Tag: Power

Sustainability-In-Tech : Australia Tells AI Data Centres To Generate Their Own Power

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Australia is proposing new national rules that would make the next generation of large AI data centres build enough new electricity generation to match the power they consume, helping prevent rapid AI expansion from pushing up household bills or placing extra pressure on the country’s grid.

What Has Been Announced?

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the proposals during a speech at the University of Sydney, where he set out plans for a new national framework covering the location, energy use, water consumption and wider environmental impact of large data centres.

Under the proposed rules, operators would be legally required to underwrite new power supplies, pay the full cost of connecting their facilities to the electricity network and ensure that households and other businesses are not left funding the infrastructure needed to support them.

Most significantly, large data centres would have to add at least as much electricity to the grid as they consume.

Albanese summarised the policy by saying data centres would need “to be net-generators, not net-users”.

The government intends to seek agreement from state and territory leaders before introducing legislation to the Australian Parliament early next year. This means the requirements are not yet legally binding, and many of the practical details still need to be developed.

What Does Putting Power Back Mean?

A data centre cannot literally return the same electricity it has already consumed. Instead, the proposed requirement means operators would need to support enough new generation to match the energy demand created by their facilities.

In practice, this is likely to involve funding or entering into long-term agreements with new renewable energy projects, such as solar or wind farms, together with energy storage or other reliable back-up generation.

That last element is important because AI data centres operate continuously, while renewable energy production changes according to weather conditions and the time of day. The Australian government has therefore said operators must also support “firming”, which refers to the storage or alternative generation required to provide electricity when renewable output is low.

The aim is to ensure that new data centres bring additional power into the system rather than consuming electricity that homes, public services and existing businesses already depend upon.

Why Now?

AI requires substantial physical infrastructure comprising servers, cooling equipment, network connections and specialist computing hardware. As increasingly powerful AI models are developed and used more widely, the amount of electricity and water required to operate this infrastructure is growing rapidly.

Australia wants to attract more AI investment, but the government is concerned that allowing developers to build facilities before environmental and infrastructure rules are agreed could leave communities carrying the costs.

As Albanese explained: “We cannot revisit this issue after companies have built whatever they want, wherever they want, and try and then re-open negotiations.”

His argument is that Australia’s land, energy resources and investment potential give it enough influence to set conditions before major projects are approved.

The Australian government also believes clearer national rules could benefit responsible investors by replacing different local and regional requirements with one consistent framework.

Water Is Part Of The Plan

Electricity is not the only sustainability concern surrounding large data centres. Many facilities use substantial amounts of water to prevent computing equipment from overheating, which is particularly significant in a country that regularly experiences drought and water scarcity.

Albanese described Australia as “the sunniest continent on earth” but also “the driest”, and said data centres would be required to minimise water use, maximise energy efficiency and pay for any extra water infrastructure they require.

The location of future facilities will therefore matter, particularly where communities are already facing pressure on local water supplies or where electricity networks have limited spare capacity.

Part Of A Wider Global Problem

Australia’s announcement comes as other countries face growing concern about the impact of data centres on energy systems.

For example, in Ireland, data centres consumed 23 per cent of the country’s electricity during 2025, almost as much as all urban and rural households combined. The country now requires new facilities to provide their own flexible generation and obtain most of their annual electricity from new renewable projects.

Technology companies are also struggling to reconcile AI growth with their own environmental commitments. Microsoft, for example, has reported a sharp increase in emissions as it expands its global data centre infrastructure, despite maintaining targets to become carbon negative and water positive by 2030.

Public opposition is also becoming more organised in communities concerned about electricity prices, water use, emissions, planning decisions and the limited number of permanent jobs created by some large facilities.

Australia’s proposed approach attempts to address those concerns before its AI data centre sector expands much further.

What Does This Mean For Your Business?

For businesses, the announcement highlights how the environmental cost of AI is becoming a practical commercial and regulatory issue rather than simply a matter for sustainability reports.

Organisations increasingly using AI services may face closer scrutiny over where their computing resources are hosted, how those facilities are powered and whether claims about renewable energy represent genuinely new generation or simply the purchase of existing certificates.

The Australian model could also influence other countries looking for ways to attract AI investment without passing its infrastructure costs on to households and existing businesses.

Much will depend on the final rules and how carefully the requirement is measured and enforced. However, this reflects a broader change in expectations, with companies building energy-intensive AI infrastructure increasingly expected to create the additional power, grid capacity and water infrastructure their growth requires rather than assuming the public will provide it.

Sustainability-in-Tech : Wind Turbine Wall Promises Three Times More Offshore Power

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Japan has lifted a prototype offshore wind turbine wall above the ocean, demonstrating how a new clustered turbine design could dramatically increase renewable energy output while reshaping the economics of offshore wind.

A Different Way Of Thinking About Offshore Wind

For more than two decades, offshore wind has largely followed the simple formula of building ever-larger turbines, spacing them far apart to avoid wake interference, and placing them in areas with the strongest winds. That approach has actually delivered some impressive gains, with individual turbines now exceeding 15 MW and offshore wind becoming a central pillar of many national decarbonisation plans.

