Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and cloud division of Alibaba Group, recently announced the deployment of its data-driven sustainability solution, Energy Expert, for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
This collaboration with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) marks the first time that intelligence related to power consumption and demand at Olympic competition venues will be managed through a cloud-based platform such as Alibaba Cloud.
Energy Expert will be implemented across all 35 competition venues for Paris 2024. This platform will consolidate various energy-related data, including electricity consumption, power demand, venue capacity, competition schedules, and onsite weather conditions, into a user-friendly dashboard. By leveraging deep-learning AI models, the solution aims to provide precise analysis and venue-specific forecasts, offering recommendations for power demand optimization to minimize energy waste.
“Sustainability is one of the three pillars of the Olympic Agenda 2020+5 alongside credibility and youth,” Ilario Corna, chief information and technology officer at the IOC, said in a statement. “With Energy Expert, we can now forecast our energy-related impacts well into the future and accurately measure our progress. The insights from Energy Expert will help the IOC learn from each Games edition and apply that knowledge to make future events more energy efficient.”
Gathering datasets
To gather comprehensive datasets, 100 smart electric meters will be installed at selected venues to monitor real-time electricity consumption in operational spaces, including playing fields, media areas, technology spaces, and other temporary operational areas. This data, along with historical data from previous Games like London 2012, PyeongChang 2018, and Tokyo 2020, will enable more accurate analyses and informed decision-making for future events.
“Energy Expert will further prove its value in the most high-profile and challenging arena of all; the fast-paced and highly competitive world of international sports,” said William Xiong, VP of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.
Beyond competition venues, Energy Expert’s AI-driven recommendations will also be applied to optimize energy use at Alibaba’s temporary exhibition venues during Paris 2024. For instance, the Alibaba Wonder Avenue will feature sustainable materials and a semi-open design to leverage natural lighting and ventilation, reducing carbon emissions.
Since its introduction in June 2022, Energy Expert has been used by over 3,000 customers worldwide to measure, analyze, and manage carbon emissions, providing actionable insights to accelerate their sustainability efforts.