Energy

Key Highlights The world will spend $580 billion on data centers this year, $40 billion more than on finding new oil supplies. Renewable energy is poised to power many new data centers, creating opportunities for startups in the field. OpenAI, Meta, and Anthropic have committed to spending trillions of dollars on data centers in the coming years. The shift in investment from oil to data centers reflects broader industry trends towards digitalization and artificial intelligence. As the demand for data storage and processing continues to grow, the need for sustainable and efficient data centers becomes increasingly important. This move towards renewable energy is not only good for the environment, but also a sound business strategy. ...

As the world grapples with the challenges of sustainable development, innovative technologies are emerging to address the pressing issues of water scarcity and energy efficiency. In a significant breakthrough, Samsung Electronics has collaborated with Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) to develop a next-generation electrochemical water treatment technology capable of power recovery. This revolutionary technology, published in the renowned journal Joule, has the potential to transform the way we treat water and generate energy. ...

As the world hurtles towards an AI-driven future, the US is facing a critical challenge that could undermine its leadership in this field: a severe electricity shortfall. This move reflects broader industry trends, where the increasing demand for AI computing power is outpacing the available energy supply. The US currently leads the world in AI development, but this advantage is threatened by the growing electricity gap. To put this into perspective, the first $1 trillion invested in AI infrastructure could create over 5 percent in additional GDP growth over a three-year period, according to an internal OpenAI analysis. However, this growth is contingent upon the availability of sufficient electricity to power the AI infrastructure. The US added only 51 gigawatts of new power capacity in 2024, while China added 429 gigawatts, creating an “electron gap” that puts US leadership at risk. ...