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Reuters
6 days ago
- Business
- Reuters
Nvidia, Dell to supply next US Department of Energy supercomputer
BERKELEY, California - May 29 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday said its "Doudna" due in 2026 will use technology from Nvidia and Dell. The computer, named for Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna who made key CRISPR gene-editing discoveries, will be housed at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. At an event at the lab attended by Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, officials said that the system will use Nvidia's latest "Vera Rubin" chips built into liquid-cooled servers by Dell and will be used by 11,000 researchers.
Reuters
20-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Google brings AI to grid teams slashing US connection times
May 20 - In April, U.S. power grid operator PJM announced it will deploy Google and Tapestry AI-enhanced tools to accelerate the approval of grid connection requests. PJM operates the largest American power network mostly across eastern states and its partnership with Google is the latest implementation of advanced software by grid operators to improve and speed up connections, data sharing and project management. Google and other power Big Tech groups are major buyers of power and seek faster development of new generation to meet soaring demand from data centers and other computing facilities. Regional Transmission Organisations (RTOs) and Independent System Operators (ISOs) have been inundated with a large number of clean power applications, leading to long delays for project developers. The average length of grid connection studies was 40 months between 2018 and 2022, not including the Texas ERCOT grid, according to a report by Grid Strategies and The Brattle Group in February 2024. Delays differ between markets and ERCOT has independent regulatory status and a more efficient approach. There was 2,600 GW in U.S. grid connection queues at the end of 2023, 95% of it solar, wind and battery storage, according to Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). This is more than double the total installed generation capacity of 1,280 GW, although not all projects will be completed. Longer timelines impact the speed at which new resources can be brought online, add to costs and contribute to project cancellations, Caitlin Marquis, Managing Director of industry group Advanced Energy United, told Reuters Events. "We find that [connection] costs are rising, that renewable energy projects see significantly higher costs to connect to the grid than fossil fuel projects, and that costs vary widely," Berkeley Lab said in a report in January 2025. "This unpredictability increases the uncertainty and financial risk of renewable development." CHART: US average grid connection costs PJM has already been adopting automation tools to help clear a huge backlog of clean power applications which saw many projects spending more than five years in the connection queue, according to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Automation has allowed PJM to process about 140 GW out of 200 GW in its queue since 2023, with the remaining 60 GW due for completion by 2026, a PJM spokesperson told Reuters Events. From spring 2026, PJM aims to complete grid connection approvals within one to two years based on impact. Faster connections Inundated with clean power applications, PJM paused all new applications in 2023 and implemented a process to approve projects on a 'first ready, first served' basis, following new rules implemented by the FERC. Previously, projects were addressed on a first come, first served system but this led to vast numbers of speculative projects that were less developed which clogged up grid connection queues. Join hundreds of senior executives across energy, industry and finance at Reuters Events Global Energy Transition 2025. Of the 140 GW projects cleared from the queue since 2023, PJM has signed grid connection agreements with 18 GW and another 63 GW is progressing towards signing agreements over the next two years, although not all of those are guaranteed to proceed, the PJM spokesperson told Reuters Events. From 2026, PJM will require project applications to hit milestones and provide deposits, to reduce speculative applications. CHART: Power generation in grid connection queues at end of 2023 Midwest grid operator MISO and the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) are also using the latest digital technology to slash grid connection times. For several years MISO has used an online submission tool to process grid connection requests and the operator is rolling out a new software tool that will automate and accelerate connection studies. Developed by Pearl Street Technologies, the software tool is "expected to perform the pre-queue and phase 1 studies faster and more efficiently than our existing process which includes file setup and human review," a MISO spokesperson said. In a benchmarking analysis on a $13 billion network upgrade by MISO, the tool completed the Phase 1 study process in just ten days, in comparison with the 686 days using the old system. MISO is now working towards achieving a one-year connection approval process. For exclusive insights on the energy transition, sign up to our newsletter. SPP uses both external and in-house grid connection software 'to find value-add solutions that provide short and long-term advantages in our engineering studies and data management," Derek Wingfield, SPP communications manager told Reuters Events. SPP is also using Pearl Street's software and is also working with Grid Unity, a software company which specialises in grid connection management. Digital technology has enabled SPP to squeeze 'seven years of backlogged [grid connection] requests into three, while also adding two of the three largest clusters on record into the timeframe," Wingfield said. SPP uses an annual portfolio of grid connection agreements to optimise transition planning. Currently, developers are informed of the grid connection costs following completion of studies, but SPP plans to move to a fixed amount upfront charge per megawatt. 'We anticipate this new approach would be a major win for developers to aid their planning during the interconnection process," an SPP spokesperson said. AI future Going forward, grid connection times can be lowered further provided companies are willing to invest and increase data transparency. Many organisations continue to lack internal software engineering expertise or are unwilling to make the upfront financial investment in software programs, Marquis noted. AI can play a pivotal role in accelerating grid connections and increasing the efficiency of grid networks, Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer, Alphabet and Google, said in a blog post in April. "We are bringing together the power of Alphabet, including Tapestry, Google Cloud and Google DeepMind, to build and deliver a set of collaborative AI tools that will enable PJM to make faster decisions with greater confidence," Porat said. "Creative solutions from across the private and public sectors are crucial to ensure the U.S. has the energy capacity, affordability and reliability needed to capitalize on the opportunity for growth."
