Facebook AI, the social media giant’s artificial intelligence research arm, is introducing a massive data set and computing power to help find efficient methods to store and use renewable energy – joining the likes of AI firm DeepMind, Google and Microsoft in addressing the climate crisis.
In collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, the Open Catalyst Project is a data set open to researchers everywhere to serve as “an accurate and useful foundation for future research” that Facebook claims is the biggest in the world of its kind.
The data set is meant to significantly improve machine learning models, allowing researchers to solve calculations – that would otherwise take them eight hours – in less than one second using trained AI algorithms.
“While most people instinctively think of batteries for energy storage, the cost of outfitting the power grid with enough lithium-ion batteries for days or weeks of reserve power during a cloudy, low-wind stretch is prohibitively expensive, especially on a global scale,” said Larry Zitnick, a researcher at Facebook AI.
Storing wind and solar power when the breeze isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining is a persistent challenge that, left unsolved, may prevent the world from shifting fully to renewable energy.
Even with a growing number of supercomputers and AI algorithms, it is still time and cost-intensive to run analyses of each chemical reaction in search of which will provide fuel cells with greater efficiency and capacity to store energy.
While computing power and AI have helped in recent years, a lack of training data was a hindrance to previous research projects.
Solving these problems is increasingly urgent as the world relies more and more on wind and solar to meet rising energy demand.
Renewables account for one-third of total global power generation. This week the International Energy Agency predicted the global response to Covid-19 will "reshape the future of energy" for years to come, with renewables emerging even stronger.
"I see solar becoming the new king of the world's electricity markets," said Fatih Birol, IEA's executive director. "Based on today's policy settings, it is on track to set new records for deployment every year after 2022."
But concerns over Facebook’s track record with users’ data and its primacy in our digital worlds are making some engineering and energy experts uneasy about its foray into addressing renewable energy's biggest challenges.
"Now that there are so many AI models available, the ethical issue is that they are open and can be used by anyone, then how might they be misused," Daniel Choi, an associate professor in mechanical engineering at Khalifa University, told The National.
His research into battery storage would fit into the Facebook project’s remit but he said that while the initiative looked promising, he would likely continue to rely on algorithms available through Google and a supercomputer available on campus to speed up his work.
"Of course Facebook knows we care about climate change, they know our user behaviour and this [project] could support and enhance reliance on the power grid" to access more of Facebook's services, Anoop Babu, the head of renewable energy at Ras Al Khaimah Municipality Department, told The National.
While he expressed caution, the initiative looks promising, he said.
Professor Zachary Ulissi, who leads the research team at Carnegie Mellon that worked on the Open Catalyst project, said opening it up to researchers on GitHub and introducing a leaderboard so teams can compete to come up with solutions would ultimately attract a hyper-competitive science community.
The breadth of the data and the processing speeds are unparalleled, Professor Ulissi said. "This is the holy grail."
'Panga'
Directed by Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari
Starring Kangana Ranaut, Richa Chadha, Jassie Gill, Yagya Bhasin, Neena Gupta
Rating: 3.5/5
Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Last-16 Europa League fixtures
Wednesday (Kick-offs UAE)
FC Copenhagen (0) v Istanbul Basaksehir (1) 8.55pm
Shakhtar Donetsk (2) v Wolfsburg (1) 8.55pm
Inter Milan v Getafe (one leg only) 11pm
Manchester United (5) v LASK (0) 11pm
Thursday
Bayer Leverkusen (3) v Rangers (1) 8.55pm
Sevilla v Roma (one leg only) 8.55pm
FC Basel (3) v Eintracht Frankfurt (0) 11pm
Wolves (1) Olympiakos (1) 11pm
Bio
Age: 25
Town: Al Diqdaqah – Ras Al Khaimah
Education: Bachelors degree in mechanical engineering
Favourite colour: White
Favourite place in the UAE: Downtown Dubai
Favourite book: A Life in Administration by Ghazi Al Gosaibi.
First owned baking book: How to Be a Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson.
Blackpink World Tour [Born Pink] In Cinemas
Starring: Rose, Jisoo, Jennie, Lisa
Directors: Min Geun, Oh Yoon-Dong
Rating: 3/5
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
A Bad Moms Christmas
Dir: John Lucas and Scott Moore
Starring: Mila Kunis, Kathryn Hahn, Kristen Bell, Susan Sarandon, Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines
Two stars
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
The%20specs
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
