The plans come as the owner of the shuttered Three Mile Island nuclear power plant said last month it plans to restart the reactor so tech giant Microsoft can buy the power to supply its data centers. All three companies have been investing in solar and wind technologies, which make electricity without producing greenhouse gas emissions. Now they say they need to go further in the search for clean electricity to meet both demand and their own commitments to cut emissions.
Nuclear energy is a climate solution in that its reactors don’t emit the planet-warming greenhouse gases that come from power plants that burn fossil fuels, such as oil, coal and gas. The demand for power is surging globally as buildings and vehicles electrify. People used more electricity than ever last year, placing strain on electric grids around the world. Much of the demand also comes from data centers and artificial intelligence.
The International Energy Agency forecasts that data centers’ total electricity consumption could reach more than 1,000 terawatt hours in 2026, more than doubling from 2022. Estimates suggest one terawatt hour can power 70,000 homes for a year.
“AI is driving a significant increase in the amount of data centers and power that are required on the grid,” Kevin Miller, Amazon Web Services’ vice president of global data centers, told The Associated Press, adding: “We view advanced new nuclear capacity as really key and essential.”
This story is from the October 18, 2024 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the October 18, 2024 edition of AppleMagazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
JAPAN'S NISSAN RESHUFFLES MANAGEMENT TO FIX ITS MONEY-LOSING BUSINESS
Embattled Japanese automaker Nissan has tapped Jeremie Papin, who was overseeing its U.S. operations, as its chief financial officer in a major management reshuffle billed as key to a turnaround.
AUSTRALIA PLANS TO TAX DIGITAL PLATFORMS THAT DON'T PAY FOR NEWS
The Australian government said it will tax large digital platforms and search engines unless they agree to share revenue with Australian news media organizations.
NEARLY HALF OF US TEENS ARE ONLINE 'CONSTANTLY,' PEW REPORT FINDS
Nearly half of American teenagers say they are online “constantly” despite concerns about the effects of social media and smartphones on their mental health, according to a new report published by the Pew Research Center.
EPA AWARDS $135 MILLION TO CALIFORNIA TO PHASE OUT BIG DIESEL TRUCKS
The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $135 million in grants to fund 13 projects in California to help the state wean off fossil fuels and phase out big rigs that run on diesel.
MUSK SAYS US IS DEMANDING HE PAY PENALTY OVER DISCLOSURES OF HIS TWITTER STOCK PURCHASES
Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed or failed to disclose - about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022.
US HIKES TARIFFS ON IMPORTS OF CHINESE SOLAR WAFERS.POLYSILICON AND TUNGSTEN PRODUCTS
The Biden administration plans to raise tariffs on solar wafers, polysilicon and some tungsten products from China to protect U.S. clean energy businesses.
TECH TIP: HOW TO PROTECT YOUR COMMUNICATIONS THROUGH ENCRYPTION
After a sprawling hacking campaign exposed the communications of an unknown number of Americans, U.S. cybersecurity officials are advising people to use encryption in their communications.
OPENAI'S LEGAL BATTLE WITH ELON MUSK REVEALS INTERNAL TURMOIL OVER AVOIDING AI 'DICTATORSHIP'
A 7-year-old rivalry between tech leaders Elon Musk and Sam Altman over who should run OpenAI and prevent an artificial intelligence “dictatorship” is now heading to a federal judge as Musk seeks to halt the ChatGPT maker’s ongoing shift into a for-profit company.
A NEW NEUTRINO DETECTOR IN CHINA AIMS TO SPOT MYSTERIOUS GHOST PARTICLES LURKING AROUND US
Underneath a granite hill in southern China, a massive detector is nearly complete that will sniff out the mysterious ghost particles lurking around us.
ELON MUSK WANTS TO TURN SPACEX'S STARBASE SITE INTO A TEXAS CITY
SpaceX is launching a new mission: making its Starbase site a new Texas city.