However, the new wind turbine wall developed in Japan challenges that model. For example, rather than relying on a single massive rotor, the system clusters many smaller turbines into a single vertical structure, creating what researchers describe as a dense, high-efficiency energy-harvesting surface above the sea.

The concept has been developed by Kyushu University, through its Research and Education Center for Offshore Wind, known as RECOW, which was established in 2022 to accelerate offshore wind research, education and real-world deployment.

How The Wind Turbine Wall Works

At the heart of the design is so-called wind lens technology. Each turbine is surrounded by a circular diffuser, or shroud, with a brim at the rear. This structure creates a low-pressure zone behind the blades, effectively pulling more air through the rotor and increasing wind speed at the point of generation.

Between Two and Three Times the Power Output

Laboratory tests and real-world deployments of wind lens turbines have shown power output increases of between two and three times compared with conventional turbines of the same rotor diameter. When multiple wind lens turbines are arranged closely together, as they are in the wall configuration, the airflow between units is further accelerated, delivering an additional uplift in overall output.

Tackles Wake Interference Too

This clustered approach also addresses the long-standing constraint of wake interference. For example, whereas conventional turbines must be spaced hundreds of metres apart to avoid turbulence from upstream units reducing efficiency, the wall layout turns that problem into an advantage by intentionally shaping and channelling airflow across the structure.

Sited Offshore in Japan

The prototype wind turbine wall was recently lifted into position offshore as part of Japan’s expanding offshore wind research programme. The deployment aligns with changes to Japan’s Exclusive Economic Zone framework, which is opening larger areas of surrounding sea to renewable energy development.

Government-backed estimates suggest Japan’s floating offshore wind potential could reach around 1,600 GW, a figure that far exceeds its current national electricity demand and highlights why offshore renewables are increasingly central to the country’s energy strategy.

Professor Emeritus Yuji Ohya, who leads wind energy research at Kyushu University, has framed the turbine wall as a clear break from the constraints of conventional offshore wind design, saying: “By moving beyond the limitations of single-rotor physics, we have unlocked a way to harness the ocean’s wind with unprecedented density. The wall is not just a structure; it is a specialised instrument that triples our power potential while coexisting peacefully with our marine environment and local fishing industries.”

Why Smaller Turbines Could Mean Lower Costs

One of the most significant promises of the wind turbine wall lies in cost reduction. Offshore wind costs have fallen sharply over the past decade, yet recent projects have faced renewed pressure from rising material prices, complex logistics and expensive installation vessels.

However, the new wall approach uses smaller, standardised turbines rather than ultra-large bespoke units. This reduces the need for specialised heavy-lift ships and allows maintenance to be carried out using simpler access systems rather than rope teams or jack-up vessels. In typhoon-prone waters such as those around Japan, modularity also improves resilience, as damaged units can be isolated or replaced without shutting down an entire installation.

Early modelling suggests that, at scale, wind turbine walls could help bring the levelised cost of energy for floating offshore wind down towards around £55 per MWh by the mid-2030s, a figure increasingly seen as necessary for offshore wind to remain competitive without heavy subsidy.

Implications For Energy Systems And Businesses

For national energy systems, high-density offshore wind structures could change how generation capacity is planned and connected to the grid. A wall that produces three times the output of a comparable footprint may reduce the number of individual platforms and export cables required, lowering seabed disruption and grid connection costs.

For energy developers and utilities, the design offers a potential alternative route to scale at a time when some large offshore wind projects are being delayed or redesigned due to cost inflation. Businesses with large electricity demands, including data centres and heavy industry, stand to benefit indirectly from more stable long-term renewable supply and reduced exposure to fossil fuel price volatility.

Also, the approach may be particularly useful for countries with limited shallow continental shelves, where fixed-bottom offshore wind is not viable. Floating wind turbine walls are designed specifically for deep-water environments, extending offshore wind deployment to regions that have so far been constrained by seabed depth.

Similar Ideas Elsewhere

It’s worth noting here that Japan is not alone in rethinking offshore wind architecture. For example, in Norway, Wind Catching Systems is developing a floating “wind wall” concept that stacks dozens of small turbines into a single frame. The company has received regulatory approval and public funding support for prototype development off the Norwegian coast.

Norway’s approach shares several principles with the Japanese design, including modular turbines, simplified maintenance and higher energy density. Both projects reflect a broader trend in offshore wind innovation, where developers are exploring alternatives to simply increasing rotor size.

Floating wind more generally is already proving viable at scale. For example, projects such as Hywind Tampen (in Norway) have demonstrated that floating turbines can operate reliably in harsh offshore conditions, supplying electricity to industrial users and feeding surplus power into national grids.

Environmental And Social Considerations

Supporters of wind lens and wall-based designs argue that they may offer environmental advantages. For example, the diffuser rings make turbine structures more visible to birds, potentially reducing collision risk, while lower blade tip speeds and smoother airflow can reduce aerodynamic noise.

That said, visual impact remains a concern for offshore wind developments, particularly in coastal communities, although floating installations are typically located far beyond the horizon. Fisheries interactions, marine biodiversity and shipping routes must also be carefully managed, and regulators will expect robust long-term monitoring before large-scale deployment is approved.

