Articles tagged with "power-infrastructure"
Data Centers Are Driving a US Gas Boom
New research from Global Energy Monitor reveals that data centers have significantly driven the surge in demand for gas-fired power in the US over the past two years. More than one-third of this new gas demand is directly linked to powering data centers, equating to energy sufficient for tens of millions of homes. The US currently operates about 565 gigawatts of gas-fired power, and if all projects in the development pipeline—many intended for data centers—are completed, this capacity could increase by nearly 50 percent, adding roughly 252 gigawatts. Notably, the demand for gas power linked to data centers has skyrocketed from just over 4 gigawatts in early 2024 to more than 97 gigawatts in 2025. This rapid expansion occurs amid a political environment where the Trump administration has promoted data center construction while rolling back pollution regulations on power plants and fossil fuel extraction. The growth in gas-fired power infrastructure is likely to increase US greenhouse gas emissions, despite natural gas
energydata-centersgas-fired-powerUS-energy-demandgreenhouse-gas-emissionspower-infrastructurefossil-fuelsHyAxiom's David Alonso on fuel cells and time to power for AI data centers
HyAxiom, a Connecticut-based fuel cell manufacturer and part of the Doosan group, is addressing the growing power challenges faced by rapidly scaling AI data centers. As AI facilities expand from tens of megawatts to potentially gigawatt-scale operations, traditional electric grids and local utilities struggle to deliver sufficient capacity quickly. HyAxiom’s stationary fuel cells offer a solution by enabling on-site power generation that can be deployed rapidly—within about 12 months—bypassing grid delays. Their fuel cells also produce significantly lower emissions compared to conventional combustion-based power sources, addressing environmental concerns as data centers grow more power-dense. A key product in HyAxiom’s portfolio is the PureCell® Model 400, a modular, containerized fuel cell system that integrates fuel handling, electricity generation, and power conversion. Each unit delivers 460 kilowatts and can be scaled incrementally to meet specific data center demands, from small to very large capacities. This modularity and rapid deployment capability make fuel
energyfuel-cellsAI-data-centersgreen-hydrogenpower-infrastructuremodular-power-systemsemissions-reductionPacifico Energy Achieves Commercial Operations at Sunpro Wind Farm in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta - CleanTechnica
Pacifico Energy Vietnam (PEV), a subsidiary of the global energy developer Pacifico Energy Group (PEG), has commenced commercial operations at its 30 MW Sunpro Wind Farm located in Thới Thuận Commune, Vĩnh Long Province, in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The project, which began operations on December 19, 2025, adds significant renewable energy capacity to Vietnam’s national grid, supporting the country’s clean energy transition. PEG owns the project outright and benefits from a 20-year feed-in tariff agreement with Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN), ensuring stable long-term revenue. Sunpro is PEG’s second operational project in Vietnam, following the 40 MW Mũi Né Solar Power Plant, and contributes power to approximately 27,000 households. The Sunpro Wind Farm was financed with VND 750 billion (about $28.5 million) in senior debt from VietinBank, one of Vietnam’s largest state-owned banks. The project uses Goldwind GW155-
energywind-powerrenewable-energyVietnam-energy-marketclean-energypower-infrastructureenergy-transitionElon Musk grows xAI's Colossus supercomputer with third data center
Elon Musk’s AI company xAI is significantly expanding its Colossus supercomputer infrastructure by acquiring a third data center building, named “MACROHARDRR,” near Memphis, Tennessee, close to Southaven, Mississippi. This expansion aims to boost xAI’s AI training capacity to nearly two gigawatts of compute power, potentially making Colossus one of the largest and most powerful AI supercomputers globally. The buildout plans to house at least one million GPUs, with Colossus 2 alone expected to contain around 550,000 Nvidia chips, at a cost reaching tens of billions of dollars. The new facility is slated for conversion into a data center starting in 2026, supporting both the existing Colossus and the under-construction Colossus 2 sites. The immense power requirements of this multi-gigawatt AI system have raised significant environmental and community concerns. The electricity demand is comparable to that of approximately 1.5 million U.S. homes
energysupercomputerdata-centerAI-compute-powerpower-infrastructurenatural-gas-power-plantenvironmental-impactData center energy demand forecasted to soar nearly 300% through 2035
A BloombergNEF report forecasts that data center electricity demand will nearly triple by 2035, rising from 40 gigawatts today to 106 gigawatts. This surge is driven by the construction of significantly larger facilities, many located in rural areas due to urban site scarcity. Currently, only 10% of data centers consume over 50 megawatts, but future centers are expected to average over 100 megawatts, with nearly 25% exceeding 500 megawatts and some surpassing 1 gigawatt. Additionally, data center utilization rates are projected to increase from 59% to 69%, largely fueled by AI workloads, which will account for nearly 40% of total compute. The report highlights a sharp upward revision from earlier forecasts, attributed to a doubling of early-stage projects between early 2024 and 2025. Much of the new capacity is planned in states within the PJM Interconnection region—such as Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois
