Latest news with #energyconsumption
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Germany's energy consumption rises 2.3% in H1 2025
Germany experienced a notable rise in energy consumption during the first half (H1) of 2025, according to a report released by the industry statistics group AG Energiebilanzen (AGEB). In the first six months of 2025, energy usage in Europe's largest economy reached 187.3 million tonnes of coal equivalent, a 2.3% rise from 183.1 million during the same period in 2024, as detailed in AGEB's report. This rise was due to cooler weather and a slight improvement in overall economic performance. For the full year 2024, energy consumption totalled 359.6 million tonnes - a decrease of 1.1% from the previous year, according to Reuters. Natural gas usage surged 4.7%, while light heating oil demand rose almost 18%, reflecting changes in weather patterns. Despite overall stability in imported hard coal usage, there were distinct variations across different sectors. Coal consumption in power plants increased by a substantial 23% as power stations sought to compensate for reduced wind and hydroelectric generation due to unfavourable weather conditions, while photovoltaic (PV) power saw an impressive increase of 25%. In contrast, the steel industry cut back on its hard coal consumption by 12%, aligning with a reduction in pig iron production rates. AGEB also estimated that CO₂ emissions from thermal power plants rose by 2.6%. In June 2025, Germany announced a selective reduction in electricity taxes for the energy, retail and industry sectors. This decision has raised concerns among industry stakeholders. While the proposed tax cuts are intended to alleviate financial burdens, they have faced criticism for potentially distorting the market and having a limited impact. "Germany's energy consumption rises 2.3% in H1 2025" was originally created and published by Power Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Finextra
6 days ago
- Business
- Finextra
The AI energy crisis: Why chatbots are using up our drinking water
0 This content has been selected, created and edited by the Finextra editorial team based upon its relevance and interest to our community. Just this week, the Trump administration has introduced its new 'AI Action Plan' with the direct aim to speed up the adoption of AI and the build of more data centres, all the while cutting regulation to enable this. As the world continues its AI race, how much is too much? Concerns have long been raised about the amount of energy AI uses. The International Energy Agency has stated that, by 2030, electricity demand for AI-optimised data centres is forecast to more than quadruple. Similarly, increasingly large amounts of water are required to produce the energy needed to power AI. On top of that, data centres themselves have started using water in order to cope with the boom in AI usage. Historically, data centres have used air cooling systems, which was sufficient to cool systems up until AI came along. Now, air cooling is no longer enough to prevent systems from overheating. Generative AI uses up to 33 times more energy than machines running task-specific software, which is why liquid cooling mechanisms have been implemented in many data centres. The problem with liquid cooling, however, is that it relies on clean water in order to prevent corrosion to the systems or the growth of bacteria. The solution: Drinking water. And while the water used in the cooling mechanism is designed to be re-introduced into the natural water source, up to 80% evaporates in the process. 'What this means is that this type of water is gone, and we are extracting water from a water circuit that is necessary for irrigation, for human consumption and hygiene,' Lorena Jaume-Palasí, founder of the Ethical Tech Society, commented in the BBC. Dr Venkatesh Uddameri, an expert in water resources management, is additionally quoted stating that a 'typical data centre can use between 11 million and 19 million litres of water per day, roughly the same as a town of 30,000 to 50,000 people.' Data centres put pressure on the water sources of local communities While many tech giants like Microsoft, Facebook and Google have pledged to be water neutral by 2030, AI has changed the equation. One of the latest concerns has been Elon Musk's self-proclaimed 'largest data centre in the world' for xAI, Colossus, build in Memphis in 2024. Apart from sidestepping environmental laws, the 'expected water demand is 5+ million gallons per day in an area where arsenic pollution threatens the drinking water supply,' according to a local non-profit concerned about the data centre's environmental impact. Memphis is not alone. Research by Bloomberg News found that in the US, 'two thirds of new data centres built or in development since 2022 are in places already gripped by high levels of water stress.' In the UK, Prime Minister Starmer aims to become a world leader in AI, having pledged a £2 billion investment to data centre growth and digital skills development. However, some of these centres are proposed to be built in areas already under threat of water shortages. On top of that, the government has designated data centres as 'critical national infrastructure', which means they will face fewer planning restrictions than traditional developments. How do we fix the AI water problem? There is good news as well, which is that companies are already working on technology to be more water efficient. Closed-loop and immersion cooling are being adopted by companies like Microsoft in order to implement zero-water cooling systems. Closed-loop cooling eliminates the need for evaporating water, allowing systems to re-circulate coolants continuously. Immersion cooling is another technique applied, which sees servers submerged in non-conductive fluids. According to DataCentre, 'these fluids either circulate passively or follow a two-phase process, evaporating to absorb heat and condensing for reuse. There are no pumps, fans or water involved.' Communities around the world are urging their governments to ensure water and energy are part of the equastion. In the UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering has asked the government to ensure tech companies accurately report how much water and energy their data centres are using as the country gears up to become a 'world leader in AI.' The report also asks to introduce sustainability requirements for all data centres, including the move to zero-water cooling in order to preserve precious fresh water reserves. The crucial step is ensuring the water problem is being considered industry-wide, and that companies are being held accountable for their water and energy usage, as well as their dedication toward reducing their environmental impact. Unchecked AI expansion will only move us closer to Day Zero.