Technical And Commercial Challenges Ahead

Despite promising early results, wind turbine walls remain at a relatively early stage of development. Long-term durability data is limited, and large floating structures face significant engineering challenges related to mooring, corrosion and extreme weather.

There is also some scepticism within parts of the industry about whether novel designs can actually match the reliability and bankability of conventional offshore turbines, which benefit from decades of operational data. Also, securing financing for first-of-a-kind projects can be difficult, particularly in volatile energy markets.

Some analysts also point out that offshore wind’s recent slowdown in several countries has less to do with turbine design and more to do with permitting delays, grid constraints and supply chain bottlenecks. New technology alone will not resolve those systemic issues.

What the Japanese wind turbine wall demonstrates, however, is that offshore wind innovation is far from exhausted, and that rethinking fundamental assumptions about turbine layout and airflow could open up new pathways for sustainable energy generation at sea.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

The wind turbine wall idea highlights how offshore wind innovation is now moving beyond incremental gains and into more fundamental redesigns aimed at cost, density and deployment constraints. Japan’s prototype does not replace conventional offshore turbines, but it does offer a credible alternative for locations where deep water, harsh conditions and limited seabed access make existing models harder to justify economically. As pressure grows to deliver more renewable power with fewer subsidies, designs that improve output per square metre and simplify installation are likely to attract serious attention from policymakers and investors.

For the energy sector, the wider implication is that offshore wind capacity may no longer be capped by turbine spacing and rotor size alone. For example, if clustered, modular systems can be proven reliable over time, they could allow countries to extract significantly more energy from the same offshore areas while reducing infrastructure duplication. That matters not just for energy security, but also for grid planning, marine spatial management and long-term decarbonisation strategies.

Energy-intensive UK sectors such as data centres, advanced manufacturing and industrial processing are becoming increasingly exposed to electricity price volatility and long-term supply risk, which is why technologies that reduce the cost and complexity of offshore wind deployment are attracting close attention. Any new approaches that improve output density and accelerate floating wind development could, therefore, offer a way to support more predictable electricity pricing over time, while reinforcing the case for expanding domestic renewable generation as part of wider energy resilience planning. For the UK’s offshore wind supply chain, which already plays a significant role in turbine manufacturing, marine engineering and long-term maintenance, alternative turbine architectures also point to potential opportunities around skills development, specialist services and exportable expertise as new offshore models move towards commercial viability.

Wind turbine walls still need to demonstrate long-term durability, financing viability and regulatory acceptance at commercial scale, particularly given the complexity of operating large floating structures in harsh offshore environments. Environmental impacts will also require careful monitoring, with developers expected to address interactions with fisheries, shipping routes and existing offshore infrastructure as projects move beyond the prototype stage. As with floating wind more broadly, progress will depend not only on engineering performance but also on planning frameworks, grid investment and market stability, all of which continue to shape how quickly new offshore technologies can be deployed.

Taken together, the Japanese wind turbine wall doesn’t appear to offer a quick fix for offshore wind’s current pressures, but it does reinforce the point that offshore wind’s next phase is likely to be defined less by size alone and more by smarter use of airflow, materials and space. For governments, businesses and energy developers alike, that shift could prove just as important as the leap from onshore to offshore wind was a generation ago.

Sustainability-In-Tech : Data Centre Power Demand May Triple By 2035

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Global data centre electricity demand is now forecast to almost triple by 2035, forcing urgent questions about how to power the AI boom sustainably.

The Forecasts Point To A Steep Rise

New analysis from BloombergNEF suggests data centres could be drawing around 106 gigawatts of power by 2035, up from about 40 gigawatts today. This represents a near threefold increase and marks a sharp upward revision on projections made only months ago. The rise reflects not only the number of new facilities but also the dramatic scale of those now being planned.

Of around 150 new US data centre projects added to one leading industry tracker in the last year, nearly a quarter are expected to exceed 500 megawatts of capacity, and a small number will go past the one gigawatt mark. A 200 megawatt site is now considered a normal hyperscale facility, which highlights the size of the new generation of AI focused builds.

AI Also Driving Up Data Centre Utilisation

Average data centre utilisation is also expected to rise from about 59 per cent today to 69 per cent by 2035. This reflects the steep growth in AI training and inference workloads, which are projected to account for nearly 40 per cent of all data centre compute within the same timeframe.

Gartner’s global forecasts point in the same direction. Analysts expect electricity consumption across all data centres worldwide to increase from 448 terawatt hours in 2025 to 980 terawatt hours in 2030. That means demand is projected to grow 16 per cent in 2025 alone and double over the five year period!

AI Infrastructure Is Driving Bigger And Busier Facilities

One major reason behind these increases appears to be the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure. For example, Gartner notes that while traditional servers and cooling contribute to overall electricity use, the fastest rise comes from AI optimised servers, whose energy consumption is expected to rise from 93 terawatt hours in 2025 to 432 terawatt hours in 2030. These servers will represent almost half of all data centre power use by the end of the decade.

The growth in AI workloads is also reshaping where data centres are built. For example, the traditional clusters near major cities face land and grid constraints, so new facilities are being planned further out in regions where connections are more readily available. In the United States, for example, the PJM Interconnection region, which includes Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio, is seeing a large wave of new sites. Texas is experiencing a similar trend, with former crypto-mining facilities being repurposed into AI data centres.

