Articles tagged with "data-centers"
Passive tech sets cooling record for overheating AI data centers
Engineers at the University of California, San Diego have developed a groundbreaking passive cooling technology for data centers that sets a new record by handling over 800 watts per square centimeter of heat dissipation. This fiber-based cooling system uses a specially engineered membrane with interconnected pores that passively removes heat through evaporation, eliminating the need for energy-intensive fans, compressors, or pumps. Unlike traditional cooling methods, this approach leverages capillary action to wick liquid across the membrane surface, where evaporation naturally draws heat away from electronic chips, offering a quieter and more energy-efficient alternative. The innovation addresses longstanding challenges in adapting evaporative cooling to the extreme thermal loads of modern AI data centers, where conventional porous membranes either clogged or caused unstable boiling. By optimizing pore size and reinforcing the membrane mechanically, the UCSD team achieved stable, high-performance cooling over multiple hours. While the technology currently operates below its theoretical maximum, efforts are underway to integrate it into cold plates for direct processor cooling and to commercialize the solution through a startup
energycooling-technologydata-centerspassive-coolingfiber-membranethermal-managementenergy-efficiencyPanasonic Develops a Cooling Water Circulation Pump for Data Centers — Promoting the Strategic Enhancement of the Pump Business - CleanTechnica
Panasonic’s Living Appliances and Solutions Company celebrated the 70th anniversary of its pump business in 2025, marking a significant milestone since its inception in 1955 with home well pumps. Over the decades, Panasonic has expanded its pump applications to include built-in pumps for water heaters, heating appliances, and bathroom equipment, contributing to energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. With cumulative shipments surpassing 53 million units, Panasonic pumps are widely used not only in its own products but also by various manufacturers globally. In response to the growing demand for efficient cooling solutions in data centers—especially driven by the rise of AI technologies and the increasing heat generated by CPUs and GPUs—Panasonic has developed a next-generation cooling water circulation pump tailored for data center cooling systems. This pump integrates advanced simulation technologies to improve performance by 75% (from 40 to 70 L/min) while maintaining a compact size suitable for installation within Coolant Distribution Units (CDUs). Key features include high efficiency, compact housing for
energydata-centerscooling-systemsliquid-coolingPanasonicpump-technologyenergy-efficiencyPowering Data: NREL Partner Forum Puts Everything on the Table - CleanTechnica
The 2025 NREL Partner Forum convened over 300 stakeholders in Golden, Colorado, to address the rapidly growing energy demands of U.S. data centers, which have tripled over the past decade and doubled in the last two years. Hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the event emphasized collaboration among utilities, companies, governments, and communities to strategize how to power data centers sustainably and efficiently. Key themes included the need for data centers to become active participants in grid management, the importance of siting data centers near power sources rather than moving power to them, and the necessity of community involvement in planning. Keynote speaker Dean Nelson highlighted the complexity of balancing social, economic, ecological, and community priorities amid the surging instantaneous power demands of modern data centers, driven by advances in chip design that increase power consumption density. Panelists, including Mason Emnett of Constellation Energy, stressed that competition over energy resources creates regulatory friction, advocating instead for collaborative approaches that consider
energydata-centersgrid-integrationrenewable-energypower-managementNRELenergy-demandWhat Happens When AI, EVs, and Smart Homes All Plug In at Once? - CleanTechnica
The article from CleanTechnica discusses the growing challenges faced by the electric distribution grid as artificial intelligence (AI), electric vehicles (EVs), and smart homes increasingly demand more energy. It highlights that much of our energy consumption is invisible, powering everything from data centers and AI systems to e-mobility and smart home technologies. According to a 2025 study by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), US electricity demand is expected to rise by 50% by 2050, driven largely by a 300% increase in data center energy use and a staggering 9,000% rise in energy consumption for electric mobility and charging. The International Energy Agency warns that the rapid expansion of data centers could strain local power networks, risking more frequent blackouts if grid upgrades do not keep pace. The article emphasizes that the current grid infrastructure is ill-equipped to handle this surge in demand without significant investment and modernization. Utilities like CenterPoint Energy are proactively investing billions in grid improvements to meet future needs, anticipating substantial increases in peak electricity usage. Technological innovations, such as smart grid automation and advanced protection devices, offer promising solutions to enhance grid resilience and reliability. These technologies help manage energy fluctuations, improve efficiency, and reduce service interruptions, positioning the grid to better support the evolving energy landscape shaped by AI, EVs, and smart homes.
