arXiv:2603.26678cs.CYcs.AI2026-03

AI与清洁能源可共生,但取决于谁驱动增长。

Power Couple? AI Growth and Renewable Energy Investment

  • 分两种路径:市场驱动时促发展,资源驱动时促清洁
  • 气候损害加剧会强化对AI的依赖,形成碳排放陷阱
  • 适合关注绿色算力与政策设计的研究者

人工智能(AI)与可再生能源常被视为‘强强联合’,因AI发展或推动清洁能源投资。然而,AI需求增长也可能加剧对化石能源的依赖。本文研究在可再生能源投资与AI扩展相互作用的博弈中,何种情境导致不同结果。关键在于AI能力提升的市场价值相对于其能耗的增长速度。当价值增长不低于能耗(市场主导型扩展),开发者即使依赖化石电力也追求前沿能力,此时可再生能源投资能支持更多AI发展而不消除化石能源使用;随着气候损害上升,应对气候变化的高价值使维持前沿能力的激励增强,形成‘适应陷阱’。当能耗增速超过能力价值(资源主导型扩展),能源成本限制更严,可再生能源投资可降低额外算力成本并减排;气候损害上升时,应对价值足以支撑足够清洁装机以实现全绿电供给,形成‘适应路径’。校准案例表明两种机制在现实参数下均可成立。结果表明,脱碳化AI需可再生能源容量同步跟上算力需求增长。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

Artificial intelligence (AI) and renewable energy are increasingly being described as a \mbox{``power couple,''} based on the idea that rapid growth in AI will spur clean-energy investment. Yet growing AI demand could also deepen reliance on fossil power. We study when each outcome arises in a game in which renewable-capacity investment and AI scaling interact. The key is how the market value of greater AI capability grows relative to the energy needed to achieve it. When value grows at least as fast as energy use (market-led scaling), the developer pushes toward frontier capability even when additional electricity comes from fossil sources. Renewable investment can then enable further AI growth without eliminating fossil use. As climate damages increase, AI becomes more valuable for adaptation, strengthening incentives to sustain frontier capability despite the associated emissions. We call this the ``adaptation trap.'' When energy requirements grow faster than capability value (resource-led scaling), energy costs place greater limits on AI expansion. Renewable investment then makes additional capability less costly while also reducing emissions. As climate damages rise, the growing value of AI for adaptation can justify enough clean-capacity expansion to support AI entirely with renewable power. We call this the ``adaptation pathway.'' A calibrated case study shows that both mechanisms can arise at empirically plausible magnitudes. The results suggest that decarbonizing AI requires renewable capacity to keep pace with the growth of compute demand.

AI能源绿色算力气候适应

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