These facilities take many years to deliver, i.e., industry analysts estimate the average timeline for a major data centre from early planning to full operation is about seven years. That means decisions being made now will lock in power demand well into the 2030s, with limited short term flexibility to adjust course.

Grid Operators Face A New Reliability Test

Electricity systems are now being tested by a scale and pace of growth that is difficult to absorb. For example, in the PJM region, data centre capacity could reach 31 gigawatts by 2030, which is almost equal to the 28.7 gigawatts of new electricity generation expected over the same period. This imbalance has already led to concerns from PJM’s independent market monitor, which has argued that new data centre loads should only be connected when the grid can support them reliably.

Texas has also been reported as facing its own set of pressures. For example, forecasts show that reserve margins within the ERCOT grid could fall into riskier territory after 2028 if demand from data centres outpaces the construction of new power plants and transmission capacity.

The US And China

Gartner’s regional analysis indicates that the United States and China will together account for more than two thirds of global data centre electricity consumption by 2030. Europe’s share is expected to rise from 2.7 per cent to around 5 per cent as new facilities are built to support cloud uptake and AI workloads.

More On-Site Power Needed

Given these pressures, analysts have highlighted how many large data centres are likely to secure their own power sources rather than relying entirely on the grid. Gartner’s research on data centre power provisioning warns that utilities are struggling to expand generation and transmission infrastructure quickly enough to support the rate of construction now under way.

In fact, by 2028, Gartner says only about 40 per cent of newly built data centres will rely solely on grid electricity. The remainder will most likely draw on some form of on site generation or long term, dedicated supply arrangements.

Clean Technologies?

Looking ahead to the mid-2030s, around 40 per cent of new data centres are expected to be powered by clean technologies that are not yet commercially mature. These include, e.g., small modular nuclear reactors, green hydrogen systems and advanced geothermal technologies.

A Commercial Impact Too

Gartner also highlights a commercial impact. For example, early adopters of clean on site power options will face higher upfront costs and these costs are likely to be passed on to cloud customers. This implies that the long term economics of cloud computing will be shaped not only by processor performance but also by the availability and price of electricity.

Scotland Exposes The Local Impact Of Global Demand

The UK is now facing its own version of this issue. Research by Foxglove shows how a cluster of eleven large data centres planned in Scotland would demand between 2,000 and 3,000 megawatts of electricity. Scotland’s current winter peak demand is just over 4 gigawatts, which means these projects alone could account for between 50 and 75 per cent of the country’s current peak electricity use.

The list of proposed Scottish facilities includes a 550 megawatt campus at Ravenscraig in North Lanarkshire, several 200 to 300 megawatt sites across locations such as the Scottish Borders, East Ayrshire and West Lothian, and an Edinburgh site at South Gyle with a capacity of around 212 megawatts. The South Gyle plan includes projected annual emissions of more than 220,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, according to figures provided by the developer.

Foxglove notes that the combined demand of these projects is comparable to about two or three times the capacity of the Peterhead gas power station or roughly the combined output of the former Torness and Hunterston B nuclear power plants when both were operating. Scotland’s generation capacity is already close to 20 gigawatts and is expected to more than double by 2030 through growth in renewables, but major upgrades are needed to move electricity to where it is used.

The UK’s Wider Emissions And Planning Context

It’s not surprising, therefore, that environmental groups have raised concerns that such a large new demand from global tech companies could absorb renewable capacity that is needed to decarbonise existing industry and households. In England, research from Foxglove and Global Action Plan estimates that ten of the largest planned data centre projects could together account for around 2.75 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent a year based on developers’ own figures. This is compared with the carbon savings expected from the electric vehicle transition in 2025.

National Grid’s chief executive has said demand from commercial data centres will increase sixfold over the next decade. The UK government has already designated new AI Growth Zones that must have access to at least 500 megawatts of power and has introduced an AI Energy Council to help plan for future demand. Data centre operators are also being encouraged to locate projects in Scotland and northern England where renewable output is higher, although the grid infrastructure linking these regions to demand centres still requires major investment.

Together, these forecasts show how quickly AI infrastructure is reshaping national and regional energy planning. Governments now face decisions about where large facilities can be built, how much new capacity is required, how on site generation should be regulated and how to ensure that the expansion of data centres aligns with emissions targets rather than undermining them.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

The scale of projected demand now makes it clear that energy planning will become one of the defining constraints on AI growth, not just a technical backdrop. The forecasts point to an industry that will only remain viable if power availability, clean generation and long term cost structures are built into every stage of development. This matters because the growth trajectories do not leave much room for delays. Once the data centres currently in the pipeline begin to switch on, the impact on local and national grids will arrive quickly, which heightens the pressure on governments and operators to prove that the required generation and transmission capacity will be there in time.

For UK policymakers, the situation in Scotland shows how fast these pressures can concentrate. If even a portion of the proposed Scottish sites proceed at the scale outlined, energy planners and regulators will face decisions about how to balance industrial demand, household consumption and renewable deployment. That puts transparency, accurate modelling and realistic emissions assessments at the centre of the conversation. It also places a responsibility on developers to demonstrate how their projects will integrate into wider decarbonisation plans rather than simply relying on headline renewable capacity figures.

