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Google is exploring the use of nuclear energy in the US and other countries as a sustainable way to power energy-intensive data centers, Bloomberg reports. Working with utility partners and power generators to find solutions for onboarding more power to the national grid would help navigate “highly regulated markets” in the US, global head of data center energy Amanda Peterson Corio said. Other tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon have also turned to nuclear as a power source to meet emission targets amid surging electricity demand for data centers. Both companies turned to the state of Pennsylvania to get their nuclear energy, reports Bloomberg.
REMEMBER- Google’s emissions surged nearly 50% in five years due to AI energy demand: Tech giant Google’s greenhouse gas emissions have risen 48% within the past five years, spurred by the massive energy consumption needed for its data centers and supply chain emissions as it integrates AI into more products. Google reported total GHG emissions of 14.3 mn tons of CO2 equivalent in 2023, marking a 13% increase from the previous year and a 48% rise since the 2019 base year. Microsoft also reported a 30% increase in carbon emissions since 2020, primarily driven by its AI investments.
Google’s cloud has infrastructure in the region: Google has several energy-intensive cloud infrastructures in the region. In 2023, it launched its new cloud region in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, which is estimated to contribute around USD 109 bn to the Saudi economy by 2030, according to a study by Access Partnership and commissioned by Google Cloud. Over in Kuwait, three large sites were allocated to build Google data centers in May 2023, with a completion date set for 2025, Kuwait News Agency reported.
3i Infrastructure receives EUR 309 mn offer for Valorem stake: UK-headquartered investment firm 3i Infrastructure has received a EUR 309 mn offer for its 33% stake in French renewable energy developer Valorem, Reuters reports. The binding offer, made by AIP Management and co-investors, reflects a 15% increase from the firm’s March valuation, reflecting growing interest in the sector. Valorem’s portfolio includes onshore wind, solar, and hydroelectric power projects across France, Finland, Greece, and Poland. The transaction, pending regulatory approvals, is expected to close in 1Q 2025.