Globe and Mail
18-03-2025
- Science
- Globe and Mail
Why Geothermal is the Hot Ticket to Low-Carbon Data Centers?
Geothermal energy has great potential, but it has been underused for years. Although it's been available for over a century, its global impact has been limited. New drilling and resource management technologies, many from the oil and gas sector, are now lowering costs and tapping into deeper reservoirs. These innovations could make geothermal a crucial part of future energy systems, especially for the proliferating data centers. Data Centers' Power Hunger: The Next Energy Crisis? Data centers have seen a sharp rise in electricity use in recent years, starting from a small base. A December 2024 report from Lawrence Berkeley Lab (LBL) found that data center power demand grew by 20-25% each year in the early 2020s. Their share of total U.S. electricity use rose from about 2% in 2020 to around 4.5% in 2024. By 2028, data centers will consume between 325 and 580 TWh of electricity, accounting for 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. energy use. Source: Lawrence Berkeley Lab Tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Meta are expanding quickly. This growth pushes utilities and policymakers to find sustainable energy solutions. Geothermal Energy's Role in Low-Carbon Future Geothermal energy harnesses Earth's heat to produce electricity with minimal emissions. Unlike wind and solar, which depend on weather, geothermal plants run at over 90% capacity. This ensures a stable power supply. According to EIA, geothermal power plants create electricity without burning fuel, leading to very low pollution. They emit 97% less sulfur and 99% less carbon dioxide than similar fossil fuel plants. These plants use scrubbers to remove hydrogen sulfide from natural reservoirs. They then inject the used steam and water back into the earth. This process helps renew the resource and reduces emissions. The U.S. DOE revealed that, By 2050, geothermal energy can avoid up to 516 million metric tons (MMT) of CO₂ equivalent emissions. This is comparable to removing 6 million cars from the road per year. Geysers and fumaroles in places like Yellowstone National Park are protected by law and are national treasures. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS): The Next Big Power Play for Data Centers The U.S. has about 4 GW of geothermal capacity, mainly in California and Nevada. Traditional geothermal taps into naturally occurring steam or hot water. Next-gen geothermal tech, called Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), uses advanced drilling. This method taps into heat from deep rock layers. This expands its potential beyond the Western states. EGS provides a great solution to rising energy needs and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions. By deploying EGS at data centers, companies can generate clean and reliable power. This makes geothermal a viable option for sustainable growth. Rhodium Group says geothermal energy could supply 55-64% of data center energy needs by the early 2030s. Large-scale data centers run by Amazon, Microsoft, and other tech giants will need about 27 GW of power by 2030. Of this, 15-17 GW could come from geothermal facilities built at hyperscale data centers. With strategic placement near optimal geothermal sites, energy costs could drop by up to 45%. In a broader scenario, geothermal could supply at least 15% of power in 20 out of 28 key data center hubs. Most geothermal potential lies in the western U.S., but cities like Northern Virginia, Chicago, Columbus, and Memphis also have promise. Only Atlanta and New York City have limited potential for on-site geothermal. Source: Rhodium report Direct Cooling: A Smart Energy Solution Geothermal can also cool data centers effectively. AI-driven facilities generate excessive heat, increasing the need for advanced cooling systems. Instead of relying on electric methods like adiabatic or liquid cooling, geothermal can directly manage temperatures. Here's how: Geothermal heat pumps use underground pipes to cool IT components efficiently. Geothermal absorption chillers use low-grade heat to create cooling through evaporation. Shallow aquifers offer another way to access stable underground temperatures for cooling. By reducing the need for deep drilling, these methods lower costs and minimize water use—an advantage in water-scarce regions. The Future of Geothermal Power An NREL report predicts geothermal will make up 1.94% of U.S. generating capacity by 2035 and 3.94% by 2050. Geothermal energy runs steadily. Its impact on clean energy is much greater when we look at total electricity generation. Source: NREL According to DOE, the U.S. grid will need 700-900 GW of extra firm capacity by 2050. Next-gen geothermal could provide 90-300 GW. In many decarbonization plans, solar PV and onshore wind are key players. Battery storage and natural gas provide backup support. Source: DOE Despite its low carbon potential, geothermal cooling isn't widely used due to high upfront costs. Tax credits and utility incentives help data centers save energy and cut emissions. Some companies are investing in it. However, more research is needed. This will help improve efficiency and tackle issues like heat buildup in certain climates. On a positive note, DOE revealed that costs could drop to $60-70/MWh by 2030. The U.S. Department of Energy's Enhanced Geothermal Shot™ aims for $45/MWh by 2035. Tech Giants Invest in Geothermal Energy Major tech companies are investing in geothermal. In June 2024, Alphabet teamed up with NV Energy. They secured 115 MW of geothermal power from Fervo Energy. A few months later, Meta partnered with Sage Geosystems. They aimed to supply geothermal power to data centers located east of the Rocky Mountains. This marked a first for the region. Data centers will pay a 20% premium for green energy over standard rates. This analysis shows that geothermal energy could transform data center power and cooling. With support from innovation and policy, it offers a reliable, low-emission option. As demand grows, it drives the industry toward sustainability.
