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Business Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Business Times
Solar, wind energy could power a third of Asean data centres in 2030: report
[SINGAPORE] Solar and wind energy could power up to a third of data centres in South-east Asia in 2030 via power grids and without the need for batteries, said a report by energy think-tank Ember. 'This indicates that high battery costs are not an immediate barrier to adopting these electricity sources for data centres,' said Ember, which made the forecast based on estimates of power consumption and solar and wind capacity. South-east Asia is emerging as a data centre hub, but the International Energy Agency has forecast that regional data centres' electricity usage will nearly double by 2030, from 2024 levels. The six major regional economies – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam – have 2.9 gigawatts (GW) of data centre capacity in the pipeline, Ember noted in the report. It expects data centres to account for between 2 per cent and 30 per cent of national electricity demand by 2030 in each of these countries. Malaysia is at the upper end of the range. The country's demand for data centre electricity is projected to rise from 9 Terawatt-hour (TWh) in 2024 to 68 TWh in 2030 – accounting for 30 per cent of national power consumption and exceeding Singapore's total 2023 electricity use. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Friday, 12.30 pm ESG Insights An exclusive weekly report on the latest environmental, social and governance issues. Sign Up Sign Up As at February 2025, Malaysia hosts 507 megawatts (MW) of operational data centre capacity, mostly in Johor. This is expected to grow to 1.96 GW of installed capacity in the coming years, Ember noted. The think tank forecasts that the resulting emissions from Malaysia's data centres could hit 40 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) by 2030, the highest in the region. This is especially since the country's power supply is dominated by coal and gas. Indonesia's data centre emissions are expected to quadruple in the same period, from 6.7 TWh in 2024 to 26 TWh by 2030. The country hosts 307 MW of operating data centre capacity as at February 2025, primarily in greater Jakarta, but also increasingly in Batam. Meanwhile, data centre emissions from the Philippines are expected to rise by 14 times, from 0.8 MtCO2e in 2024 to 10.5 MtCO2e by 2030. This comes as data centre capacity is set to hit 300 MW by 2025. Globally, the information, communication and technology sector is estimated to account for up to 2.1 to 3.9 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions, comparable to Indonesia's 3.6 per cent share of global emissions in 2023, Ember noted. This figure is set to rise with growing demand for data storage, processing and generative artificial intelligence. Solar, wind opportunity Ember believes that South-east Asia can power data centres without raising emissions, if there is the right policy support, market access and infrastructure planning. It estimated that between US$45 billion and US$75 billion will need to be invested in solar and wind capacity by 2030 to power the region's data centres sustainably. Clean energy is already gaining traction in the region. For instance, Malaysia is developing a 1,000 MW solar farm to power the Johor-Singapore special economic zone. 'Prioritising solar and wind power… would help ensure data centres drive sustainable digital growth rather than deepen reliance on fossil fuels,' said Shabrina Nadhila, Ember's Asia energy analyst. Ember also called for options for smaller data centre operators to procure clean energy. This could include virtual power purchase agreements (PPAs) and green tariffs, where utilities companies offer electricity from renewable sources. 'Expanding these options can improve access to and affordability of solar and wind, while broader programs and targeted incentives can accelerate storage adoption alongside intermittent renewables,' said Ember. Energy efficiency Beyond renewable energy, it will also be crucial for data centres to implement energy efficiency measures from the design phase, said Ember. For instance, optimising air flow in the data centre lowers electricity requirements to run fans for cooling. Immersion cooling can also reduce power consumption by 40 per cent compared to traditional cooling methods, it noted. The think tank highlighted Singapore for incentivising the adoption of green data centre technologies. It called for more targeted incentives in South-east Asia, as well as national frameworks to guide sustainable data centre development.