energydata-centerselectricity-demandenergy-consumptionAI-computingpower-infrastructureenergy-forecastHawaii’s LNG Detour: Why A Fossil Bridge Arriving In The 2030s Makes No Sense - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica discusses Hawaii’s reconsideration of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a transitional fuel to move away from heavy oil dependence toward a renewable energy future. Hawaii currently relies heavily on oil, especially on Oahu, where most electricity generation comes from residual fuel oil and diesel, resulting in high costs and significant pollution. LNG is seen by some as a cleaner and potentially cheaper alternative that could provide reliable, dispatchable power while the state expands its wind, solar, and battery capacity. Proponents argue LNG could reduce harmful emissions like sulfur dioxide and particulates compared to oil and offer more operational flexibility. However, the article highlights significant concerns about LNG’s suitability as a "bridge" fuel. The infrastructure costs for LNG are substantial, with estimates exceeding $1 billion for floating storage, pipelines, and new gas plants. These investments would need to be recovered before Hawaii’s 2045 goal of 100% renewable electricity, or else risk becoming stranded assets. Moreover, the
energyLNGrenewable-energyelectricity-generationHawaii-energy-policynatural-gaspower-infrastructureAltman and Nadella need more power for AI, but they’re not sure how much
The article discusses the challenge faced by AI leaders like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella regarding the uncertain and rapidly growing power demands for AI infrastructure. While much attention has been on acquiring GPUs and compute capacity, the real bottleneck has shifted to securing sufficient electrical power and data center facilities to deploy these chips. Nadella highlights that Microsoft currently has more chips than it can power or house, due to delays in building data centers with adequate power supply. This reflects a broader industry issue where electricity demand from data centers has surged in recent years, outpacing utility capacity expansions and forcing developers to seek alternative power arrangements. Altman expresses concern about the risks associated with long-term energy contracts if cheaper energy sources emerge unexpectedly, but he remains optimistic about AI’s exponential efficiency improvements driving ever-increasing demand. He has invested in nuclear energy startups as potential future solutions, though these and other fossil fuel-based power plants face long lead times before becoming operational. The article also notes the appeal of
energyAI-power-consumptiondata-centerselectricity-demandrenewable-energynuclear-energypower-infrastructureNew Solar Panel Hail Resiliency Curve Test - CleanTechnica
The article discusses the introduction of the Hail Resiliency Curve (HRC) Test, a new rigorous protocol developed by VDE Americas and the Renewable Energy Test Center (RETC) to evaluate solar panel durability against real-world hailstorm conditions. Unlike existing hail certification tests, the HRC Test subjects solar panels to multiple impacts from varying hailstone sizes and speeds until glass fracture occurs, providing detailed data on a panel’s breaking point. This approach offers more accurate and statistically representative information on hail damage resistance, enabling manufacturers to optimize hail-hardened designs, project developers to assess cost-benefit trade-offs, and insurers to set coverage and premiums based on empirical evidence rather than estimates. The test results reveal a significant difference in performance between standard bifacial solar panels and hail-hardened panels. Standard panels tend to fail rapidly at impact energies between 40-80 joules, whereas hail-hardened panels maintain low failure rates up to 120+ joules, making them more suitable for installations
energysolar-panelshail-resiliencerenewable-energysolar-technologyimpact-testingpower-infrastructureEaton & ChargePoint Launch Breakthrough Ultrafast DC V2X Chargers and Power Infrastructure to Accelerate the Future of EV Charging - CleanTechnica
Eaton and ChargePoint have jointly launched an ultrafast DC vehicle-to-everything (V2X) charging architecture called ChargePoint Express Grid, powered by Eaton. This innovative solution delivers up to 600 kW for passenger EVs and megawatt-level charging for heavy-duty commercial vehicles, addressing grid constraints and enabling cost-effective scaling of EV charging infrastructure. The modular design reduces capital expenditures by 30%, occupies 30% less space, and lowers operational costs by up to 30% compared to existing solutions. By integrating onsite renewables, energy storage, and vehicle batteries with local energy markets, the system helps fleets reduce fueling costs and can assist utilities in balancing the electric grid when deployed at scale. The solution will debut at the RE+ trade show in September 2025, with availability for select customers in North America and Europe starting in early 2026 and deliveries in the second half of the year. Eaton will provide custom-engineered, site-ready power infrastructure options, including
energyelectric-vehicle-chargingV2X-technologypower-infrastructurerenewable-energy-integrationenergy-storagegrid-managementEVNHANOI tăng tốc phát triển lưới điện đảm bảo cấp điện tin cậy cho Thủ đô
energysmart-gridelectricity-supplyrenewable-energyurban-developmentpower-infrastructureenergy-management