There are also direct implications for UK businesses. For example, cloud costs are likely to be shaped increasingly by electricity pricing and by the power procurement strategies of the operators behind the services they use. If data centre owners face higher costs for on site generation or grid upgrades, there is a strong chance that these costs will feed through to SaaS platforms, hosting services and AI tools. Businesses that rely heavily on cloud based analytics or emerging AI workloads may, therefore, face more volatile operating expenses unless the industry secures stable long term energy arrangements. Energy reliability also becomes a resilience issue, as organisations will want confidence that the infrastructure behind their digital tools is not exposed to local grid constraints.

For environmental groups and local communities, the findings highlight the need for early scrutiny of project impacts and firm commitments on emissions reduction pathways. The period between now and the mid 2030s is likely to involve a mix of transitional fuels, large new loads and evolving clean technologies, so there is a real question about how to minimise emissions during that window. The faster that credible alternatives such as battery storage, green hydrogen and advanced clean generation mature, the more manageable that interim period becomes.

What emerges across all of this is a picture of an industry that can expand sustainably only if energy availability and environmental impact are treated as core design requirements rather than afterthoughts. The forecasts make the stakes clear. Data centre growth is not slowing, AI demand is rising and the power systems that support them need rapid structural change if reliability, affordability and sustainability are to keep pace.

Sustainability-In-Tech : New Reactor Fastest Route to Commercially Viable Fusion Power

Posted on by Paul Stradling

German startup Proxima Fusion has revealed a new fusion reactor design, ‘Stellaris’, which it claims is the fastest route to commercially viable fusion power.

What Is Fusion Energy?

Nuclear fusion, the reaction that powers the sun, occurs when two atomic nuclei combine to form a heavier nucleus, releasing vast amounts of energy. Unlike nuclear fission (the process currently used in our nuclear power stations) which splits atoms and produces long-lived radioactive waste, fusion generates minimal radiation, no carbon emissions, and uses abundant fuel sources like hydrogen isotopes. Scientists have pursued fusion energy for decades due to its potential to provide safe, sustainable, and virtually limitless power.

Who Is Proxima Fusion?

Proxima Fusion, founded in 2023, is the first spin-out from the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics (IPP) in Germany. The company has assembled a team of engineers from MIT, Google, SpaceX, and McLaren, all dedicated to overcoming the long-standing technical barriers of fusion power. Their goal is to develop the world’s first commercial fusion power plant, using an innovative stellarator design that builds on decades of plasma physics research.

What Makes the Stellaris Reactor Different?

The new reactor from Proxima Fusion, dubbed ‘Stellaris’, is a quasi-isodynamic (QI) stellarator that utilises high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets to create twisted magnetic fields capable of confining hot plasma, a critical step for achieving fusion. Unlike the more widely used tokamak design (such as the one being developed by the ITER project in France), stellarators are inherently stable and can operate continuously. While traditional stellarators have been extremely complex to design and build, advances in AI and computational modelling have allowed Proxima to optimise its approach, making the construction process faster and more cost-effective.

The concept is based on the Wendelstein 7-X, the world’s most advanced stellarator experiment, built at IPP. While Wendelstein 7-X was designed purely for research, Stellaris is engineered to deliver electricity to the grid. Proxima’s first demonstrator, called Alpha, aims to prove net energy production is possible in a steady state and is expected to be completed within six years.

Why This Could Be a Game-Changer

Stellarators have long been overlooked in favour of tokamaks, primarily due to their complexity. However, Proxima Fusion’s approach leverages modern computing power to refine their design, solving problems that were previously insurmountable. AI-driven optimisation allows the company to create reactors that generate more power per unit volume, reduce operational costs, and minimise reliance on scarce materials.

According to Proxima Fusion CEO Francesco Sciortino, “Stellaris is designed to operate in continuous mode and be intrinsically stable. No other fusion power plant design has yet been demonstrated to be capable of that.”

The use of HTS magnets is another key breakthrough. These allow for much stronger magnetic fields than conventional superconductors, meaning the reactor can be significantly smaller and built faster while still achieving the necessary conditions for fusion. Also, Stellaris only relies on materials that are already available in today’s supply chains, making its construction more feasible than previous designs.

The Road to Commercial Fusion

Proxima Fusion has set an ambitious timeline, with the construction of Alpha planned for completion by 2031. If all goes to plan, Stellaris will be the first stellarator to demonstrate sustained net energy production, a milestone never before achieved in fusion research. If successful, the company aims to develop a full-scale 1GW fusion power plant in the 2030s, potentially providing clean, continuous energy to the grid.

Investment

The company’s approach has already attracted significant investment, securing €20 million in funding to accelerate development.

How It Could Change The Energy Sector

If Stellaris lives up to its promise, it could reshape the energy market. Fusion power offers a carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels without the intermittency of renewables like wind and solar. For businesses, this could mean access to a reliable, cost-effective, and sustainable energy source, reducing dependence on volatile energy markets and fossil fuel imports.

From an environmental perspective, widespread adoption of fusion power would mark a major step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change. As global energy demand continues to rise, scalable fusion technology could be the key to long-term energy security.

