New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans

Extending product lifespans helps reduce demand for new products and their related environmental impacts. This briefing aims to improve our understanding and provide novel insights on trends in product lifespans in Europe. This assessment is based on seven indicators developed specifically for the EEA’s Circularity Metrics Lab’s thematic module on product lifespans. Product lifespans — monitoring trends … Continue reading New EEA briefing benefits from extending product lifespans →

Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding

Anurag Srivastava, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering, West Virginia University writes on The Conversation about how utilities in the US are coping with AI data centres. What are your views. Is the experience similar in Europe and other regions? How utilities are working to meet AI data centers’ voracious appetite for electricity … Continue reading Some ways in which the spread of AI data centres is challenging utilities and grid managers, and how the power industry in the US is responding →

Energy in Demand News, December 8, 2024

How many times have we heard President-elect Donald Trump say: “We will drill, baby, drill.” It’s not clear that producers will fall in line. For the past six years, the US has already been the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas, according to the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, and produces about … Continue reading Energy in Demand News, December 8, 2024 →

AI as a crucial tool in helping those in the energy industry navigate this deeply complex transition

This week, IEA organised a conference on AI and we hope to hear some of the results in coming days. In advance, we have an article on the Power Magazine website, Ray Rasmussen, managing principal of rGen Consulting, argues that embracing AI is not just an option but a necessity for a sustainable and efficient … Continue reading AI as a crucial tool in helping those in the energy industry navigate this deeply complex transition →

Europe’s building sector off track: social, economic and climate targets at risk

The third edition of the EU Buildings Climate Tracker published this week by the Buildings Performance Institute Europe (BPIE) confirms that the EU is missing opportunities to increase energy security and reduce heating costs. It is definitely not on track to achieve its climate targets. Progress on decarbonisation has stalled, with the gap more than … Continue reading Europe’s building sector off track: social, economic and climate targets at risk →

Data centres are threatening the very energy transition on which so many governments have staked everything

Irina Slav writes on the OilPrice website about how data centres, particularly since the AI rush began, are turning into an unexpected obstacle that may well compromise the whole transition offensive against hydrocarbons. What are your views? Data Centers Highlight the Limits of Renewable Energy Scaling Until about a year ago, no one paid … Continue reading Data centres are threatening the very energy transition on which so many governments have staked everything →

“We cannot allow this mad denial of energy efficiency to become permanent government policy”

The latest UK government proposals focus on the production of clean energy, but why is there no mention of what more can be done to reduce the amount of enregy we actually use? asks Andrew Warren, chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, in November/December issue of Energy in Buildings & Industry. Is this situation … Continue reading “We cannot allow this mad denial of energy efficiency to become permanent government policy” →

Germany’s coal consumption continued its downward trend in 2024

Julian Wettengel writes on the Reneweconomy website about the continuing trend in Germany to reduce its dependency on coal. German coal use plunges nearly 40 per cent in 2024, despite nuclear exit Germany’s coal consumption continued its downward trend in 2024, helping to reduce the country’s climate-damaging CO2 emissions, said energy market research group … Continue reading Germany’s coal consumption continued its downward trend in 2024 →

Demystifying AI’s energy footprint in industry

In an article on the Business Reporter website, Heiko Claussen Senior Vice President of Artificial Intelligence at AspenTech explains how industrial AI saves more than it consumes. Debunking the AI energy myth Global energy consumption is on a steep growth path. According to the Energy Information Administration’s (EIA) International Energy Outlook, it is projected … Continue reading Demystifying AI’s energy footprint in industry →

Generative AI is an energy hog

Chris Baraniuk writes on the BBC News website about the impact on electricity grids from the growth in generative AI. Electricity grids creak as AI demands soar There’s a big problem with generative AI, says Sasha Luccioni at Hugging Face, a machine-learning company. Generative AI is an energy hog. “Every time you query the … Continue reading Generative AI is an energy hog →