WEF25: The Cost-Saving Solution to Surging Energy Demand

Today’s energy grid is facing unprecedented load growth. As the World Economic Forum convenes in Davos this year to explore “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age,” electricity consumption from data centers, artificial intelligence (AI), and the cryptocurrency sector is set to double by 2026. At the same time, the energy use of air conditioners and cooling appliances is skyrocketing and set to more than triple by 2050– consuming as much electricity as all of China and India today.

This surging energy demand threatens the reliability of the grids and energy infrastructure that is needed to power the global marketplace. We cannot drive economic growth while experiencing blackouts.

The time is now to mitigate this load growth by deploying cost-saving energy efficiency solutions.

And the challenge is not only in the electricity load! Our current energy system is highly inefficient — with almost two-thirds of all energy (worth $4.5 trillion) wasted every year. Commercially available solutions for the built environment, industry, transportation, and data centers reduce overall energy demand while meeting increasing services needs, improving the energy infrastructure reliability, and relieving stress on utilities.

At the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, Mission Efficiency is calling on business leaders to share the solution – and invest in technologies that save energy AND money.

Energy Efficiency Improves the Bottom Line

Energy efficiency measures and upgrades can have the following results:

• Lower operating costs: Businesses can reduce energy by 31% without reducing output, saving $2 trillion a year by applying available technologies and measures.
• Increased power reliability: Electric vehicles can provide flexible energy sources that grids can leverage, increasing grid reliability and decreasing energy costs.
• Reduced climate resilience risks: Using AI to dynamically adjust cooling in response to real-time weather conditions can achieve a 9% increase in energy efficiency.
• Improved air quality and worker and community health: In the United States alone, power plant pollution reduced by utility-funded electric efficiency programs avoided more than $430 million in health care costs.

The Time Is Now

The global rate of progress in energy intensity fell by 50% from 2022 to 2024. As the private sector moves into an “intelligent age", we have a bold opportunity to reverse this trend and reduce energy use while expanding the global economy. 

Share the Solution at WEF25

Join the call for increased investment in energy efficiency. Click here to download Mission Efficiency’s “Energy Efficiency for Corporates” messaging guide, complete with key talking points, sector-specific statistics, and resources for further reading. Tag @Mission Efficiency in any posts during #WEF25.

During Davos and beyond, your company can drive the energy-efficient economy by:

• Joining a Mission Efficiency taskforce.
• Developing tangible energy efficiency improvement goals for your company.
• Calling on the COP presidency, governments, and businesses to make energy efficiency a priority at COP 30.