosive growth of large AI models is triggering systemic changes in power grids. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that by 2030, global data center electricity demand will account for 8% of total electricity consumption, with AI-related loads accounting for over 60%. To meet this challenge, ultra-high voltage transmission technology is entering a golden era of development. China's independently developed ±1100kV DC cable system has a transmission capacity of 12GW and uses 80 tons of copper per kilometer. This has already set a record of 3 billion yuan in cable procurement for the construction of the Ningxia-Zhongwei AI cluster. Meanwhile, companies such as Shuangdeng Co., Ltd. are using semi-solid-state liquid-cooled energy storage systems to extend the cycle life of data center energy storage to 20 years, achieving 95% energy efficiency. Their global market share has reached 16.1%, firmly placing them at the top of the list among Chinese companies.

Future Vision: The Green Symbiosis of 6G and AI

As 6G research and development enters a critical phase, sustainability has become a core indicator. In the 6G vision proposed by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), AI will be deeply integrated into network architecture, achieving precise energy conservation with "zero bits, zero watts, and zero losses" through intelligent traffic prediction and resource scheduling. For example, the 345kV transmission network supporting Microsoft's "Zeus" data center represents a $1.2 billion investment. Meanwhile, Zhangjiakou, China, has achieved 100% green electricity consumption through its "wind, solar, storage, and data center" direct supply model, with a green electricity utilization rate exceeding 95%. These practices signal the evolution of telecom energy from a single infrastructure support system to an ecosystem characterized by "intelligent perception, dynamic response, and value creation."

As experts from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) have stated, the integration of AI and telecom energy represents not only a technological upgrade but also a revolution that involves the restructuring of the industry's value chain. As AI algorithms transform invisible energy consumption into visible green dots, and as 5G signals shuttle between intelligently controlled base stations, this energy revolution driven by digital technology is injecting new momentum into the global low-carbon transition.