International Business Times
a day ago
- Business
- International Business Times
OPEC+ Maintains Oil Production Increase as Prices Soften and Market Awaits Demand Recovery
With international oil markets facing price pressure and economic instability, OPEC+ has remained committed to gradually restoring supply. The producer alliance announced it will raise output by 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) for July 2025, marking its third consecutive monthly hike at that level. This move is part of the coalition's broader strategy to roll back earlier voluntary cuts and stabilize the market. The decision comes after months of turmoil in energy markets, where prices have declined and demand signals remain mixed. OPEC+, which is composed of major oil producers including Saudi Arabia and Russia, has long struggled to balance regaining market share with enforcing compliance among overproducing members. Despite internal tensions, such as Kazakhstan's refusal to follow an output cut, the group chose to stick with its planned increase rather than expand it. The joint increase in oil production is part of a bigger plan to win back market share and push countries that are producing too much to follow the rules. There have been disagreements within the group about how much oil each country should produce. Some countries, like Kazakhstan, refused to reduce their output. This led to talk that the group might make bigger changes, but in the end, they decided to keep the production increase the same for the month. Brent crude has stayed close to $60 a barrel recently, down from earlier highs. Analysts warn that prices could fall further unless global demand keeps up with the growing supply. Some signs point to a possible 10 % drop soon. Still, OPEC+ producers say that lower oil stockpiles and a steady global economy support the decision to increase production. Recent estimates suggest that global oil demand will rise by about 775,000 barrels per day (bpd) in 2025. The International Energy Agency expects a slightly smaller increase of 740,000 bpd. However, these demand gains may not be enough to balance the higher supply levels, which could lead to more pressure on oil prices. The decision to increase supplies this month is part of a wider strategy to restore the 2.2 million bpd in voluntary output cuts that the main member states agreed to in the spring. Separate levels of supply curbs, meanwhile, will nevertheless remain in force until at least 2026. This keeps the oil market at the crossroads of oil supply and its correlation with economic development and geopolitical risk.
Asharq Al-Awsat
a day ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
OPEC+ Oil Producers Announce another Big Hike for July
The world's largest group of oil producers, OPEC revealed Saturday another big increase of 411,000 barrels per day for July. Having spent years curbing production - more than 5 million barrels a day (bpd) or 5% of world demand - eight OPEC+ countries made an modest output increase in April before tripling it for May, June and now July. The eight countries held an online meeting on Saturday to set July production. They also discussed other options, an OPEC+ delegate said. On Friday, sources familiar with OPEC+ talks had said they could discuss an even larger hike. In a statement OPEC+ cited a "steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals, as reflected in the low oil inventories" as its reasoning for the July increase, Reuters reported. Algeria was among a small number of nations that requested a pause in the output hikes on Saturday, a source familiar with the matter said. Oil prices fell to a four-year low in April, slipping below $60 per barrel after OPEC+ said it was tripling its output hike in May and as US President Donald Trump's tariffs raised concerns about global economic weakness. Prices closed just below $63 on Friday. Global oil demand is expected to grow by an average of 775,000 bpd in 2025, according to a Reuters poll of analysts published on Friday, while the International Energy Agency in its latest outlook saw an increase of 740,000 bpd. Besides the 2.2 million bpd cut that the eight members started to unwind in April, OPEC+ has two other layers of cuts that are expected to remain in place until the end of 2026.
