A call for sustainable coal in the age of AI

Jul 24

Written By Menar

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) expected to drive electricity demand exponentially, the world needs to reimagine coal power and not discard it.

Addressing the seventh annual Coal and Energy Transition Day Conference, Menar’s Managing Director Vuslat Bayoglu highlighted the importance of sustainable coal power amid the global AI boom that relies on massive power-dependent data centres. Held in Johannesburg on Wednesday, 23 July, the conference focused on coal’s role, as global energy systems evolve and experience disruptions.

Among these disruptors are sophisticated AI systems that have become a dominant part of modern-day life, influencing everything from transportation, health, communication, and households. Bayoglu pointed out that leading AI markets like the US and China provide a glimpse of what is to come as more countries build smart cities and incorporate AI into everyday activities. “The pragmatic thing to do is to use all resources, to avoid energy shortages in the future. The stability of our economies depends on how well we achieve this,” he says.

AI systems require large data centres that rely on significant amounts of uninterrupted power supply. The International Energy Agency expects electricity demand from AI data centres to more than double by 2030. Earlier in the year, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to revive the country’s coal sector, citing the expected energy demand from AI. Meanwhile, emerging data centre markets like India are also increasing coal-fired power capacity.

Bayoglu further challenged the notion that coal is irrelevant, while mentioning the availability of technologies like carbon capture as a viable solution to tackle emissions. “Sustainable coal is not a farfetched idea and with modern technology the world can continue to reap the benefits of burning coal,” he remarked. He further emphasised that South Africa’s priority should be reviving its coal-fired power stations instead of planning to shut them down as they remain crucial to the country’s reindustrialisation efforts.

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