The Challenges Ahead

Despite all the excitement surrounding Stellaris, it’s worth noting that significant hurdles remain. For example, building a real, commercial fusion reactor requires overcoming immense engineering challenges, including handling the extreme temperatures of the plasma and maintaining precise control of the magnetic fields. Also, while stellarators are more stable than tokamaks, they remain complex machines that require further refinement before they can be deployed at scale.

The Model Coil Next Step

It’s understood that Proxima Fusion’s next step is the development of its Stellarator Model Coil (SMC) by 2027, which will validate the HTS magnet technology before Alpha’s construction begins. If these milestones are achieved, Stellaris could mark the beginning of a new era in clean energy, bringing fusion power out of the laboratory and into the real world.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation?

The development of the Stellaris reactor could be the next (sooner than expected) step towards the long-sought goal of commercially viable fusion energy. Proxima Fusion’s innovative stellarator design, enabled by modern computational power and high-temperature superconducting magnets, offers a promising alternative to the dominant tokamak approach. By overcoming traditional limitations associated with stellarators, such as complexity and construction feasibility, the company has positioned itself at the forefront of the fusion race.

However, while the technological advances underpinning Stellaris are impressive, the path to commercial deployment remains fraught with challenges. The physics of sustaining controlled fusion at an energy-positive level is well understood, but engineering a reactor that can reliably operate over long periods while remaining economically viable is another matter entirely. The development of the Stellarator Model Coil by 2027 will be a crucial test of Proxima Fusion’s approach, and its success will determine whether the company can proceed with constructing its Alpha prototype as planned.

If Proxima Fusion succeeds in delivering on its ambitious timeline, Stellaris could be a transformative force in the energy sector. A working fusion reactor that can continuously produce clean energy would mark a monumental shift away from fossil fuels and intermittent renewables, offering a sustainable solution to the world’s growing energy needs. However, the history of fusion research is already littered with promising breakthroughs that have struggled to translate into commercial reality. While Proxima Fusion’s advancements are significant, it remains to be seen whether they will be sufficient to surmount the remaining engineering and financial obstacles.

Stellaris, therefore, appears to embody both the potential and the uncertainty of fusion power. For example, if successful, it could usher in a new era of limitless, carbon-free energy. However, like all fusion endeavours, it must first prove that it can move beyond the laboratory and into the real world, which is a major challenge that has eluded every fusion project to date.

Sustainability-in-Tech : Converting Waste Heat Into Power With Wood

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Researchers at the University of Limerick (UL) and the University of Valencia have developed a method to convert waste heat into electricity using lignin, a byproduct of the paper industry, offering a sustainable alternative to conventional energy recovery methods.

What Is Energy Recovery? 

Energy recovery (heat recovery in this case) is the process of capturing and reusing waste heat generated by industrial processes, machinery, or natural sources. Instead of allowing this energy to dissipate, heat recovery repurposes it to perform useful work, such as generating electricity or heating systems. By improving energy efficiency and reducing reliance on non-renewable resources, heat recovery offers real value in lowering operational costs and minimising environmental impact.

What Inspired the Research? 

Every day, industries, homes and even our bodies produce vast amounts of waste heat, with approximately 66 per cent of industrial energy output lost as heat, much of it below 200°C. Recognising this untapped potential, researchers at UL, supported by Irish Government funding and led by Muhammad Muddasar, PhD candidate at the School of Engineering, focused on developing a sustainable solution for harnessing this energy.

Traditional thermoelectric materials, such as bismuth telluride, have been used for heat-to-electricity conversion but are costly, toxic, and reliant on finite resources. Seeking a greener alternative, the researchers identified lignin \9a renewable, abundant byproduct of the paper industry) as an ideal, eco-friendly candidate for creating efficient thermoelectric materials.

The Thermoelectric Effect 

At the heart of this discovery lies the ‘thermoelectric effect’, where a temperature difference across a material generates an electrical potential. The UL and Valencia team engineered lignin-based membranes infused with a salt solution to exploit this phenomenon.

When a temperature gradient was applied to the lignin membrane, ions within the salt solution migrated i.e., positively charged ions moved towards the cooler side, while negatively charged ions gravitated towards the warmer side. This ion separation generated an electric potential across the membrane, which could be harnessed as electricity.

Lignin-Based Membranes Are Great at Converting Low-Grade Heat to Electricity 

The researchers developed membranes from lignin that can turn low-temperature heat (below 200°C) into electricity. This type of heat is commonly wasted in industrial settings, such as manufacturing plants and power stations, so these membranes could help capture and reuse it.

The study showed that lignin membranes performed well for this purpose, with a figure of merit (ZTi) of 0.25, measuring their ability to convert heat to electricity effectively. They also achieved an ionic Seebeck coefficient of 5.71 mV K⁻¹, demonstrating a strong electrical response from temperature differences.

The lignin-based membranes are lightweight, safe for biological environments, and eco-friendly, making them suitable for applications ranging from industrial energy recovery to sustainable energy solutions.

Practical Applications and Benefits 

The implications of this discovery could extend across industries and everyday scenarios. For instance, manufacturing facilities generate vast amounts of waste heat during production processes. Integrating lignin-based thermoelectric systems could allow these facilities to recover and reuse energy, reducing operational costs and environmental footprints.

