Latest news with #EnergyTransition
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
France's Macron to visit Greenland on June 15
PARIS, June 7 (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron will visit Greenland on June 15 and meet both Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, his presidency said in a statement on Saturday. The talks between the leaders will focus on North Atlantic and Arctic security, climate change, energy transition and critical minerals, the French presidency added.
Bloomberg
3 days ago
- Business
- Bloomberg
Trump Is Cementing the Green Energy Transition He Loathes
'Energy dominance' is shorthand for President Donald Trump's agenda to use fossil fuels as a tool of international leverage, with the energy transition a casualty along the way. Its unintended consequence will be to strengthen the foundations of that transition, outside of the US anyway. Because even if environmental, social and governance thinking is canceled in Trump's America, his blending of energy policy with a chaotic realignment of US foreign policy brings to the fore an ESG favorable to the transition: Economics, security and geopolitics. Oil became the world's biggest energy source during the post-1945 era of increasing globalization backed by US military muscle. Countries that might have been otherwise reluctant to base their prosperity on a fuel produced in remote, often volatile neighborhoods like the Middle East could draw comfort from the world's biggest navy policing the oceans on everyone's behalf. It helped that most of the big economies outside Moscow's orbit were US allies and that Washington's stake in this arrangement increased along with its own oil import dependency.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AI push sparks emissions risk in ASEAN as data centre growth soars
New Delhi: A rapid surge in data centre growth across Southeast Asia, driven by AI and digitalisation, could push power demand to account for up to 30 per cent of national electricity use in countries like Malaysia and lead to a 14-fold rise in emissions in the Philippines by 2030, a new report released on May 27, 2025, has warned. The report, titled From AI to Emissions: Aligning ASEAN's Digital Growth with Energy Transition Goals, highlights that data centres could consume 360 TWh of electricity globally by 2030, with ASEAN nations at the epicentre of the next big spike in demand, potentially doubling their 2024 levels. In ASEAN's major economies—Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam—over 2.9 GW of data centre capacity is already in the pipeline. Malaysia's data centre electricity use is projected to increase from 9 TWh in 2024 to 68 TWh in 2030, accounting for nearly 30 per cent of the country's power demand. Emissions from Malaysia's data centre electricity use alone are expected to jump from 5.9 MtCO₂e in 2024 to 40 MtCO₂e in 2030. Similarly, Indonesia is projected to see a rise from 5 MtCO₂e to 19 MtCO₂e, while the Philippines' emissions could rise from 0.8 MtCO₂e to 10.5 MtCO₂e over the same period. The report warns that this data centre boom risks undermining the region's energy transition goals due to its heavy reliance on coal and gas-based grids. In contrast, Singapore and Thailand are projected to experience only modest increases in emissions. 'ASEAN's booming data centre industry risks derailing energy transition goals without urgent action,' the report states. 'Prioritising solar and wind power, as well as energy efficiency, supported by strong policies, a national framework for data centres and collaboration, would help ensure data centres drive sustainable digital growth rather than deepen reliance on fossil fuels.' Data centres are estimated to account for up to one-third of the ICT sector's electricity use. The study stresses that energy efficiency in design and operations, supported by modern cooling technologies and smart software, could significantly reduce power consumption. On the renewable front, the report finds that up to 30 per cent of data centres' electricity demand in 2030 can be met through solar and wind via national grids—without requiring storage—provided robust procurement mechanisms such as power purchase agreements (PPAs), green tariffs and unbundled renewable energy certificates (RECs) are in place. However, the availability of these procurement tools remains limited. Indonesia, for example, lacks a green tariff mechanism entirely, hampering companies' ability to secure clean power. Citing RE100 data, the report notes that over 30 per cent of the global corporate PPA capacity is attributed to technology companies operating data centres, yet Asia remains heavily reliant on RECs due to restricted access to PPAs. The study also highlights a new focus on energy-efficient designs from the outset of data centre development. 'Once data centres are operational, implementing energy efficiency improvements becomes significantly more challenging,' it states. Finally, it calls for urgent investment in grid decarbonisation, especially in Indonesia's JAMALI grid and Malaysia's Peninsular Grid, to align with tech companies' sustainability goals, many of whom have pledged 100 per cent renewables for their operations globally. Amazon, Meta and Google have made long-term commitments to power their facilities with renewable energy, but in Southeast Asia, progress has lagged due to limited renewables availability. In 2023, only 4.1 GWh of Google's 2.8 TWh regional power use came from renewables—just 0.15 per cent . The report concludes that Southeast Asia's data centres could either become key enablers of clean energy investment or major roadblocks to decarbonisation, depending on how governments and industry act over the next five years.
Daily Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Tribune
Vision for Greener, Tech-Driven Future : Bahraini MPs call for renewable energy and AI partnerships at Mediterranean forum
Solar panels, wind farms, and digital links featured in Bahrain's pitch to Mediterranean lawmakers this week as MPs set out plans for shared infrastructure, closer ties, and smoother trade during a summit in Marrakesh. MP Mohammed Mousa, Chairman of the Public Utilities and Environment Committee, said Bahrain is backing renewable energy and modern technology as part of its wider development effort led by His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. He added that Parliament and the Cabinet, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, are working together to meet international goals. From From left, MPs Mohammed Mousa and Hanan Fardan These include overhauling the country's energy systems, improving key networks, and drafting laws that keep pace with changes abroad. Second Session Mousa was speaking during the second session of the forum titled Energy Transition, Adaptation and Energy Security: Strategic Choices, part of the third Parliamentary Economic Forum of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. He was joined by MPs Hanan Fardan and Basema Abdulkarim, who also took part in the opening session on trade and finance shifts between the Arabian Gulf and the Mediterranean. Fardan told the gathering that Bahrain is keen to work more closely with Mediterranean countries in trade, investment, and digital development. Broader Direction She said the approach reflects the country's broader direction, shaped by royal guidance and carried forward by both Parliament and government. The lawmaker pointed to Bahrain's work to improve its digital infrastructure and maintain its standing as a financial hub. On energy, she said the Kingdom is expanding its use of renewables, with solar and wind schemes forming part of long-term planning. Regional Advisory Group In her remarks during the forum's third session titled Artificial Intelligence and its Governance: Strengthening Parliamentary Oversight, Fardan called for the creation of a regional advisory group bringing together parliaments, researchers, and technology firms. Such a body, she said, would support a shared understanding of artificial intelligence, similar to the model used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The aim, she added, is to provide parliaments with sharper tools when drafting new rules.
Epoch Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
The Renewable Energy Trap: A Warning to Nations Pursuing Blind Sustainability
Commentary As the world increasingly shifts toward renewable energy, there is a growing risk that nations could fall into the 'renewable energy trap.' This trap is the result of embracing an energy transition without fully understanding its economic, environmental, and geopolitical consequences. While renewable energy sources like wind, solar, and hydropower have been hailed as the future of global energy, nations rushing toward these technologies without a strategic plan may face grave economic and security challenges. The truth is that blind adherence to renewable energy, in its current form at least, is not the panacea many believe it to be. In fact, it could prove to be a short, green path to economic ruin for both developed and developing nations alike. The False Promises of Renewables: Hidden Costs and Risks The promise of renewable energy often comes with an aura of infallibility—clean, green, and limitless. However, this narrative overlooks the hidden costs of transitioning to renewable energy systems, many of which are disguised through misleading claims and incomplete accounting. For example, Germany's 'Energiewende' (Energy Transition) provides a cautionary tale of how well-intentioned policies can lead to unintended consequences.
