【Crypto World】The United States’ largest power grid operator PJM is facing a new challenge. Government agencies are pushing forward with a major $15 billion long-term contract project — including a 15-year capacity auction for new power generation, and even inviting tech companies to bid, even though they currently don’t need the electricity.
The logic behind this is quite clear: explosive growth in data center demand. It is expected to triple in the next decade, directly driving up regional electricity prices. By 2025, there could be a 10% to 15% increase. However, PJM is cautious about this plan and has even complained about not being sufficiently consulted beforehand.
But tech companies are not waiting passively. Facing soaring natural gas prices and a surge in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, they are taking proactive steps — making large-scale investments in renewable energy, especially solar projects. There are two benefits to this approach: rapid deployment to keep pace with infrastructure development, and locking in electricity costs to reduce long-term risks. This energy battle is essentially about preparing for competitiveness in the next decade.
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RuntimeError
· 12h ago
Wow, this is what compromise looks like... Tech giants spend big to acquire renewable energy, essentially to save on electricity costs for AI training.
Spending 15 billion, data centers still become power-hungry monsters. Will renewable energy keep up? Is it really possible?
Renewable energy deployment is fast, but can the power grid handle this surge? It feels like just patching things up.
PJM has been sidelined; tech companies are directly funding the effort, and traditional grid operators are going to be left out in the cold.
Solar projects sound appealing, but in reality, they are racing against the growth of AI demand. In the end, it's still a money-burning game.
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NFTArchaeologis
· 12h ago
Interesting, this is just like during the Industrial Revolution when railway companies competed for coal mine rights... Essentially, it's a battle for energy rights, just with a different digital age disguise.
Big companies locking in electricity early—it's less about investment and more about hedging cost expectations. 15 billion supports 15 years, and on average, it's actually cheaper than spot market prices. This kind of strategic acquisition has been seen quite a few times in on-chain governance.
Natural gas surging boosts solar energy—quite ironic—being forced into green transformation, which is happening faster than policy-driven initiatives.
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GweiWatcher
· 12h ago
In the solar energy project sector, major tech companies are really getting a head start. Basically, electricity prices are going to rise, and rather than waiting to be cut off, it's better to control your own energy... This game is being played quite strategically.
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ser_ngmi
· 13h ago
In the era of AI running on high energy consumption, it's clear that we need to generate our own electricity. Tech giants are really playing a strong game this time.
Power shortages spark a rush of investment: Why are tech giants competing for renewable energy?
【Crypto World】The United States’ largest power grid operator PJM is facing a new challenge. Government agencies are pushing forward with a major $15 billion long-term contract project — including a 15-year capacity auction for new power generation, and even inviting tech companies to bid, even though they currently don’t need the electricity.
The logic behind this is quite clear: explosive growth in data center demand. It is expected to triple in the next decade, directly driving up regional electricity prices. By 2025, there could be a 10% to 15% increase. However, PJM is cautious about this plan and has even complained about not being sufficiently consulted beforehand.
But tech companies are not waiting passively. Facing soaring natural gas prices and a surge in electricity demand driven by artificial intelligence, they are taking proactive steps — making large-scale investments in renewable energy, especially solar projects. There are two benefits to this approach: rapid deployment to keep pace with infrastructure development, and locking in electricity costs to reduce long-term risks. This energy battle is essentially about preparing for competitiveness in the next decade.