APEC Energy Ministers Adopt First Policy Recommendations on AI-Energy Mutual Empowerment

The 16th APEC Energy Ministerial Meeting concluded in Beijing on September 20, 2026, adopting the first APEC consensus document focused on the mutual empowerment of artificial intelligence and energy: the APEC Policy Recommendations on Mutual Empowerment of AI and Energy (2026-2030). The meeting also agreed to establish a dedicated task group on "AI + Energy" under the APEC Energy Working Group.

The document highlights the role of energy systems in supporting computing infrastructure, as well as AI's potential to improve energy system efficiency and resilience. As computing power demand grows rapidly, the relationship between AI and energy has expanded beyond electricity consumption to include power grids, energy infrastructure, and industrial competitiveness.

Gartner projects global data center electricity consumption will reach 565 TWh in 2026, up 26% year-on-year, while the IEA expects data center electricity use to approach 950 TWh by 2030, nearly doubling from 2025. AI is expected to be a major driver of this growth.

The meeting outcomes call for coordinated planning of AI computing and energy infrastructure, improving energy system resilience through backup systems, grid stability mechanisms and demand-side response, and developing next-generation power systems with reliable supply, flexible resources and storage.