"There's no question that these new data centers are going to be hungry for power, and that they could place even more stress on already taxed electrical grids. But Kirsten pointed to a potential upside, with solar poised to power many of these new projects, which could also create new opportunities for startups pursuing innovative approaches to renewable energy."
"So Tim De Chant, who's our climate tech reporter, has done a ton of reporting about not just data centers, but actually how a lot of data centers are turning to renewables because in terms of regulatory [hurdles] and cost, they are the go-to. It's a lot easier to get a permit to throw up a bunch of solar panels adjacent to a data center."
Global investment in data centers has surged to $580 billion this year, surpassing spending on finding new oil by $40 billion and signaling major economic shifts. Rapid expansion of data centers will increase electricity demand and could strain already taxed grids. Large tech commitments — including multitrillion and multibillion-dollar plans from leading AI companies — will fund much of this buildout. Many new facilities are turning toward solar and other renewables because of permitting and cost benefits, creating opportunities for startups in renewable generation, data center design, and technologies that reduce the sector's global emissions footprint.
Read at TechCrunch
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