IBM: AI-Powered Tools for Sustainable Energy Development
A staggering 775 million people around the world do not have access to electricity, most of whom are in sub-Saharan Africa according to the IEA.
IBM has unveiled a duo of artificial intelligence-powered tools to support efforts to bring clean, reliable energy to communities worldwide.
Revealed at the COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, these tools were created in partnership with the non-profit Sustainable Energy for All as part of IBM's Sustainability Accelerator programme, dedicated to leveraging technology to foster sustainable growth worldwide.
“Millions of people around the world don’t have basic access to electricity, and new technologies such as AI can enable us to tackle this challenge,” says Justina Nixon-Saintil, VP and Chief Impact Officer at IBM.
“Through our IBM Sustainability Accelerator program, we are using AI solutions and expertise to scale projects that support communities worldwide and promote a just and equitable access to clean energy.
“In alignment with UN SDG7, we are proud to collaborate with partners and local communities to deploy innovative solutions, including predicting urban growth to forecasting electricity access”
IBM's tool Open Building Insights
The first of IBM's tools is called Open Building Insights (OBI).
This tool is an interactive platform hosted on the IBM Cloud, providing an intuitive interface that displays essential building data.
OBI synthesizes information about building characteristics such as location, height, area and intended usage, empowering stakeholders to make informed decisions for sustainable urban development.
Developed in collaboration with the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), Open Energy Maps and IBM itself, OBI utilises models that discern residential from non-residential buildings — a critical distinction that aids in accurate energy planning.
The tool is already being employed in Kenya to bolster the region’s energy management strategies, positively impacting more than a million citizens by 2030.
IBM and Sustainable Energy for All will initially focus on continuing to expand OBI in India.
Damilola Ogunbiyi, CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, says: “At Sustainable Energy for All, we believe that integrating AI in the energy sector planning and evidence – especially for developing countries will go a long way in designing comprehensive solutions for many of the developmental challenges currently facing the Global South and its people.
“The OBI Tool, developed in collaboration with IBM, will help energy planners overcome critical data gap challenges to inform energy access and energy transition interventions, and better deliver results for those most in need.”
Predicting urban expansion with IBM’s MUG tool
The Modelling Urban Growth (MUG) AI tool compliments OBI.
This open-source AI model is adept at predicting potential urban sprawls using a variety of data inputs including satellite imagery and demographic data.
Originally trained on data from 11 African nations including Nigeria, Kenya and Malawi, MUG’s flexible design allows it to be retrained for application in diverse global contexts, available to users worldwide.
This sophisticated model showcases not just the application of AI in developmental planning, but also IBM’s commitment to accessible technology.
The company hopes to integrate this model with OBI to provide a more comprehensive tool for urban planning and energy management.
"At IBM, we're proud to launch solutions that harness the power of artificial intelligence to have an impact for communities around the world," says John Matogo, Corporate Social Responsibility Leader for Africa & the Middle East at IBM.
"Collaborating with organisations such as Sustainable Energy for All through our IBM Sustainability Accelerator program helps us unlock innovation and work more closely in communities to tackle some of our biggest challenges, especially around energy and sustainable urban development."
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