50 h. ago AI could account for nearly half of datacentre power usage ‘by end of year’

Analysis comes as energy agency predicts systems will need as much energy by end of decade as Japan uses todayArtificial intelligence systems could account for nearly half of datacentre power consumption by the end of this year, analysis has revealed.The estimates by Alex de Vries-Gao, the founder of the Digiconomist tech sustainability website, came as the International Energy Agency forecast that AI would require almost as much energy by the end of this decade as Japan uses today. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago NASA warns major solar storm set to cause blackouts on Earth

NASA has warned that massive solar storm is heading toward Earth, threatening to disrupt communications, navigation systems, and power grids around the world.

Events

3 d. ago NASA warns terrifying blackouts, dropped calls and GPS chaos could hit THIS WEEK

NASA has warned that massive solar storm is heading toward Earth, threatening to disrupt communications, navigation systems, and power grids around the world.

Events

1 week ago The energy transition is getting strained – and that’s when things break

The Spanish blackout shows what can happen when building critical infrastucture is neglected, writes John Forster

Politics

2 w. ago What's your pet saying? AI could help translate animal sounds into words

A cutting-edge Chinese tech company is using the power of artificial intelligence to create a system that helps curious pet owners decode the hidden meanings behind their animals' sounds.

Politics

2 w. ago US renewable energy has tripled in a decade – but Trump cancels almost $8bn in projects

Political uncertainty under Trump has dampened the market, even as red states see a boom in renewable energyRenewable energy in the US has surged to unprecedented levels, with the combined power generated by solar, wind and geothermal more than tripling over the past decade, according to a new report by a network of state environmental groups.The growth has slashed harmful greenhouse gas emissions, made the nation’s energy system more resilient and prevented thousands of premature deaths from power plant pollution, according to the report by Environment America.The amount of solar energy produced in 2024 – enough to power 28m homes – was nearly eight times higher than a decade earlier. Solar power production increased 27% from 2023 to 2024.Wind produced even more energy – enough to power 42m homes in 2024. The amount of power from wind has more than doubled over the past decade.Wind, solar and geothermal energy accounted for 19% of all retail sales of electricity last year, accordin...

Politics

2 w. ago US renewable energy has tripled in a decade – but Trump cuts almost $8bn in projects

Political uncertainty under Trump has dampened the market, even as red states see a boom in renewable energyRenewable energy in the US has surged to unprecedented levels, with the combined power generated by solar, wind and geothermal more than tripling over the past decade, according to a new report by a network of state environmental groups.The growth has slashed harmful greenhouse gas emissions, made the nation’s energy system more resilient and prevented thousands of premature deaths from power plant pollution, according to the report by Environment America.The amount of solar energy produced in 2024 – enough to power 28m homes – was nearly eight times higher than a decade earlier. Solar power production increased 27% from 2023 to 2024.Wind produced even more energy – enough to power 42m homes in 2024. The amount of power from wind has more than doubled over the past decade.Wind, solar and geothermal energy accounted for 19% of all retail sales of electricity last year, accordin...

Politics

2 w. ago US renewable energy has tripled in a decade – but almost $8bn in projects now face cuts

Political uncertainty under Trump has dampened the market, even as red states see a boom in renewable energyRenewable energy in the US has surged to unprecedented levels, with the combined power generated by solar, wind and geothermal more than tripling over the past decade, according to a new report by a network of state environmental groups.The growth has slashed harmful greenhouse gas emissions, made the nation’s energy system more resilient and prevented thousands of premature deaths from power plant pollution, according to the report by Environment America.The amount of solar energy produced in 2024 – enough to power 28m homes – was nearly eight times higher than a decade earlier. Solar power production increased 27% from 2023 to 2024.Wind produced even more energy – enough to power 42m homes in 2024. The amount of power from wind has more than doubled over the past decade.Wind, solar and geothermal energy accounted for 19% of all retail sales of electricity last year, accordin...

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Blackouts can happen anywhere’: how power systems worldwide can collapse

After Europe’s biggest blackout in over 20 years, experts warn that while such incidents are rare, no grid is infallibleEurope’s biggest blackout in over 20 years on the Iberian peninsula unleashed hours of chaos for people in Spain, Portugal and parts of France earlier this week. But in the aftermath it has raised a common question for governments across the continent: could the same happen here?Europe’s political leaders and energy system operators have given assurances that such blackouts are extraordinarily rare, and that European power grids are some of the most stable in the world. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Storm leaves 3 dead in Pennsylvania and about 500K customers without power

Officials are reporting at least three deaths amid a storm system that downed trees and power lines and left about half a million customers in the dark across Pennsylvania, Ohio and neighboring states

Events

3 w. ago Spanish PM calls on private energy firms to help find cause of massive power cut

Pedro Sánchez says changes needed to guarantee ‘supply and future competitiveness’ of electricity after blackout Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has called on private energy operators to help his government establish the cause of Monday’s unprecedented power cut across the Iberian peninsula, and said changes and improvements must be made to guarantee “the supply and future competitiveness” of the country’s electrical system.Spain and Portugal suffered a massive power loss that began just after 12.30pm on Monday and lasted into the night. At least five people are thought to have died in Spain as a result of the blackout, which left people trapped on paralysed trains and in the static lifts of apartment blocks and offices. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Spain's electricity supplier warned green power could trigger system 'disconnections' TWO MONTHS before grid's 'total collapse'

REE's Operations Chief today admitted that it was possible that solar power could be to blame for Monday's outages, but added that it was too early to say for sure.

Events

3 w. ago Spain and Portugal scramble to restore electricity after a still

Officials in Spain and Portugal are racing to restore electricity after a huge power outage that grounded flights, paralyzed metro systems, disrupted mobile communications and shut down ATMs, upending the lives of tens of millions of people and turning airports and train stations into campgrounds for stranded travelers

Science

3 w. ago Major power outages across Spain and Portugal hit transport systems, mobile networks, traffic lights and more – Europe live

Cities across Spain and Portugal experience blackouts and transport chaos after power outageWe are just getting a line from Reuters news agency saying that the Conclave to elect new pope will start on 7 May, according to its source.We have not independently verified this report. Continue reading...

Events

4 w. ago Japan develops drone system to catch lightning to make power in world first

Japanese researchers have successfully triggered and guided lightning using specially made and protected drones, marking a world first in weather control technology

Events

last month UK’s clean power push ‘route to energy security’, says Ed Miliband

The Energy Secretary also shared a message from King Charles which said green energy would make countries’ power systems ‘more resilient and secure’.

Events

last month Time running out to watch dystopian thriller hailed a 'masterpiece' by fans on BBC iPlayer

Award-winning film set in 2027's London features a dystopian world where society is on the brink of collapse due to worldwide infertility

Sport