The Latest Breaking News from Electricity

AI's Next Big Problem Is Not Chips Or Power. It's Growing Opposition To Data Centers.

Public opposition to data centers is becoming a political issue across the U.S., raising concerns about whether technology companies can build the infrastructure needed for their AI expansion plans.

International Business Times · Aug 20

In 2017, Germany’s Freiburg opened a city hall with solar-powered walls designed to produce more energy than the building needs

The newly constructed city hall in Freiburg exemplifies sustainability, generating excess energy through high-performance solar panels embedded in its roof and walls. Equipped with top-tier insulation and a heat recovery ventilation system, the facility efficiently optimises energy use. It also leverages groundwater for temperature control. Serving as a model for…

The Times of India · Aug 20

In 2022, South Korean researchers grew broccoli beneath solar panels; yield fell around 20%, but consumers preferred its greener appearance

A study from South Korea investigated the cultivation of broccoli under solar panels. This innovative agrivoltaics method demonstrated that while broccoli's nutritional value remained intact, yields experienced a minor reduction due to limited sunlight. Nevertheless, the visual quality was maintained, promising improved financial returns for farmers. This research unveils exciting…

The Times of India · Aug 20

Just because the bill is low doesn’t mean energy is affordable

One light bulb. That was what electrification brought to my grandmother Mag’s two-story farmhouse in Boydton, Virginia. No one wrote down the year the rural electric cooperative workers brought the wire to her house in the late 1940s.

The Conversation · Aug 19

British energy bills forecast to hit three-year high this winter

Expected quarterly price cap rise of 4% likely to wipe out benefits of Andy Burnham’s VAT cut on electricity bills

The Guardian - UK · Aug 19

As US farmers reject multimillion-dollar AI data-centre offers, a Missouri farmer is doing the opposite and inviting developers to buy his land

In Missouri, a farmer has taken the unexpected step of inviting data center developers to bid on his land, despite notable local opposition and recent state restrictions. He believes that data centers could revitalize struggling rural economies by creating jobs and generating tax revenue. The farmer also addresses valid concerns…

The Times of India · Aug 19

How Digital Entertainment Is Changing the Environmental Cost of Consumer Habits in Australia

An Australian can stream a film on the train, download a 100GB game overnight, and listen to music for hours without receiving a single physical product. Entertainment that once depended on discs, plastic cases, printed packaging, and delivery vehicles now arrives almost instantly through an internet connection.

inkl · Aug 19

There’s a better way to cool data centres that cuts their huge thirst for water

Water is an amazing substance. The human body is made up of more than 50% water. Approximately 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water. We drink it, bathe in it, cook with it, clean with it. It is also used to cool data centres, which is an increasing…

The Conversation · Aug 19

In 2025, U.S. researchers developed an air-conditioning system that stores cooling in a salt solution; a Miami simulation projected a 93% cut in peak electricity demand

Innovative air conditioning technology now harnesses the power of saltwater solutions to store energy. Developed by researchers at NREL, this system tackles high electricity demand and cuts cooling costs efficiently. Simulations reveal notable savings in electricity usage and expenses for buildings. This groundbreaking approach holds great potential for addressing summer…

The Economic Times · Aug 19

In 2024, scientists built a window that kept a model house about 7°C cooler, without electricity or blocking the view

Engineers in South Korea have developed an innovative smart window that cools spaces sans electricity. This remarkable glass not only reflects heat but also radiates it into the cosmos. With the ability to generate electricity from rainwater and self-defrost, it stands as a promising solution for lowering cooling expenses globally,…

The Economic Times · Aug 19