energyelectric-gridelectrificationdata-centersartificial-intelligenceenergy-consumptionsmart-homesA Political Battle Is Brewing Over Data Centers
The article discusses the emerging political conflict surrounding a 10-year moratorium on state-level AI regulation included in former President Donald Trump’s "Big Beautiful Bill." This moratorium has raised concerns about its potential impact on the siting and regulation of AI data centers. Representative Thomas Massie criticized the provision for potentially enabling corporations to build massive AI data centers near residential areas by limiting local governments' ability to regulate zoning and land use. The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) also opposed the moratorium, emphasizing that local laws help communities manage data center impacts such as utility costs, water resource use, and grid stability. The debate highlights broader tensions between federal and state authority over AI regulation. Some lawmakers, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, expressed fears that the moratorium undermines federalism and could lead to forced eminent domain for data center development. Critics argue the moratorium is an overly broad restriction on state AI laws, while supporters, including White House AI adviser David Sacks, contend that a unified federal standard is necessary to avoid a confusing patchwork of state regulations that could hinder innovation. A senior official involved in the bill’s negotiation clarified that the moratorium was not intended to restrict local control over physical infrastructure like data centers, but rather to create a clear federal framework for AI model regulation. The controversy over the moratorium reflects growing local resistance to the rapid expansion of data centers across the U.S., which consume significant electricity and water resources. Data centers’ rising energy demands—expected to triple by 2035—have led to community pushback despite their economic benefits. The article underscores how the intersection of AI regulation and data center development is becoming a contentious issue, with local, state, and federal interests increasingly at odds.
energydata-centersAI-regulationstate-legislationutility-costsgrid-stabilitywater-resourcesAmazon announces $20B nuclear-powered data center expansion in US
Amazon has announced a historic $20 billion investment to build two large data center complexes in Pennsylvania, marking the largest private sector investment in the state’s history. One complex is under construction near Philadelphia, while the other is planned adjacent to the Susquehanna nuclear power plant in northeastern Pennsylvania. Amazon intends to power the latter data center directly from the nuclear plant, a move that has drawn federal scrutiny and is currently under review by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). This direct power connection could provide Amazon with up to 960 megawatts—about 40% of the plant’s output—enough electricity to power over half a million homes, potentially at a premium price. The Pennsylvania governor, Josh Shapiro, emphasized that this investment aims to revitalize local communities and reverse the trend of young workers leaving the state for better opportunities. Amazon’s acquisition of the nearby data center and land from Talen Energy for $650 million last year enables the company to expand significantly on that site. This expansion is part of Amazon’s broader strategy, which has seen about $10 billion pledged in 2024 alone for data centers across several states, driven by the growing energy demands of AI technologies. However, the direct power deal raises concerns about grid fairness and energy access, as it may limit availability for others and bypass grid improvement fees, prompting ongoing regulatory review.
energynuclear-powerdata-centersAmazonenergy-infrastructurerenewable-energypower-gridScientists build €8 underwater data hubs from old smartphones
robotIoTenergymaterialsdata-centerssustainabilitymarine-technologyMeta strikes 20-year nuclear power deal to fuel AI and save Illinois reactor
energynuclear-powerclean-energyAIdata-centerselectricity-demandrenewable-energyMeta buys a nuclear power plant (more or less)
energynuclear-powercarbon-accountingclimate-impactdata-centersrenewable-energytech-companiesBreakneck data center growth challenges Microsoft’s sustainability goals
energysustainabilitycarbon-emissionsdata-centersmaterialsMicrosoftclean-energyGoogle backs 1800 MW nuclear power for data centers in US push
nuclear-energydata-centersenergy-demandadvanced-reactorsGoogleElementlsite-developmentAI Is Eating Data Center Power Demand—and It’s Only Getting Worse
energyAIdata-centerspower-demandgreenhouse-gas-emissionssustainabilityclimate-impactMeta adds another 650 MW of solar power to its AI push
solar-powerrenewable-energydata-centersenergy-capacitypower-purchase-agreementssolar-developmentclean-energyGoogle inks another massive solar power deal to electrify its data centers
energysolar-powerrenewable-energydata-centerscarbon-footprintclean-powersustainabilityA New Flow Battery Takes On The Data Center Energy Crisis
energyflow-batteryrenewable-energyenergy-storagedata-centerssustainable-technologyclean-technologyThe Nuclear Company raises $51M to develop massive reactor sites
energynuclear-powerreactorselectricitydata-centerspower-generationrenewable-energyThe Nuclear Company raises $46M to develop massive reactor sites
energynuclear-powerreactorselectricitydata-centerspower-generationrenewable-energyGoogle inks deal to develop 1.8 GW of advanced nuclear power
energynuclear-poweradvanced-reactorsdata-centersrenewable-energysmall-modular-reactorspower-generation'Cơn sốt' trung tâm dữ liệu AI đang chững lại?
energydata-centersAIMicrosoftAmazonelectricity-consumptioncapacity-management