Powering AI’s Future Responsibly: How Prometheus Hyperscale Is Meeting the Energy Demands of ChatGPT o1
Artificial intelligence has long held the promise of transforming industries, tackling complex problems, and even solving some of humanity’s greatest challenges. With the introduction of ChatGPT o1, we’re witnessing the next significant leap in AI development. This new model represents a massive step forward in reasoning and problem-solving, excelling in areas like coding, mathematics, and scientific research. But as with all breakthroughs, ChatGPT o1 comes with challenges — most notably, the need for greater computational power and, with it, increased electricity consumption.
At its core, ChatGPT o1 is designed to “think” more deeply than previous iterations like GPT-4. This added layer of reasoning allows the model to handle more sophisticated tasks. However, this also means it requires more processing time and, as a result, significantly more energy. Models like ChatGPT o1 are powered by NVIDIA A100 and H100 GPUs the workhorses behind today’s AI breakthroughs. These GPUs are incredibly powerful but come with a steep energy cost. Each A100 GPU consumes up to 400 watts of electricity, and when scaled across the thousands of GPUs necessary to power such large-scale AI models, the energy demand is staggering.
This is why it is projected that without a shift to renewable energy, AI could add significantly to global carbon emissions. One estimate suggests that by 2030, AI models could be responsible for releasing 2.5 gigatons of CO₂ annually, which would be nearly 5% of global emissions.
At the same time, existing data centers are consuming massive amounts of fresh water. Large data centers can use upwards of 3–5 million gallons of water every day, which is enough to accommodate the water needs of a city with anywhere from 30,000–50,000 people.
This is where the conversation about AI must expand beyond its technological capabilities to consider its environmental impact. The rise of models like ChatGPT o1 highlights a central challenge: How do we scale AI’s computational needs without escalating the global energy crisis? As we build out the infrastructure required to power these models, it’s imperative that we think about sustainability at every level.
This is the mission we’ve embraced at Prometheus Hyperscale, beginning with our flagship project in Wyoming. Our data centers are designed to meet the growing needs of AI while adhering to the highest standards of sustainability. We are not just creating more space to house servers; we are building the infrastructure of the future — one that takes into account both the computational demands of AI and the environmental responsibility we all share.
At Prometheus Hyperscale, we are deploying liquid cooling systems which are far more energy-efficient than traditional air-cooled systems. This innovation allows us to drastically reduce the power needed to keep our data centers operational, especially when running models as computationally intense as ChatGPT o1. Additionally, through our partnership with Oklo (the next generation nuclear company launched by OpenAI’s Sam Altman) we are leveraging 100 megawatts of clean nuclear energy to power our operations. This partnership is part of a broader effort to ensure that our data centers rely heavily on renewable energy sources. In fact, our Wyoming project alone has the capacity to reach 1GW — which would make it one of the most powerful hyperscale data centers on earth.
It’s not enough to build bigger and faster data centers. We must also build smarter ones — facilities that can meet the exponential growth in AI computing needs without accelerating the environmental costs of the digital revolution. At Prometheus Hyperscale, we’re working to prove that sustainability and innovation aren’t mutually exclusive. They can and must coexist.
As AI continues to push boundaries, the energy consumption associated with it will only increase. That’s why our commitment to sustainable data infrastructure is so crucial. The question we face today is no longer just about how advanced AI can become, but how we can responsibly support that advancement in a way that doesn’t sacrifice our planet’s future.
The computational power behind ChatGPT o1 and similar models isn’t just a technical challenge — it’s a moral one. As we build the infrastructure of tomorrow, we must ensure that the benefits of AI come hand-in-hand with solutions that reduce our impact on the environment. By doing so, we’re not only solving for the demands of the present but also for the sustainability of the future. This is the mission that drives Prometheus Hyperscale and it’s the foundation upon which we believe AI must be built.
In conclusion, AI like ChatGPT o1 presents an extraordinary opportunity for problem-solving across industries. But it also presents a challenge — one that forces us to reckon with how we power the technology of tomorrow. At Prometheus Hyperscale, we’re committed to meeting that challenge head-on by providing the infrastructure that can scale AI sustainably. After all, it’s not just about advancing AI; it’s about doing it in a way that preserves the future for all of us.
Trevor Neilson is the President of Prometheus Hyperscale and the Chairman of APCO Climate & Biodiversity.
