"Without a sustainable energy system, AI (artificial intelligence) risks deepening global inequality."
This is a warning left by the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) in its May report, "The Energy Sprint of the AI Race." The message was premised on the idea that energy inevitably translates into AI competitiveness. It means that the AI businesses of regions, countries, and companies with sufficient energy will continue to thrive, while those without it will inevitably fall behind.
The key point regarding the energy needed for AI development lies in "sustainable." Fossil fuels cannot handle the energy demand for AI, which is the global consensus estimate. In fact, global data center power consumption alone is projected to increase from 416 TWh (terawatt-hours) in 2024 to 945 TWh by 2030. It is not an amount of electricity that can be secured by burning more oil and coal.
The UNDP defined "sustainable" as "abundant, affordable, and low-carbon." This means that the need is not limited to "green" energy on the opposite side of simple fossil energy, but rather for a more "smart" form of energy. It is interpreted to mean that, to activate AI, all future-oriented energies must be mobilized, including renewable energy such as solar, wind, and hydrogen, as well as SMRs (Small Modular Reactors).
The race to secure "smart energy" inevitably leads directly to security issues. This is because countries without a stable and sustainable energy system are likely to be excluded from the AI revolution. AI is becoming a strategic asset encompassing politics, economics, and military affairs, rather than just a business tool. This is why the security of countries that fail to keep up with global AI trends cannot be guaranteed. In the AI era, the proposition that "energy is security" will undoubtedly become even stronger.
This is the reason MoneyToday has set the themes for Daejeon's 8th annual energy and mobility technology event, 'SEP (Smart Energy Plus) 2026,' as "The Energy Circle in the AI Era" and "Energy Security Amidst Rapidly Changing International Conditions." National representative companies such as Samsung, SK, Hyundai Motor, LG, POSCO, HD Hyundai, and Doosan have decided to set up booths or hold conferences aligned with the themes. The Army also plans to set up a booth for the first time and host an "Energy Policy Forum."
'SEP 2026' will be held at Hall B of COEX in Samsung-dong, Seoul, from the 28th to the 30th. It will serve as a venue to demonstrate and explain the role of "smart energy" that covers business and security in the AI era through semiconductors, robots, batteries, transformers, nuclear power, mobility, and green industries.
in INDUSTRY
