Energy demands, Sustainability and AI in South Africa
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly being adopted across various sectors in South Africa. By 2030, AI has the potential to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by 5% to 10%.
However, the increasing complexity of AI models demands more energy for training and usage, presenting a challenge to balance energy consumption with the benefits of AI.
As businesses advance their digital transformation, leaders must also consider how to mitigate their growing environmental impact, especially in a region like South Africa.
“We anticipate a rising demand for energy and other natural resources to support AI growth and advancement,” says Yugen Naidoo, General Manager of Lenovo South Africa.
“South Africa has been grappling with a severe electricity crisis, characterized by frequent power cuts and an aging coal power infrastructure.”
“This situation has led to significant economic and social challenges, with electricity sometimes unavailable for up to 10 hours a day.”
“However, innovative and measurable solutions can enable AI to drive sustainability efforts, helping organizations better assess climate risks and make informed decisions about resource use and carbon impact.”
Lenovo, a global leader in technology devices, services, and solutions, is well-positioned to influence how enterprises use AI for positive environmental impact.
By addressing the energy demands of AI and continuing to innovate scalable solutions for climate change, Lenovo is leading the conversation on maximizing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) impact through AI.
Addressing AI-related sustainability issues requires a series of strategic steps rather than a single solution. In South Africa, this approach aligns with the country’s National Development Plan (NDP) and its commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Naidoo emphasizes that success comes from small, strategic actions that collectively drive significant results.
Lenovo adopts a holistic approach to sustainability, from part sourcing to end-of-life product management.
South Africa’s NDP Vision 2030 aims to eliminate poverty, reduce inequality, and promote inclusive economic growth.
This vision is supported by strategic objectives such as enhancing systems for integrated planning, sustaining ecosystems, and transitioning to a green economy.
Lenovo’s sustainability initiatives, including the use of recycled materials in products like the ThinkPad T14 and the implementation of circular economy practices, contribute to these national goals.
By integrating sustainable practices across its operations, Lenovo not only supports South Africa’s sustainability targets but also addresses the broader challenges of climate change and resource management.
This comprehensive approach ensures that every step, from sourcing materials to managing product lifecycles, contributes to a more sustainable future for South Africa.
Lenovo is transitioning to a circular model of reduce, reuse, and recycle across its supply chains, product design, and materials.
For instance, the ThinkVision P32pz-30 and P27pz-30 monitors use 95% recycled plastic in their rear covers. Similarly, Lenovo’s ThinkPad laptops incorporate recycled materials in their manufacturing, promoting responsible sourcing and minimizing waste.
The new ThinkPad T14, a high-volume laptop, exemplifies this approach with a 9.3 out of 10 repairability score on iFixit2.
“Using recycled plastics conserves natural resources and energy that would otherwise be used to produce new plastics, and it prevents these materials from ending up in landfills,” says Naidoo.
“This practice also ensures our products meet Lenovo’s high-quality standards.”
Lenovo’s partnership with iFixit empowers IT managers to quickly repair devices, reducing downtime and extending the life of computer units.
The Lenovo Certified Refurbished program supports a circular economy by allowing organizations to use refurbished PCs.
“Business leaders must adapt to new operating realities and proactively seek ways to address climate change concerns,” says Naidoo. “We are committed to sustainable practices throughout our value chain, pioneering sustainable product and packaging designs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and transitioning to a circular economy.”
Ai solutions will require massive computing power which will in turn put pressure on already energy hungry data centres across the country.
In South Africa, energy use and load shedding are critical issues. To address these challenges, Lenovo has introduced Neptune™ liquid cooling technology, which significantly reduces the energy consumption of data centers. Neptune™ uses liquid to remove heat from data center components, making it much more efficient than traditional air cooling.
This technology not only enhances performance but also helps mitigate the energy demands of AI and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads.
Neptune™ cooling can reduce data center power consumption by up to 40%, which is crucial in a region where energy resources are often strained. By implementing Neptune™ cooling, South African data centers can operate more efficiently, reducing the frequency and impact of load shedding.
This innovation supports the country’s efforts to stabilize its energy grid while advancing its digital infrastructure.
Lenovo is fostering greater industry collaboration and standardization to deliver equitable and sustainable AI solutions at scale. “Our team is dedicated to transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in AI innovation,” says Naidoo. “New standards are rapidly being adopted that will shape the sector.”
Lenovo’s partnership with UNESCO underscores its commitment to ethical AI development and deployment.
Along with other global leaders, Lenovo is exploring how AI capabilities like natural language processing can provide real-time, quantitative analyses of ESG data, enhancing transparency on factors impacting a company’s value.
Lenovo recognizes the serious threat posed by climate change and believes in the collective responsibility to reduce harmful greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
The company acknowledges the findings of current climate science, which indicate a significant human contribution to climate change, and supports the conclusions of the latest Assessment Reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Lenovo is also committed to reducing GHG emissions and its global carbon footprint, extending this commitment across its supply chain and customer base.
To this end, Lenovo has developed a comprehensive climate change strategy that addresses all aspects of its business.
The company has set aggressive performance objectives and targets to ensure it stays on track. As global citizens, Lenovo demonstrates corporate social responsibility in all its operations.
The company’s Sustainability Policy pledges to care for the long-term economic, social, and environmental health of Lenovo and the communities in which it operates.
The corporate Environmental Affairs Policy outlines goals to lead in environmental affairs worldwide and provide innovative, long-term solutions for stakeholders, including customers.
This commitment is supported by every Lenovo employee and contractor.
One of Lenovo’s primary environmental objectives is to minimize hazardous waste while maximizing recycling and reuse.
Hazardous waste, including oils, coolants, organic solvents, batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, and ballasts, is disposed of in accordance with local environmental regulations through reputable vendors vetted by Lenovo’s stringent audit process. Lenovo neither imports nor exports hazardous waste.
Lenovo’s manufacturing and product development operations do not involve wet processes. The company withdraws water only from municipal sources for human use and consumption, resulting in minimal impact on local water resources.
Although opportunities to reuse and recycle water are limited, Lenovo tracks this metric and continually seeks ways to reduce its water consumption.
“We are investing in forward-thinking initiatives to create a greener, more sustainable future,” says Naidoo.
“Through innovative and measurable smart technology offerings, AI can help leaders excel in their efforts to build a brighter and more sustainable tomorrow.”
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