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Tag: clean energy

Can data centers stay green? Balancing digital growth with clean energy

Can data centers stay green? Balancing digital growth with clean energy

Technology
The world is increasingly becoming digital and the demand for data is skyrocketing. The surge in demand is being met by data centers, which are basically large facilities that store, process and manage data that powers everything such as cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency mining. However, the data centers are becoming a major source of concern due to massive energy consumption and environmental impact. The energy use of data centers in the U.S. is projected to be one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity demand over the next decade. The rise in energy demand from data centers is already affecting the progress of America toward a cleaner energy future. It is delaying closure of fossil fuel power plants and even reviving proposals for new fossil f...
How hydroelectric power plants work

How hydroelectric power plants work

Technology
Hydroelectric power -- using the flow of water to perform work -- represents one of the oldest methods humanity has used to tap renewable energy sources. Currently, 15% of the world's electricity comes from hydroelectric power (Renewable Energy for the 21st Century, "Renewables 2007: Global Status Report"). While this number is impressive, new technologies will help hydroelectric power play a larger role in meeting global energy needs in the future. How does hydropower work? What new methods of generating electricity using the kinetic energy of flowing water are under development? How Moving Water is Used to Make Electricity Hydropower yields electricity in a fundamentally different way than fossil fuels. For example, heat from burning coal boils water to produce steam. The st...