In an exclusive interview with CNBC-TV18, Sridhar noted that AI has sped up a transition Bloom Energy anticipated 25 years ago, positioning electricity as the backbone of a digital landscape.
“We used to refer to oil as liquid gold. In this era, electricity is the invisible gold,” remarked Sridhar.
He emphasized that AI is birthing a new industry where intelligence itself is produced, with electricity and data serving as essential resources.
“For the first time in human history, we are creating intelligence as a product, as a commodity. It’s remarkable,” he said.
Sridhar pointed out that the explosion in computing demands is driving an unparalleled increase in electricity usage. A server rack that once drew power equal to approximately 20 Indian households now consumes electricity comparable to over 300 homes. Future generations of AI chips could require electricity equivalent to 2,000 to 3,000 homes for a single rack, he added.
The Bloom Energy leader explained that the company’s technological platform was designed with the digital era in mind, enabling electricity to be generated right where it is needed, rather than depending on traditional power generation and transmission networks.
He mentioned that Bloom’s fuel-cell technology eliminates several conversion steps present in standard power infrastructure and offers a direct-current architecture that is well-suited for AI data centers.
“From a data center and AI viewpoint, there is currently no other solution worldwide — nor any anticipated — that can compare to our position today,” he stated.
Sridhar noted that Bloom’s systems can achieve an overall efficiency exceeding 90% when utilizing waste heat for cooling, in contrast to the roughly 30%-35% efficiency typically observed in conventional setups.
He added that carbon capture and sequestration could ultimately enable the company to deliver power with no carbon emissions while ensuring reliability.
“This isn’t a debate between environmental sustainability and economic growth. We don’t believe in ‘or’; it’s ‘and’ — beneficial for both the environment and the economy,” he asserted.
Despite worries about significant investments in AI infrastructure, Sridhar maintains that the long-term outlook remains positive as investments are primarily driven by companies with robust financial health.
“There may be hurdles along the way, but is this trajectory moving upwards? Absolutely. This genie won’t be going back into the bottle. The AI genie won’t be put back,” he declared.
Sridhar stated that electricity has become as vital to contemporary life as food, water, and shelter, asserting that access to abundant and affordable power will shape future opportunities for billions of individuals.
