AI’s energy appetite, datacenter emissions and the tech helping grids and climate models cope.
204 articles
Researchers have developed modular underwater and soil-based microbial fuel cells that convert organic matter into electricity, offering a sustainable alternative to lithium batteries for remote sensors.
虎嗅 · 129d ago
Microsoft is considering dropping its 2030 clean energy target due to surging power demands from AI. The company's AI initiatives are significantly lifting overall power usage.
iTNews Australia · 136d ago
Microsoft is accelerating global AI data center expansion but considering delaying or scaling back its ambitious 'hourly clean energy matching' target. This goal is one of the industry's most aggressive emissions reduction commitments.
cnBeta (Full RSS) · 136d ago
Meta has agreed to source power from 1,000 satellites in geosynchronous orbit. These collect sunlight continuously and beam it as infrared light to ground solar farms.
Digital Trends · 145d ago
WIRED reviewed permits for new natural gas-powered data centers tied to OpenAI, Meta, Microsoft, and xAI. These facilities could collectively emit over 129 million tons of greenhouse gases yearly.
Wired · 150d ago
Veolia Environnement SA aims to more than double AI industries revenue to €1 billion by 2030. The French firm will offer new services to the booming AI sector.
Bloomberg Technology · 158d ago
Meta, Microsoft, and Google are investing heavily in new natural gas power plants to meet the enormous energy needs of their AI data centers. This strategy addresses surging power demands from AI operations.
TechCrunch AI · 169d ago
Documents reveal one of Google’s new data centers will be powered by a massive natural gas plant. The plant emits millions of tons of emissions each year.
Wired · 170d ago
Meta is releasing a new AI model using Bayesian Optimization to design high-quality, sustainable concrete mixes produced exclusively in the United States. This continues their roadmap to integrate AI into the construction industry.
Meta Engineering Blog · 173d ago
London startup Epoch Biodesign secured $12M to scale AI-engineered enzymes that recycle nylon 6,6 waste into monomers with over 90% recovery. This eliminates virgin petroleum needs for leggings, airbags, and carpets.
The Next Web (TNW) · 178d ago
National 'little giant' Weifulai completed tens of millions RMB C2 funding led by Bojiang Capital. Funds will upgrade AI smart equipment for waste sorting and expand green digital solutions.
36氪 · 198d ago
Cologne-based startup Foodforecast has raised €8 million in a Series A funding round to scale its AI platform that forecasts production for ultra-fresh foods with short shelf lives, aiming to cut waste. The round was co-led by SHIFT Invest and the European Circular Bioeconomy Fund (ECBF), with participation from existing investors like Future Food.
The Next Web (TNW) · 205d ago
Meta's AI-optimized data centers drive US economic growth via jobs, productivity, and community investments. They fully fund energy costs, upgrade grid infrastructure, and prioritize efficiency without burdening consumers.
Meta Newsroom · 206d ago
Google is building a new Texas data center using advanced air-cooling to drastically cut water use, limiting it to critical operations like kitchens. This is part of a $40 billion investment and 7,800 MW energy contracts for the Texas grid.
Engadget · 207d ago
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman argues AI energy use is unfairly criticized compared to humanity's historical resource consumption for survival. He advocates a long-term view on energy efficiency.
The Register - AI/ML · 208d ago
Cathay Pacific and Google are expanding AI trials designed to reduce aircraft contrails. The program follows an initial test involving 80 flights and applies AI to support more climate-conscious flight operations.
iTNews Australia · 12d ago
Residents are angry that an AI data center in Denver reportedly continues watering its lawn during drought restrictions. It remains unclear whether the facility is violating the rules or using recycled water.
Tom's Hardware · 15d ago
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed that data centers do not use water, despite reports that these facilities consume substantial amounts of water.
cnBeta (Full RSS) · 16d ago
AI datacentres are facing widespread opposition because of their noise, visual impact and heavy use of environmental resources. The article examines resistance to a proposed 5,200-square-metre facility in Brick Lane, east London, and questions who benefits financially from the expansion.
The Guardian Technology · 18d ago
The article argues that AI's resource footprint extends beyond electricity to substantial water consumption. It points to water use associated with operating and cooling AI infrastructure, making water availability an emerging constraint for AI deployment.
虎嗅 · 18d ago
Microsoft is trying to reassure employees that its data centers are having a positive impact on society. The update focuses on internal messaging about data-center effects, with no specific projects, metrics, or technical changes described.
Bloomberg Technology · 22d ago
The article examines how AI’s expanding water footprint is becoming an infrastructure and sustainability concern. It highlights that the impact varies significantly depending on data-center location and cooling technology.
Ars Technica AI · 23d ago
The rapid growth of data centers is driving a wave of natural-gas power projects across the United States. Many projects have already been proposed or are under construction, highlighting the infrastructure and environmental costs of expanding AI and cloud capacity.
Wired · 25d ago
A Cornell study has sparked widespread claims that planned US data centres could emit as much CO2 as 24 million cars. TNW notes that the widely circulated figure may be rounded and requires more careful interpretation.
The Next Web (TNW) · 32d ago
The Cherokee Nation has banned hyperscale data-center development on its tribally owned and trust lands unless projects receive consultation and support. Concerns include energy and water consumption, air quality, noise, and protection of cultural resources.
Tom's Hardware · 33d ago
A major new gas plant in Texas will use technology that is less efficient than that found in conventional gas plants. The project is part of a broader pattern in which data center power developments rely on highly polluting turbines.
Wired · 36d ago
Amazon is planning a Texas data center supported by an on-site power plant. Reports suggest the facility could become the largest single source of climate pollution in the United States.
TechCrunch AI · 42d ago
The article analyzes the shift in fly ash management from landfilling to resource utilization, driven by stricter environmental regulations and the need for sustainable industrial processes.
虎嗅 · 54d ago
GitHub announced that its community has contributed $100 million to open source maintainers through its platform. This milestone highlights the growing impact of financial support for the individuals sustaining the global software ecosystem.
GitHub Blog · 61d ago
Chinese manufacturer LONGi has successfully developed a crystalline silicon-perovskite tandem solar cell reaching 35.5% conversion efficiency. This breakthrough represents a significant leap in photovoltaic performance compared to traditional silicon-only cells.
Engadget · 63d ago