Tag

Renewable Energy

All articles tagged with #renewable energy

business2 days ago•6 min saved

Amazon bets $12B on Louisiana data-center network to power future cloud

Amazon will invest $12 billion to build multi-site data center campuses in northwest Louisiana (Caddo and Bossier Parishes), creating 540 full-time data-center jobs and supporting about 1,710 additional local roles. The plan includes up to $400 million for local water infrastructure and a $250,000 community fund focused on STEM, sustainability and local projects. Amazon will fund energy infrastructure upgrades with SWEPCO, add up to 200 MW of solar energy, and cool centers using surplus water and outside air for most of the year, cutting grid electricity demand by 25-35% during peak periods and pursuing a water-positive goal by 2030. STACK Infrastructure leads construction, with up to 1,500 construction jobs anticipated, aiming to boost regional economic growth and resilience.

via About Amazon|

#amazon #business #data-centers

technology3 days ago•4 min saved

Liquid Solar Battery Stores Sunlight as Heat for On-Demand Power

UC Santa Barbara researchers have developed pyrimidone, a water-soluble liquid that stores solar energy as heat in a reusable state, offering an energy-density advantage over lithium-ion batteries and enabling on-demand heating (even boiling water) without bulky storage, potentially transformative for off-grid solar uses.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#energy-storage #liquid-battery #pyrimidone

business6 days ago•19 min saved

Shadow power grids: data centers run on private on-site plants

Silicon Valley’s AI-driven data centers are increasingly backed by on-site private energy plants (natural gas, solar, wind), creating a shadow power grid that draws power away from the public grid and could raise carbon emissions and local pollution. The GW Ranch project in West Texas exemplifies the scale, with warehouses consuming vast amounts of power and sparking concerns about environmental and community impacts and broader energy policy implications.

via The Washington Post|

#artificial-intelligence #business #climate-change

energy7 days ago•8 min saved

New England Eyes Plug-In Solar to Bring Solar Power to Renters

Lawmakers in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are weighing bills to allow small plug-in solar panels that connect to home outlets, removing the need for rooftop installations and potentially lowering electricity bills for renters and others without easy access to rooftop solar. The approach mirrors European adoption and Utah’s 2025 lead, but would require updated electrical codes and national safety certifications before widespread sale; costs can reach up to about $2,000, and critics say it won’t be a universal solution, though supporters argue prices could fall with broader adoption and that the technology offers a practical entry point to clean energy for renters and apartments.

via Inside Climate News|

#energy #legislation #new-england

science15 days ago•2 min saved

Chile scrubs megaproject to safeguard the world's best astronomical skies

Chile has cancelled the $10 billion INNA green hydrogen and ammonia facility planned near Paranal Observatory in the Atacama Desert after astronomers warned it would raise light pollution, dust and ground vibrations, and disrupt atmospheric conditions vital for world-class telescopes. Regulators formally withdrew the project following talks with AES Andes, underscoring the need for stronger protections around Chile's premier observatory sites as facilities like the VLT and ELT continue to advance.

via The Guardian|

#astronomy #chile #environment

technology16 days ago•6 min saved

Moon's Solar Ring Could Deliver Continuous Clean Power to Earth

Shimizu Corp.'s Luna Ring would wrap roughly 6,800 miles around the Moon's equator with solar panels to harvest energy and beam it to Earth via microwave and laser links, providing a continuous clean power source by around 2035, but it faces astronomical costs, engineering hurdles, and maintenance challenges such as lunar dust and space debris.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#luna-ring #lunar-infrastructure #renewable-energy

business17 days ago•6 min saved

China’s aluminium smelters go green, moving to renewable-powered hubs

China’s aluminium industry is relocating production from coal-heavy northern hubs to renewables-rich southern and western zones (notably Yunnan, Sichuan, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia) as part of a government-backed cap-and-relocation drive to cut carbon. About 13 million tonnes of capacity have already shifted to new, hydro/solar/wind-powered smelters, contributing to a 2024 total output of around 43.8 million tonnes. Hongqiao plans further moves in Yunnan, aiming for about 4 million tonnes there and claiming the transition, along with investments in clean energy, could cut roughly two-thirds of its carbon emissions. The shift supports decarbonisation goals but raises concerns for northern rust-belt regions and global supply chains amid EU carbon rules and energy-security considerations.

