Events

Fall Membership Meeting CURC (Coal Utilization Research Council)

This exclusive event will explore the critical intersection between data center infrastructure and renewable energy solutions, bringing together senior executives, industry leaders, and investors from across Europe. The conference will provide a platform for strategic dialogue, knowledge sharing, and high-level networking.

Data center growth is reshaping electricity demand, and utilities face mounting challenges in forecasting this rapidly evolving load. This webcast will dive into the complexities of predicting data center energy needs and showcase how EPRI’s DCFlex initiative is advancing tools and methodologies to improve forecast accuracy. Join us to learn how better forecasting can support grid reliability, planning, and cost management in an era of unprecedented demand.

Artificial intelligence (AI) drives innovation, yet its growth relies on energy-intensive infrastructures that can heighten environmental and social pressures. By 2030, global electricity demand from data-centres could reach 289 GW—six times Québec’s current clean energy capacity — and water demand will also be critical. Although efficiency improvements may offer mitigation, escalating demand threatens to offset gains. Accelerated growth in AI data training and operational facilities—largely led by unregulated private-sector — risks intensifying inequality through rising energy costs, grid strains, and competition for limited resources. Hosted by the Chair in Energy Sector Management at HEC Montréal, this webinar explores the current state of knowledge and paths forward for decision makers.