Remote and off-grid locations could also benefit significantly. Lignin membranes could power sensors, communication devices, and small-scale lighting systems, eliminating the need for traditional fuel-based generators. Wearable technologies could also leverage the discovery, e.g. membranes could enable self-powered fitness trackers, medical monitors, and GPS devices that utilise body heat for continuous energy supply.

In buildings and infrastructure, lignin membranes could be integrated into heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to recapture waste heat and offset energy consumption. Their eco-friendly nature aligns perfectly with green building standards and sustainability goals.

A Green Alternative to Supercapacitors? 

Beyond energy harvesting, the UL team explored the use of lignin-based materials in energy storage. Traditional supercapacitors, which rapidly charge and discharge energy, often rely on carbon derived from fossil fuels. The researchers developed porous carbon electrodes from lignin, creating a sustainable alternative.

These lignin-based supercapacitors demonstrated exceptional performance in storing and delivering energy generated from waste heat. Their rapid charge-discharge capability makes them ideal for applications requiring quick bursts of power, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.

Broader Context and Similar Research 

The study adds to a growing body of research exploring sustainable materials for energy generation. In recent years, cellulose-based membranes and ionic gels have gained attention for their thermoelectric properties. However, lignin offers the unique advantage of being a byproduct of an existing industrial process, requiring minimal additional processing, and making it highly cost-effective.

For example, a 2021 study by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden highlighted the potential of cellulose membranes for thermoelectric applications. While these membranes demonstrated impressive performance, their mechanical fragility posed challenges for practical use. By contrast, the UL team’s lignin-based membranes are mechanically robust and suitable for real-world applications.

Environmental and Economic Impact 

Lignin-based thermoelectric materials offer clear environmental benefits. By converting waste heat into electricity, these membranes could reduce reliance on fossil fuels, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enhance energy efficiency across sectors. Harnessing lignin can thus transform what was once industrial waste into a valuable resource, contributing to a circular economy.

Cost Savings 

Economically, lignin-based technology could drive significant cost savings. The pulp and paper industry produces an estimated 50 million tonnes of lignin annually, much of which is discarded or burned for low-value energy recovery. Redirecting this lignin towards high-value applications, such as thermoelectric energy harvesting, could represent a win-win for industries and the environment.

Key Challenges and Future Directions 

Despite its promise, the technology is not without challenges. Scaling up lignin membrane production while maintaining consistent quality will require further research. Also, optimising the membranes’ performance under varying environmental conditions (such as humidity and prolonged heat exposure) remains a focus area.

Looking Ahead 

The researchers envision extending lignin-based materials to other forms of energy harvesting, such as solar thermal systems. Enhancements in membrane design, such as incorporating nanoscale channels for improved ion transport, could further boost efficiency and broaden applications.

What Does This Mean for Your Organisation? 

The development of lignin-based membranes could represent an exciting leap forward in sustainable energy technology. By converting waste heat (a largely untapped resource) into electricity, this innovation addresses both energy inefficiency and industrial waste. It is a clear example of how a circular economy can transform byproducts like lignin from the paper industry into valuable resources, paving the way for more environmentally responsible and economically viable solutions.

The potential value to industries could be significant. For example, in manufacturing facilities and power plants, where vast amounts of low-grade heat are routinely wasted, integrating lignin-based thermoelectric systems could reduce operational costs and improve energy efficiency. These membranes offer a way to recover lost energy and transform it into an asset, potentially reshaping markets that rely heavily on energy-intensive processes. Similarly, the transportation sector, including electric vehicles, could benefit from this technology’s ability to power auxiliary systems using heat generated during operation, improving overall efficiency and sustainability.

For businesses, the membranes present multiple opportunities. Industries involved in energy-intensive processes could achieve cost savings and reduced emissions, aligning with growing regulatory and public demands for sustainable practices. Furthermore, the eco-friendly nature of lignin membranes may open new markets, as green building standards and sustainability certifications increasingly influence decisions in sectors such as construction, infrastructure, and electronics. Companies that adopt and invest in this technology early could gain a competitive advantage in these evolving markets.

The implications for off-grid and remote locations are equally compelling. Lignin membranes could power devices and systems in areas where traditional energy infrastructure is lacking or expensive e.g., communication systems and wearable technologies. This could reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support the global push for decentralised, renewable energy solutions.

Although challenges remain in scaling production and optimising performance, the potential economic and environmental benefits of lignin-based membranes are undeniable. By offering a cost-effective, sustainable alternative to conventional thermoelectric materials, this innovation could revolutionise energy recovery across industries and inspire a shift in how businesses approach waste, sustainability, and energy use.

Tech Tip – Use “Windows Key + X” to Open the Power User Menu

Posted on by Paul Stradling

Access commonly used system tools and features like Device Manager, Disk Management, and Task Manager directly with a hidden Power User Menu, offering faster access to tools without navigating through multiple menus. Here’s how to quickly access it:

How To Open Power User Menu

– Press Win + X to bring up the Power User Menu.

How To Access Important Tools

– From the pop-up Power Menu, you can quickly select which important tools you’d like to access, such as Device Manager, Task Manager, Control Panel, and more.

