Back to home
Technology

Google is still aiming for its “moonshot” 2030 energy goals

Source

MIT Technology Review

Published

TL;DR

AI Generated

Google is striving to achieve its ambitious 2030 goal of running on carbon-free energy 24-7, despite facing challenges due to the rapid growth in AI. The company's total electricity demand has doubled since 2020, making it more difficult to reach its target. To bridge the gap, Google has been making deals in the energy sector, including projects involving carbon capture and storage at a natural-gas plant in Illinois and plans to reopen a nuclear power plant in Iowa. Critics have raised concerns about the carbon capture project, questioning the decision to build a new plant instead of retrofitting existing facilities.

Read Full Article

Similar Articles

Nanoscale device generates continuous electricity from evaporating water and some sunlight — paves the path for battery-free sensors, wearable electronics, and more

Nanoscale device generates continuous electricity from evaporating water and some sunlight — paves the path for battery-free sensors, wearable electronics, and more

Researchers at EPFL in Switzerland have developed a nanoscale device that generates continuous electricity from evaporating water, aided by heat and sunlight. This technology, known as a hydrovoltaic device, can work with ordinary ion-containing water like tap water or seawater. The device consists of three layers that harness evaporation, heat, and sunlight to produce stable electrical output. While the power output is small compared to commercial solar panels, the device shows promise for battery-free sensors, wearable electronics, and IoT devices in environments with natural water, warmth, and sunlight. The design allows for independent optimization of each stage and potential scalability in the future.

Tom's Hardware
Google Cloud customer wakes up to $18,000+ bill despite $7 budget, thanks to forgotten API key in published project — attacker put in 60,000+ requests and blasted through $1,400 spending cap

Google Cloud customer wakes up to $18,000+ bill despite $7 budget, thanks to forgotten API key in published project — attacker put in 60,000+ requests and blasted through $1,400 spending cap

An Australia-based AI consultant woke up to an $18,000+ Google Cloud bill despite having a $7 budget, due to an attacker exploiting a forgotten API key in a published project. The attacker made over 60,000 requests, surpassing the spending cap. Despite following security practices, a single vulnerability led to the breach. Google automatically upgraded the account tier without notification, allowing for higher spending limits. The user's bank credited back the charges, but the incident highlights risks associated with Google Cloud's API key format.

Tom's Hardware
Is carbon removal in trouble?

Is carbon removal in trouble?

Microsoft, a major player in the carbon removal market, has reportedly paused its carbon removal purchases, causing concern in the industry. Carbon removal technologies aim to extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere for permanent storage. Microsoft, which aims to become carbon-negative by 2030, has been a significant buyer of carbon removal contracts. The company's decision to pause purchases may impact the industry's growth and reliance on corporate support. Industry experts suggest that government mandates and policies are needed to ensure the scalability of carbon removal efforts.

MIT Technology Review
MIT Technology Review

The quest to measure our relationship with nature

The United Nations is working on a Nature Relationship Index (NRI) to measure how well countries interact with the natural world. The NRI aims to shift the narrative from humans being destroyers of nature to fostering a green, abundant world. The index will assess three key questions: whether nature is thriving and accessible, if it is being used with care, and if it is safeguarded. The NRI will debut alongside the 2026 Human Development Report, encouraging countries to compete and improve their scores. The goal is to engage people's hopes and dreams for a better relationship with nature.

MIT Technology Review

We use cookies

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. For more information on how we use cookies, please see our cookie policy.