A new International Energy Agency report shows global spending on data centers surpassing oil exploration, highlighting the massive power demand of AI-driven facilities. The surge strains electrical grids, especially near large cities, but also opens opportunities for renewable solutions such as solar farms and microgrids built from used EV batteries. Major AI firms like OpenAI, Meta and Anthropic have pledged billions toward new data center projects, while startups focusing on clean energy infrastructure stand to benefit from the shift. Read more →

OpenAI and Nvidia have announced a $100 billion partnership to build massive AI data‑center capacity, a venture that could require power on the scale of ten nuclear reactors. The deal’s circular financing, described by Requisite Capital’s Bryn Talkington, underscores a mutually beneficial relationship. Building one gigawatt of capacity is projected to cost $50‑$60 billion, with a 10‑gigawatt rollout potentially exceeding $500 billion. While the companies have not detailed power sources, similar AI projects are prompting tech giants to secure nuclear energy contracts, and the broader industry faces significant grid and environmental challenges. Read more →