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China has released an energy conservation and carbon reduction action plan it says will cut CO2 emissions from energy consumption over the next year by 130 million tonnes.

Big tech is playing its part in reaching net zero targets, but its vast new datacentres are run at huge cost to the environment

• Mariana Mazzucato is professor of economics at UCL, and director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose

When you picture the tech industry, you probably think of things that don’t exist in physical space, such as the apps and internet browser on your phone. But the infrastructure required to store all this information – the physical datacentres housed in business parks and city outskirts – consume massive amounts of energy. Despite its name, the infrastructure used by the “cloud” accounts for more global greenhouse emissions than commercial flights. In 2018, for instance, the 5bn YouTube hits for the viral song Despacito used the same amount of energy it would take to heat 40,000 US homes annually.

This is a hugely environmentally destructive side to the tech industry. While it has played a big role in reaching net zero, giving us smart meters and efficient solar, it’s critical that we turn the spotlight on its environmental footprint. Large language models such as ChatGPT are some of the most energy-guzzling technologies of all. Research suggests, for instance, that about 700,000 litres of water could have been used to cool the machines that trained ChatGPT-3 at Microsoft’s data facilities. It is hardly news that the tech bubble’s self-glorification has obscured the uglier sides of this industry, from its proclivity for tax avoidance to its invasion of privacy and exploitation of our attention span. The industry’s environmental impact is a key issue, yet the companies that produce such models have stayed remarkably quiet about the amount of energy they consume – probably because they don’t want to spark our concern.

Mariana Mazzucato is professor of economics at UCL, and director of the Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose

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The third and newest big battery on Queensland's main grid running at or near full capacity as it completes its commissioning process.

The post Newest big battery in Sunshine state now charging at up to full capacity appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The spot NZU price has climbed nearly 7% in recent days as the coalition government announced little in new funding on climate initiatives in its latest budget Thursday, focusing instead on funding tax breaks and public service spending.

Brookfield makes $10.2 billion offer for Neoen, the French based company that has become Australia's most successful developer of renewables and storage.

The post Brookfield makes agreed $10 billion bid for Neoen – Australia’s biggest renewables developer – after Origin snub appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Spain-based X-Elio seeks federal green tick for a 350 MW solar farm and two-hour big battery in Western Downs region.

The post X-Elio seeks green tick for 350MW solar farm and two-hour big battery in Queensland appeared first on RenewEconomy.

The only pathway we have left to limit warming to 1.5°C is political. Sadly, our current government seems set on a sleight of hand rather than cutting fossil fuel and industry emissions.

The post Australia’s Net Zero target is being lost in accounting tricks, offsets and more gas appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Plans to develop a solar thermal powered methanol production facility that will supply green fuel for shipping and aviation have been given green tick.

The post Solar thermal powered green methanol plant wins planning consent in Port Augusta appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Policy work by Australian state and federal governments has allowed investors to be more confident to spend cash on climate solutions in the country, a survey released Thursday found, despite global economic headwinds and a perceived lack of investment opportunities in the country.

A digital platform for household solar energy, electric cars and batteries to communicate across the electricity grid could cut power bills by $1500 per year.

The post Digital platform to harness value of home solar, batteries, electric cars appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Redback CEO Adrian Knack on surviving and thriving in the home battery business. Plus: A boost for batteries and a tax on solar.

The post Solar Insiders Podcast: Redback revival, battery rebates and solar tax appeared first on RenewEconomy.

NSW is rethinking its storage needs to replace its ageing coal generators. Turns out more 4-hour batteries might be cheaper and more effective than eight hour storage.

The post NSW rethinks storage needs to replace coal: More short duration batteries might do the trick appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Traditional methods based on trap, adopt or euthanise have failed to control cat numbers. An eight-year trial of a more supportive community cat desexing program has been a resounding success. Jacquie Rand, Emeritus Professor of Companion Animal Health, The University of Queensland Rebekah Scotney, Clinical Academic, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland Tamsin Barnes, Inidustry Fellow, School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

Brexit has reduced EU ETS-reportable sailing distances by liner services on the North Atlantic by 24% relative to a scenario in which the UK had stayed in the bloc, Danish shipping analysts have estimated.

Zimbabwe’s giant Kariba REDD+ project is set to receive carbon credits via another standards body after its owner withdrew it from Verra’s VCS programme amid protests about a protracted investigation.

Last week an updated Business Case for Snowy 2.0 was released.  Like every aspect of this hapless, over-hyped project it is late, inadequate, and unrealistically optimistic.

The post Snowy 2.0’s updated business case is flawed, again appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Andrew Forrest's latest renewable mega project proposal includes a battery component with up to 12 hours of storage.

The post Andrew Forrest plans massive 2GW wind and solar project, backed by gigawatt-scale 12-hour battery appeared first on RenewEconomy.

Labor came to power promising real change on climate. But their reliance on accounting tricks, carbon sinks, offsets and a future for gas has cast a very large cloud. Bill Hare, Adjunct Professor of Energy, Murdoch University Licensed as Creative Commons – attribution, no derivatives.

A Toronto-based carbon and precious metals royalty and streaming company announced first quarter results for 2024 on Wednesday, with portfolio updates on their offset joint venture interests and a C$200 million ($146 mln) investment pipeline in nature-based offset projects.

Two University of Wollongong researchers have won Australian Research Council (ARC) Laureate Fellowships to support their ground-breaking climate research.

The post UOW researchers awarded $7m for climate and decarbonisation projects appeared first on RenewEconomy.