Zawya
23-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Saudi Arabia was top buyer of Russian fuel oil in June, data shows
MOSCOW - Saudi Arabia was the top destination for Russian seaborne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil (VGO) exports in June as the hot summer season required more energy consumption, according to traders and LSEG data. Since the European Union's full embargo on Russian oil products went into effect in February 2023, Middle Eastern and Asian countries became the main destination for Russia's fuel oil and VGO supplies. Direct fuel oil and VGO shipments from Russian ports to Saudi Arabia increased in June by 9% month-on-month to 0.8 million metric tons. Russian dark oil products loadings to India and Turkey declined last month after previous ample supplies by 49% to around 0.34 million tons and by 33% to 0.28 million tons, respectively, shipping data showed. Nearly 400,000 tons of fuel oil and VGO were supplied in June from the Russian ports to the Ain Sukhna terminal in Egypt - the big fuel hub, which often allocates oil products for storage and further exports. Singapore, Senegal and China were also among the other top destinations for Russian fuel oil and VGO export supplies last month, according to LSEG data. Only two vessels carrying 180,000 tons of fuel oil from the Russian ports are heading to Asia via the African Cape of Good Hope. Traders have been diverting Russian oil products cargoes around Africa since December 2023 to avoid the Red Sea due to a heightened risk of attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group. All the shipping data above are based on the date of cargo departure. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Louise Heavens)
Reuters
23-07-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Saudi Arabia was top buyer of Russian fuel oil in June, data shows
MOSCOW, July 23 (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia was the top destination for Russian seaborne fuel oil and vacuum gasoil (VGO) exports in June as the hot summer season required more energy consumption, according to traders and LSEG data. Since the European Union's full embargo on Russian oil products went into effect in February 2023, Middle Eastern and Asian countries became the main destination for Russia's fuel oil and VGO supplies. Direct fuel oil and VGO shipments from Russian ports to Saudi Arabia increased in June by 9% month-on-month to 0.8 million metric tons. Russian dark oil products loadings to India and Turkey declined last month after previous ample supplies by 49% to around 0.34 million tons and by 33% to 0.28 million tons, respectively, shipping data showed. Nearly 400,000 tons of fuel oil and VGO were supplied in June from the Russian ports to the Ain Sukhna terminal in Egypt - the big fuel hub, which often allocates oil products for storage and further exports. Singapore, Senegal and China were also among the other top destinations for Russian fuel oil and VGO export supplies last month, according to LSEG data. Only two vessels carrying 180,000 tons of fuel oil from the Russian ports are heading to Asia via the African Cape of Good Hope. Traders have been diverting Russian oil products cargoes around Africa since December 2023 to avoid the Red Sea due to a heightened risk of attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group. All the shipping data above are based on the date of cargo departure.
ABC News
17-07-2025
- General
- ABC News
Simple changes that will reduce your power bills
New analysis says the path to lower power bills isn't government subsidies, but simple changes can make huge differences to the amount of energy we consume. Adam Harvey reports.
