President Karis emphasises role of clean energy in AI development at Estonia-US business seminar

Opening a seminar for Estonian and US entrepreneurs being held as part of New York Climate Week, President Alar Karis stressed that the rapid development of AI requires a clean, efficient and resilient energy system.

“AI is reshaping our economy and society,” he noted. “It is also causing a spike in demand for electricity. As such, the question here is not merely how to develop more AI, but how to supply the AI boom with the energy it needs in such a way that the electricity grid can cope and that we don’t have to compromise on our environmental commitments.”

The head of state added that Estonia does not want to have to choose between digital development and climate responsibility, but rather to demonstrate that the two can reinforce each other. Estonia hopes to see energy-efficient, environmentally sustainable AI data centres constructed that make responsible use of energy and support the stability of the electricity grid.

President Karis also pointed out that the transformation of the energy system is a matter of security and resilience. “Russia’s war against Ukraine has shown how quickly energy dependence can become a strategic vulnerability,” he noted. “Within a few months of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia stopped importing Russian gas.”

The head of state said that although Estonia is a relatively small country, innovation has always been one of its greatest strengths. He gave the example of clean-tech companies, whose numbers in Estonia have increased tenfold since 2016. “Trust, flexibility and cooperation between the state, businesses and the scientific community make it possible to quickly test and refine new solutions and bring them to larger markets,” he explained.

The Estonian companies which took part in the seminar offer solutions in the fields of energy, mobility and urban infrastructure: Evecon is the largest privately owned renewable energy company in the Baltic States; GridRaven uses AI and weather forecasting to help boost the capacity of electricity grids; Skeleton Technologies is developing high-capacity energy storage; Roofit.Solar integrates solar power into building design; Bolt is developing cleaner and more efficient urban mobility; and ParkingLot Category devises sustainable urban infrastructure solutions.

The head of state says that the scientific capabilities, investment capacity and industrial scale of the United States combined with Estonia’s flexibility, digital expertise and innovative businesses create a strong foundation for transatlantic cooperation.

“Estonia is ready to serve as a partner in all of these areas,” he confirmed. “We will happily work with our friends and allies to test solutions, come up with new innovations and roll

them out more broadly. The resilient future we are talking about here today will not be built by a single country, a single company or a single form of technology alone: it will be created through cooperation.”

The seminar was organised by the Estonian Business and Innovation Agency in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was hosted by the Estonian ambassador to the United States. 

Gallery (Office of the President/Raigo Pajula): https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD5q7a