The Hidden Foundation of AI Sovereignty: Energy Independence

Further reflections on Günther Thallinger’s talk at this year’s DLD – Energy Sovereignty is Key

The core of his talk focused on energy and circularity. Thallinger emphasized that electric motors reach around 85–90% efficiency, compared to just 20–30% for combustion engines – meaning EVs use three to four times less energy for the same distance.

He also drew attention to the massive solar capacities already installed in countries like China and Pakistan – and how far behind Germany stands in this international comparison.

The presentation was an eye-opener regarding the direction society in general, and Germany in particular, must take in order to remain future-proof and independent.

This leads to a key insight: if Germany or the EU want to achieve true AI independence, it is not enough to rely solely on infrastructure projects such as IPCEI or on developing local AI providers. The decisive gamechanger will be energy sovereignty. Without energy sovereignty, there can be no real sovereignty — a fact already recognized by the United States through initiatives like the National Energy Dominance Council.

To illustrate the gap: while China added over 200 GW of new solar capacity in 2023 alone, Germany’s total installed solar capacity only reached around 82 GW in the same period.

This means we must accelerate the adoption of renewable energies, reduce regulatory barriers, and push forward the expansion of gigawatt factories, solar parks, and even tidal power plants. Fossil fuels and nuclear energy are not sustainable solutions – not only due to CO₂ emissions or unresolved nuclear waste storage, but also because of the long timelines involved in planning and implementation. While gigawatt factories can be built in a matter of months, gas plants typically require 4–6 years and nuclear power plants 10–20 years to complete.

The broader context of the DLD discussions, including the geopolitical challenges raised in the panel with Benedict Franke, reinforced this point. The conclusion is clear: Germany and Europe must act decisively and without delay to build energy sovereignty as the cornerstone of future economic resilience and political independence. At the same time, efforts toward AI sovereignty must go hand in hand with this agenda — as neither technological nor political independence is possible without both digital and energy sovereignty.