via Financial Times|

#business #climate-change #energy-sector

technology21 days ago•8 min saved

Superhydrophobic tubes stay afloat, even when punctured

Researchers at the University of Rochester have etched aluminum tubes to create micro- and nano-pits that render the surface superhydrophobic. When placed in water, the tubes trap a stable air bubble and stay buoyant even if heavily damaged; a middle divider keeps the bubble in place, enabling linked tubes to form rafts for ships, buoys, and floating platforms with potential renewable-energy applications.

via futurity.org|

#buoyancy #metal-tubes #renewable-energy

energy21 days ago•1 min saved

Federal Hurdles Slow Hundreds of Renewable Energy Projects

The Trump administration has slowed or halted federal approvals for hundreds of wind and solar projects on federal land and private property, delaying routine environmental reviews and stalling projects nationwide, including the Jackalope Wind farm in Wyoming, as electricity demand rises and critics say environmental safeguards are being used to curb clean-energy expansion.

via The New York Times|

#energy #federal-approvals #regulatory-delays

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

Air-to-Gasoline: A Fridge-Sized Energy Tech From NYC

A New York startup's fridge-sized Aircela device captures CO2 from air and water, uses electrolysis to yield hydrogen, then converts CO2 to methanol and ultimately gasoline, delivering about one gallon per day. It stores up to 17 gallons, costs an estimated $15k–$20k with plans to drop the price via mass production, and could be powered by solar to push energy costs below $1.50 per gallon; while real-world impact is limited by scale, the process uses well-established chemistry and could be practical in remote areas.

via Jalopnik|

#air-to-fuel #direct-air-capture #electrolysis

business1 month ago•4 min saved

Michigan sues oil giants, alleging cartel-style scheme to curb renewables and raise prices

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed a federal antitrust suit against BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Shell, and the American Petroleum Institute, alleging a cartel-like effort to restrain competition and slow the renewable-energy transition, contributing to artificially high energy costs for Michigan residents. The suit seeks a permanent injunction, treble damages, and repayment of profits; API called the claims baseless, while supporters urge action to accelerate clean energy.

via detroitnews.com|

#antitrust #business #energy-costs

technology1 month ago•14 min saved

Google Bets on Self-Powered AI Data Centers With Intersect

The Information reports that Google is accelerating its AI infrastructure by buying Intersect, a renewables and data-center developer, to secure large-scale, self-sufficient power for its data centers. Intersect’s model emphasizes owning and interconnecting wind/solar capacity with battery backups and on-site gas turbines, primarily in Texas, enabling faster, cheaper, and greener power for Google’s AI workloads while reducing reliance on slow, centralized grid expansion.

via The Information|

#ai #data-centers #google

technology1 month ago•1 min saved

Meta Secures Multiple Nuclear Power Deals to Boost AI Data Center Energy Supply

Meta has signed nuclear power agreements with TerraPower, Oklo, and Vistra to support its AI data centers, including the upcoming Prometheus project in Ohio, aiming to add up to 6.6 gigawatts of clean energy by 2035, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable and reliable energy sources.

via abcnews.go.com|

#ai-data-centers #meta #nuclear-power

energy1 month ago•7 min saved

Vistra and Meta Partner to Boost Nuclear Power in PJM

Vistra and Meta have announced 20-year power purchase agreements supporting three Vistra nuclear plants in PJM, including capacity increases and license extensions, to provide over 2,600 MW of clean energy, bolster local economies, and ensure long-term operation of these carbon-free assets.

via Vistra Corp. Investor Relations|

#energy #meta #nuclear-power

energy1 month ago•7 min saved

Meta and Vistra Collaborate on New Nuclear Power Initiatives to Boost AI and Grid Stability

Vistra and Meta have signed 20-year power purchase agreements supporting three Vistra nuclear plants in PJM, including capacity upgrades and license extensions, to provide over 2,600 MW of clean energy, bolster local economies, and ensure long-term reliable, carbon-free power for Meta's operations and the regional grid.

via PR Newswire|

#energy #meta #nuclear-power