Sustainability-in-Tech : Floating Solar Panels Could Power Entire Countries

Posted on by Paul Stradling

New research has concluded that floating solar panels could have the potential to meet the entire electricity needs of certain countries.

Helping To Decarbonise National Economies 

The findings of the research (from Bangor and Lancaster Universities and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) suggest that with a conservative 10 per cent surface area coverage, floating solar photovoltaics could produce sufficient energy to contribute a considerable fraction (16 per cent on average) of the electricity demand of some countries. This means that floating solar panels could play an important role in decarbonising national economies.

Why Floating Solar Panels? 

Solar energy is predicted to be the dominant renewable energy source by 2050, especially considering the growth of solar photovoltaics (PVs) been exceeded all projections. This is most likely because of their cost effectiveness, the global nature of the resource, and their flexibility in deployment.

In their results (published in nature.com), the researchers noted that the main reasons why floating solar photovoltaics (FPVs), also known as ‘floatovoltaics’, have advantages over conventionally deployed PVs that have enabled them to be deployed rapidly around the world (particularly on artificial bodies of water) include:

– The need for land-use change, where the alternative is a ground-mounted system. This is beneficial in land-scarce countries and regions with high land prices.

– FPV systems have lower temperatures, and thus higher efficiencies, compared to land-based systems.

How Much Electricity Could They Produce? 

Based on the researchers’ idea that they could be deployed in 68,000 lakes and reservoirs worldwide, numerical modelling and calculations indicate that FPVs could generate approximately 1302 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity annually. This equates to four times the total annual electricity demand of the UK!

Where? 

In terms of ideal locations, the researchers identified the best areas for FPV deployment as lakes and reservoirs within 10km of population-centres, away from protected areas, and with no more than six months of freezing a year.

As for which countries FPVs could help meet the energy demands via this renewable energy technology, the researchers highlighted Bolivia, Finland and even China. They also highlighted how FPVs could improve access to electricity in countries such as Chad or Malawi.

Challenges 

Despite the obvious potential benefits of deployment in some countries, the researchers also highlighted some challenges to the deployment of PPVs in some parts of the world and potential negative points, including:

– In many regions (e.g. sub-Saharan Africa), it is not simply a question of electricity supply but also connection, which can be difficult.

– Although globally the deployment of FPVs could lead to a total annual reduction of 0.45 billion tonnes of CO2 (2021 figures), in some countries where the carbon intensity of electricity is already very low, there could be a negative impact of FPV on total CO2 emissions, i.e. they could lead to higher CO2.

– In nations where the energy supply is dominated by hydro and wind, FPVs may increase CO2 emissions given PVsʼ higher carbon intensity.

– The impacts of FPVs on water body carbon cycling and their knock-on impacts on, among other things, CO2 emissions from water bodies are unknown.

– The total reduction in CO2 emissions highlighted by the research were based on water body constraint estimates which could vary depending on the number of water bodies included in any national-scale or global analysis.

Could Reduce Water Evaporation 

One other potential benefit of deploying large numbers of PV modules mounted on (moored) floats covering the surface of a water body noted by the researchers is the potential for reducing water scarcity by mitigating water loss via evaporation. This could be particularly helpful for drought-stricken areas.

Evaporation of water in key reservoirs and lakes has been shown to be accelerating globally under climate change.

What Does This Mean For Your Organisation? 

Covering existing bodies of water with solar floating solar panels to produce clean energy from the sun could, according to this research, represent a significant opportunity in terms of enhancing sustainability while securing a reliable and cost-effective energy source. The findings suggest that covering even a modest portion of water bodies with FPVs could markedly contribute to a whole nation’s electricity supply. This shift towards more sustainable energy practices could reduce costs and dependency on traditional energy sources, thereby benefiting countries, their economies, businesses, and the planet.

Embracing floating solar technology, contributing to the reduction of carbon emissions, and supporting the decarbonisation of national economies, could, it seems, play a pivotal role in combating climate change.

Also, the ancillary benefits of using FPVs at scale, such as reducing water evaporation, may also be particularly relevant for people living and organisations operating in water-scarce regions. This technology offers the dual advantage of generating renewable energy while conserving precious water resources. For organisations and businesses using the (presumably cheaper and abundant) power and benefitting from such initiatives, this could help them demonstrate their commitment to resource efficiency and environmental stewardship. This could be a powerful message in corporate social responsibility reports and sustainability communications.

However, despite the huge potential of FPVs, there are challenges associated with their deployment including potential connectivity issues in regions with underdeveloped electricity infrastructure. For organisations in these areas, it may be necessary to work collaboratively with local authorities and communities to improve grid connections and ensure the effective usage of FPVs. Also, understanding the environmental impact of FPVs on local ecosystems is crucial, but is not yet understood because it hasn’t happened at scale. Comprehensive environmental assessments, therefore, could be conducted to mitigate any negative effects, ensuring that the deployment of FPVs does not inadvertently harm the environment.

Investing in FPVs also appears to offer the promise of long-term financial benefits. The higher efficiency of FPVs compared to traditional land-based systems could result in more stable and predictable energy costs, providing a hedge against volatile energy markets. This stability may prove invaluable for long-term strategic planning and the overall resilience of the organisations operating in areas where FPVs are deployed.