Axios
a day ago
- Business
- Axios
The rare minerals battle behind Rubio's ban on Chinese students
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio abruptly announced plans Wednesday to cancel the visas of all Chinese students in the U.S., the Trump administration was quick to cast it as a way to root out spies from the communist nation. But behind the scenes, what really set off Rubio was the administration's realization that China was withholding precious rare-earth minerals and magnets as a tariff negotiating tool, sources tell Axios. Why it matters: The decision to target as many as 280,000 Chinese students — and throw another complication into the ongoing trade talks with China — reflects how crucial rare minerals are to the U.S. tech industry. It also signaled how angry President Trump was after deciding China was operating in bad faith. Zoom in: That's what inspired Trump's Truth Social post on Friday: "China, perhaps not surprisingly to some, HAS TOTALLY VIOLATED ITS AGREEMENT WITH US." "So much for being Mr. NICE GUY!" Zoom in: The materials at issue are crucial for computing and telecom equipment, F-35 fighter jets, drones, submarines and the Joint Direct Attack Munition series of smart bombs. The seven minerals include samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, lutetium, scandium, and yttrium-related items. Zoom out: Under President Xi Jinping 's "Made in China 2025" initiative launched a decade ago, China has come to dominate the mining and processing of these minerals and other precious materials, such as lithium used in batteries. The U.S. is the world's second-largest producer of rare-earth minerals but is dwarfed by China, which controls about 70% of mining and roughly 90% of the processing of such minerals globally, according to a Reuters report citing International Energy Agency estimates. The big picture: Many of China's ruling party elite, including Xi, have sent their children to study in the United States. Targeting those students sends a message to leaders of the Chinese Communist Party. Rubio has long been a China hawk. As a senator in 2024, he issued a report, "The World China Made," that warned it could soon have "effective control over strategic supply chains" of the materials. He also sounded an alarm about China spying through U.S. educational opportunities. "If you're a Chinese spy trying to get into America, you don't really have to cross the border," he told Fox News' Maria Bartiromo in June 2024. "You can just become a graduate student at one of our universities or become a visa employee at one of our tech companies." As secretary of state, Rubio has launched several initiatives to monitor and revoke the visas of foreign students. What they're saying: Education groups criticized Rubio's move. Asian Americans Advancing Justice said that "national security should undeniably be a top priority — but resorting to fearmongering, racial profiling, and xenophobia is never the answer." Trump's administration unapologetically sees Chinese students as leverage. "This is about national security, trade, our economy," a senior administration official said. "Everything is a negotiation." The timeline: Trump launched his latest trade and tariff war on April 2, calling it "Liberation Day. Two days later, China required that companies receive export licenses for the seven minerals. The licenses restrict the flow of the minerals out of the country. On May 11, the U.S. and China announced a preliminary trade deal. The two sides paused their retaliatory tariffs. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer negotiated for the U.S. On May 12, when asked by Fox News' Laura Ingraham whether rare-earth export restrictions had been lifted, Greer said: "Yep. The Chinese have agreed to remove those countermeasures." But on May 20, CNN confirmed reporting from other publications that China wasn't "getting rid of its controls over rare earths," despite the trade truce. The reports confirmed what administration officials had encountered in private talks with China: It was playing rare-earth hardball. "China cheats. It's what they do," Trump said, according to a White House official briefed on the president's comments in a subsequent meeting with his trade team. "The president wasn't happy," the official said. "He was looking for ideas, and Rubio had this idea of Chinese students." In a statement to Axios, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Rubio "made this decision in the administration's ongoing effort to protect our homeland from espionage and other hostile actions." Just before 7 p.m. Wednesday, Rubio announced on X that the "U.S. will begin revoking visas of Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields." About that time, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick informed several U.S. companies they needed to limit or stop exporting certain types of software, semiconductor chemicals, machine tools, aviation equipment, butane and ethane, according to Reuters. On Thursday, Bessent acknowledged on Fox News that trade negotiations "are a bit stalled." On Friday, Trump followed up with his statement blasting China. Hours later Deputy White House Chief of Staff Stephen Miller was on CNN, linking Rubio's announcement to the China trade talks.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Business
- The Guardian
The heat pump guide … everything you need to know
