KNESS at Atlantic Council’s 9th Global Energy Forum

“Being part of the Atlantic Council’s 9th Global Energy Forum meant a lot to me. KNESS is a company deeply engaged in building the future of energy, that is why being part of this global conversation allowed us to better understand the emerging forces shaping the sector — from AI and geopolitics to new infrastructure and investment pathways. It wasn’t just about keeping up with trends — it was about seeing how the pieces fit together, and where forward-thinking companies like ours can make a significant contribution”  — says Oksana Khlyupina, Head of Corporate Finance in KNESS, who has visited the event held in Washington, DC. 

Key topics discussed at the forum:

AI’s Energy Surge: “Gigawatts, not just code”

AI isn’t just about algorithms — it’s about electricity. AI uses a lot more power than we realize. For example, one search with the help of language models can use 10 times more energy than a regular web-search. Video content powered by AI — up to 100 times more. It was mentioned at the forum that the U.S. may need to build 50–150 gigawatts of new energy capacity in just the next five years.

AI + Energy = New Possibilities

• Today progress depends on aligning energy, data, talent, and hardware. None of these can work in isolation.
• AI needs huge power, fast. As AI use grows quickly, energy systems must catch up — this means faster permits, better policies, and smarter investments.
• AI can help energy, too. AI isn’t just a power-hungry tech. It can also improve how we manage energy by forecasting demand, reducing waste, and making grids more efficient.

Europe: State of Affairs in Power Industry

• Geopolitics matter. One of the speakers emphasized that with threats to energy supplies from events like the Russia-Ukraine war and Middle East tensions, Europe needs to find cleaner, more stable alternatives, and that in cooperation with the U.S. it’s possible to close investment gaps and build shared leadership in clean, AI-powered energy systems.

Why It Matters for Europe

1. AI needs energy and requires upgrading of the power systems to support AI at scale.
2. Strong rules + funding = advantage. It is a key for the development of the industry.

The Forum made one thing very clear: the race for AI is also a race for energy. To power the future of AI, we need massive, fast and smart energy infrastructure, as well as strong regulatory and financial tools.