Former President János Áder warned that the rapid spread of artificial intelligence could cause global electricity demand to double within five years. Speaking on his Kék bolygó podcast with energy engineer and university dean Attila Aszódi, Áder linked the surge to the already growing summer consumption from widespread air conditioning use.
Aszódi explained that Hungary’s energy use is undergoing electrification across heating, transport, and industry, erasing the gap between winter and summer peak demand. He stressed the role of solar power, now with over 7,000 MW capacity in Hungary, but noted that optimal use requires aligning consumption with production. Maintaining a stable 3,000 MW base load, he said, demands a balanced energy mix regardless of season or weather.
On climate goals, Aszódi stated bluntly: “Without nuclear energy, the two-degree target is hopeless.” Nuclear already provides about 20% of electricity in developed countries and is the largest carbon-neutral source. He cited a COP28 pledge by 30 nations to triple nuclear capacity by 2050, requiring both life extensions for existing plants and an additional 400,000 MW in new reactors, with small modular designs potentially revolutionizing construction times.
Turning to IT, Aszódi noted that global data center electricity use is already ten times Hungary’s annual consumption and is expected to double in five years, driven largely by AI adoption. He also analysed the April blackout that left 60 million without power in Portugal and much of Spain, calling it a reminder of the critical importance of supply security in interconnected grids.