Tech&#8217;s Tipping Point: Innovators Tackle the Energy Crisis at Web Summit Lisbon 2026
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<img decoding="async" src="https://web-summit-engine.imgix.net/f3zj3024k8bk9r176meenbtoh92k?auto=format&amp;fit=fill&amp;fill=solid&amp;fill-color=white&amp;w=600&amp;h=600&amp;fm=jpg&amp;dl=Pascale Davies.jpg" alt="Pascale Davies, Idalia Friedson, Laureen Meroueh" align="left" hspace="10" width="200" style="float:left;margin-right: 15px">
At Web Summit Lisbon 2026, the panel, moderated by Pascale Davies of Euronews, explored whether technology is saving or straining the energy sector. Dr. Laureen Meroueh of Hertha Metals and Ms. Idalia Friedson of Sygaldry Technologies agreed that technology does both, creating strain while simultaneously driving rapid innovation in response to energy demands, particularly from AI and data centers.

Dr. Meroueh introduced Hertha Metals&#8217; solution to decarbonize the steel industry, historically reliant on coal since 1850. Her company has developed a scalable process that eliminates coal, instead using &#8220;lightning bolts&#8221; and natural gas or hydrogen. This innovation allows for the utilization of more diverse iron ore grades and significantly reduces production costs and emissions by over 50%.

Ms. Friedson presented Sygaldry Technologies&#8217; quantum accelerators, designed to enhance the energy efficiency of AI data centers. Quantum computing offers a new paradigm, enabling certain tasks to be performed exponentially faster, thereby delivering substantially more compute power with less energy. This focus on &#8220;compute power per watt&#8221; is crucial for sustainable AI development.

Quantum computing is envisioned to complement classical computing, creating more efficient data centers and unlocking solutions for climate tech, such as improved batteries and grid optimization. However, data center expansion faces significant bottlenecks, including power supply, community acceptance for new sites, and the availability of critical materials.

Dr. Meroueh highlighted the scarcity of electrical steel, vital for transformers, and the rising cost of structural steel, both driven by AI data center demand. The panel also addressed the evolving understanding of data center water usage for cooling, noting that innovations like recycled cooling and strategic geographical placement are becoming increasingly important.

A critical concern raised was that the rapid construction of data centers is outstripping the development of sustainable energy solutions. This imbalance often leads to data centers being powered by on-site natural gas generators, a practice Dr. Meroueh deemed unsustainable. An equilibrium is needed to prevent long-term carbon-intensive infrastructure.

Ms. Friedson urged governments to incentivize energy efficiency and measure &#8220;compute per watt&#8221; more effectively. Dr. Meroueh called for policies that provide capital for clean infrastructure and enhance IP protection for AI tools. Both speakers expressed optimism for a future where innovation, including a non-coal-based industrial revolution and quantum-powered AI, overcomes current energy challenges.

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