Record numbers of heat pumps were installed in the UK in 2024, according to the Heat Pump Association. At just under 100,000, the figure is well below the government's ambitious aim of 600,000 a year by 2028 but is at least edging in the right direction. Even so, it's clear that many more people will need to make the switch from gas boilers to the more carbon-friendly heat pumps if the UK is to meet its net zero goals. The heating and cooling of homes and commercial buildings accounts for 26% of global energy-related emissions, according to the International Energy Agency. In the UK, the National Audit Office reported last year that heating 28m homes created 18% of all UK greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. So it's probably time for many more of us to understand the steps we can take to lower the carbon footprint of our homes. Heat pumps take heat from outside, make it warmer, and transfer it into a building to provide heating and hot water. Depending on the type, pumps can extract heat from the air, ground or water. They can also work in reverse, absorbing heat from a building to cool it down. It may seem counterintuitive, but at the heart of a heat pump is a refrigerant that flows constantly through the system. The process starts with the refrigerant in liquid form absorbing heat from outside. As its temperature rises, the refrigerant turns into a gas (it's like water evaporating at 100C – but with a refrigerant it happens at far lower temperatures, even subzero). The gas flows to a compressor where its temperature is increased because, put simply, the compression means the molecules have less space so they collide more, releasing heat. It's this higher level of heat that is transferred from the refrigerant gas to a building's heating system – warming water for radiators and the hot water tank. Having given up its heat, the gas is decompressed, and turns back to liquid, allowing the cycle to begin over again. Crucially, this also works efficiently in harsh Nordic climates like Sweden, where heat pump manufacturer NIBE is based and the systems are commonplace. Here are the three main types of heat pump on offer: Air source heat pumpThis is the most common form of domestic heat pump in the UK and, as the name suggests, it uses outdoor air to start the 'refrigeration cycle'. The external workings are contained in a box about the size of two wheelie bins, while inside the property a hot water cylinder is needed. Ground source heat pumpThis is the subterranean version, which makes use of underground heat. Pipes are laid under, say, a lawn or in boreholes and a liquid (mainly a mixture of water and antifreeze) is circulated through them to absorb the heat. The heat is transferred into the building where the heat pump raises the temperature for heating and hot water. Ground source heat pumps are more efficient than air-source pumps but can cost more to install. Exhaust air heat pumpThe third type is the exhaust air heat pump, a ventilation system which is growing in popularity, especially with people living in flats, as they don't require an outdoor unit or ground work, just a simple vent in the wall. Here, the heat pump uses waste heat that it draws in from inside the house, extracting the energy to heat radiators or underfloor heating, as well as a hot-water cylinder. The cold, stale air is then exhausted out of the building through the vent, so the system provides heating, hot water and ventilation, and improves air quality by preventing the build-up of condensation. How long do they last?With regular servicing and maintenance, heat pumps will last, on average, for 15 to 20 years. The switch to heat pumps is mainly focused around decarbonisation, the climate crisis and the drive to net zero. But it could also significantly help reduce air pollution. A study published by the University of York found that gas boilers were responsible for 72% of the nitrogen oxides in central London between 2021 and 2023. Rather than running on fossil fuels such as gas, heat pumps use electricity, which, while currently more expensive than gas, can use more sustainable sources – particularly as more wind and solar farms are being built. Heat pumps also use energy more efficiently than gas and oil boilers, and can be up to six times more energy efficient, in the case of the latest NIBE ground source heat pump. To truly enjoy the benefits of a heat pump, it's essential that you get the right one for your home and that it's properly installed by experts. The website, for example, has a step-by-step guide to heat pump installation, setting out all the considerations. Pretty high on the list will be cost – and it's worth knowing that depending where in the UK you live there are grants available, including £7,500 towards an air and ground source heat pump in England and Wales through the boiler upgrade scheme. In Scotland, the government is offering a home energy grant of up to £7,500, plus an additional £7,500 available as an optional interest-free loan. Another benefit is that no VAT is charged on heat pumps in the UK. You'll need your property to be well insulated and, as heat pumps typically operate at lower temperatures than gas boilers, you might need to increase the size of your radiators so they emit sufficient heat. All houses will need a heat loss survey and inspection of their systems before the heat pump is installed. Michael Dungworth, head of technical at NIBE, says: 'The first thing to consider when planning an installation is finding an MCS-certified installer, who can decide on the best solution that would be right for your property.' The company has been making renewable energy solutions since 1952, and has been at the forefront of heat pump technology, producing ever more efficient units, and innovations such as the exhaust air heat pump, most recently with cooling capabilities. 'At NIBE, our products build on decades of research and development,' says Rick Clarke, product manager at NIBE. 'Our units are highly efficient with low running costs, so they contribute towards a sustainable environment.' NIBE has also recently been awarded Quiet Mark certification for its core product range. 'This highlights our commitment to delivering exceptional indoor climate systems, with minimal disruption to home life,' he says. So whether you want to do your bit for the environment by reducing your carbon footprint, or potentially lower your energy bills, a heat pump could be the solution for you. NIBE combines smart technology with renewable energy to produce energy-efficient solutions for heating your home. Take a look at its full range of heat pumps
