search
data centre industry
Trends
- 1Ukraine's electricity consumption falls to record low after Russian attacks●Ukraine's electricity consumption plunges to record low due to Russian attacks Electricity consumption in Ukraine has fa
Ukraine's electricity consumption has dropped 9% year-on-year to an all-time low of 5.6 TWh, according to the Centre for Economic Strategy. The decline is attributed to Russian attacks on energy infrastructure, widespread destruction, and the shutdown of businesses across the country. The figures underline the mounting economic toll of the war on Ukraine's power system and industrial activity.
- 2Energy costs and AI power demand reshape New York climate talks▼Energy costs and AI power demand reshape climate talks in New York
Climate discussions in New York are being reshaped by two mounting pressures: rising energy costs for households and industry, and the surging electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centres. As negotiators and business leaders weigh decarbonisation goals against affordability and grid reliability, the rapid growth of AI is complicating plans to phase out fossil fuels, forcing climate policy to account for a new wave of power consumption.
- 3Data centre boom strains Alberta's water and power resources●An environmental reckoning? Data centre rush hits hard realities # Alberta # Canada # Tech # AI # Water # DataCentres #
Alberta is facing growing scrutiny over its rapid expansion of data centres, driven largely by demand from the artificial intelligence industry. Reports highlight the strain on local water supplies, electricity grids and natural gas resources, with rural communities and utilities caught up in the push. Critics frame it as an environmental reckoning, raising questions about whether the economic benefits outweigh the costs to land, water and climate commitments in the province.
- 4
The rapid expansion of AI is driving a surge in data centre construction, and with it a sharp rise in electricity demand that power grids are struggling to meet. Coverage highlights the tension between tech companies' growth plans and energy sustainability, raising questions about how the industry will source clean power at scale.
- 5SiMa.ai raises $150m at $1.45bn valuation to challenge Nvidia▼SiMa.ai raises $150m at $1.45bn valuation to rival Nvidia at the edge
US edge-AI chip startup SiMa.ai has raised $150 million in new funding at a $1.45 billion valuation, positioning itself as a challenger to Nvidia in edge artificial intelligence. The company builds machine-learning processors designed to run AI workloads directly on devices rather than in data centres. The funding round is drawing attention in semiconductor circles as investors seek alternatives to Nvidia's dominance in AI computing hardware.
- 6Ed Zitron questions where Nvidia's chips are actually going●Watched Ed Zitron on The Tech Report this week and one question stuck with me: where are all the chips? Even Microsoft's
Tech industry commentator Ed Zitron appeared on The Tech Report this week, arguing that Nvidia can compel large customers like Microsoft to buy and hold vast quantities of AI chips that sit idle. He noted Microsoft's own chief executive has admitted to holding chip inventory the company cannot yet connect, fuelling debate over whether data centre buildouts can keep pace with Nvidia's supply commitments.
- 7Bain says AI's $6 trillion buildout needs new funding models●New Innovation Is Required to Fund AI’s $6 Trillion Buildout
Bain & Company warns that the roughly $6 trillion investment needed to build out global AI infrastructure cannot be financed through current funding approaches, and that new innovation in financing will be required. The report highlights the enormous capital demands of data centres, chips and power capacity behind the AI boom, and is drawing attention from investors and industry watchers weighing whether such spending can be sustained.
- 8
Data centres running AI hardware are increasingly adopting near-total liquid cooling for high-density racks, as traditional air cooling can no longer handle the heat output of modern accelerators. Engineers and industry observers are discussing how direct liquid cooling is becoming the default design choice for new AI infrastructure deployments.
- 9Critics slam tech billionaires' claim that AI will fix climate change●It’s galling that tech billionaires tell us that letting them destroy the climate to develop AI will allow AI to tell us
Commenters are pushing back on arguments from tech billionaires that the climate damage caused by building and powering AI data centres will be offset because AI will eventually help solve climate change. The argument, circulated widely online, criticises both the tech industry for making the claim and news outlets for repeating it without scrutiny, calling it self-serving and unproven.
- 10Finland's data-centre boom drives demand for local manufacturing●🇫🇮 Finland’s multi-billion-euro data-centre boom is spilling into manufacturing Finland’s wave of data-centre investment
Finland is seeing multi-billion-euro investment in data centres, and the benefits are extending beyond construction. Growing demand for locally produced electrical, ventilation and industrial equipment is creating new opportunities for Finnish manufacturers, as the build-out of computing infrastructure ripples through the wider economy.
- 11Jinfu Technology raises $44M for liquid-cooling expansion▼Jinfu Technology raises $44M to fund liquid-cooling expansion
Jinfu Technology has raised $44 million in new funding that it will use to expand its liquid-cooling business. The company supplies cooling technology increasingly needed for data centres and high-performance computing, where rising energy demands are driving demand for more efficient thermal management. The investment signals continued investor interest in infrastructure supporting AI-driven computing growth.
- 12Congress slams Maharashtra government over data-centre push amid drought●Congress attacks Maharashtra government for data-centre industry expansion push amid drought
India's Congress party has accused the Maharashtra state government of prioritising the expansion of the data-centre industry while much of the state faces drought conditions. The party argues that promoting water- and power-intensive infrastructure during a water crisis shows misplaced priorities, and is demanding the government focus instead on drought relief and farmers' needs.
- 13Sakai Chemical Emerges as Unexpected AI Supply Linchpin●From Geisha Face Paint to Servers, Sakai Chemical Emerges as AI Linchpin
Sakai Chemical, a Japanese specialty chemicals maker long known for pigments used in products such as geisha face paint, is drawing attention as a key supplier for the AI boom. Its materials are used in server production, placing the company in the middle of the global buildout of data centre hardware, and prompting fresh interest in its role in the tech supply chain.
- 14ITI Gathers Industry Leaders on Sustainable Digital Infrastructure●ITI Convenes Industry Leaders to Advance Sustainable Digital Infrastructure
The Information Technology Industry Council brought together industry leaders to advance sustainable digital infrastructure. The initiative focuses on making data centres and digital networks more energy-efficient and environmentally responsible as demand for digital services grows. Details on specific commitments or outcomes have not yet been released, but the convening signals growing industry attention on the environmental footprint of digital technology.
- 15AI power demand forces taller, higher-voltage poles in Australia●Double the height, 160 times the voltage. The latest ugly side effect of the AI revolution By Norman Hermant Electricity
Electricity distributor Jemena is replacing 7-metre wooden power poles with 15-metre industrial poles rated up to 66,000 volts, a shift reporters link to surging electricity demand from AI data centres. The upgrades carry costs and visual impacts for communities, prompting debate about the infrastructure burden of the AI boom on ordinary neighbourhoods.
- 1614 US states weigh moratoriums on new data centres●At least 14 US states are weighing data-centre moratoriums as communities push back on Big Tech’s power and water grab.
At least 14 US states are considering moratoriums on new data centres as local communities push back against the industry's heavy demands on electricity grids and water supplies. Environmental campaigners, including Greenpeace, are calling for a halt to new mega data centres until binding rules ensure the technology serves people and the planet rather than corporate profit.