投资界·2025-07-22 07:45Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the increasing demand for clean energy driven by the growth of AI technologies and the corresponding investments by major tech companies in renewable energy sources to ensure stable power supply and meet carbon neutrality goals [5][46]. Group 1: Investment in Clean Energy - The Yarlung Tsangpo River downstream hydropower project in Tibet has a total investment of approximately 1.2 trillion yuan, with plans to build five hydropower stations and an expected total installed capacity of nearly 70 million kilowatts, generating an estimated annual output of 300 billion kilowatt-hours, which is three times that of the Three Gorges Dam [5][50]. - Google announced a $3 billion investment to purchase hydropower, securing 670 megawatts of electricity from two hydropower stations in Pennsylvania for 20 years, marking the largest corporate hydropower clean energy transaction globally [6][46]. - Amazon has also entered into agreements with major nuclear power operators to ensure stable electricity supply, including a $650 million investment in a data center near a nuclear power plant [30][32]. Group 2: AI's Energy Consumption - AI technologies require significantly more power than traditional applications, with AI-driven systems consuming nearly ten times the electricity of standard Google searches [12][20]. - The energy consumption of AI is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 25%-33% from 2023 to 2028, compared to an overall electricity demand growth of 2.8% [20][22]. - The North American Electric Reliability Corporation has warned of potential electricity shortages in the U.S. from 2025 to 2029 due to increased demand from data centers and AI technologies [25][26]. Group 3: Carbon Neutrality Goals - Major tech companies, including Microsoft, have set ambitious carbon neutrality targets, with Microsoft aiming for "carbon negative" by 2030 and to neutralize all historical carbon emissions by 2050 [34][38]. - The article highlights the tension between the high energy demands of AI and the companies' carbon neutrality goals, as increased energy consumption could lead to higher carbon emissions [39][46]. - The pursuit of clean energy sources, such as nuclear and renewable energy, is essential for these companies to achieve their sustainability objectives while meeting the growing energy demands of AI [32][44]. Group 4: China's Clean Energy Development - In 2024, China's renewable energy generation is expected to reach 3.46 trillion kilowatt-hours, a 19% increase year-on-year, accounting for 35% of total electricity generation [55][56]. - The Yarlung Tsangpo River downstream hydropower project is part of China's broader efforts to enhance clean energy capacity, which is becoming a foundational advantage for the development of AI in the country [50][56].