Apr 30, 2026

Emerald AI

Reframing AI’s energy problem

Justin Worland

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Senior Correspondent

Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AI

Varun Sivaram, Founder and CEO of Emerald AICourtesy Emerald AI

AI is driving up demand for power around the world, contributing to rising prices and supply crunch fears. Emerald AI, launched last year, is flipping the script. The startup uses software to shift electricity demand, orchestrating when and where AI workloads run based on grid conditions and the specific performance requirements. It’s a huge market. Duke University research has estimated that the existing U.S. grid could accommodate roughly 100 gigawatts of new flexible load, a massive figure equal to more than one-tenth of U.S. peak power demand. If it succeeds, Emerald AI could become a critical layer at the intersection of energy and AI globally.

“Energy is our critical bottleneck,” says Varun Sivaram, CEO and founder of Emerald AI. ”If we can unlock our existing energy grid, we can get AI infrastructure up and running faster and maintain our lead in the AI race.”

The company has strong tailwinds. Emerald AI made a splash in 2025 with a $24.5 million seed round backed by Nvidia and a long list of prominent climate investors including John Doerr and John Kerry. In March, the company announced a plan alongside Nvidia to bring together top power companies to build AI facilities that can adjust to the challenges and needs of the power grid.