Latest news with #energyrevolution
Sustainability Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Sustainability Times
Buried Reactors, Silent Power: Deep Fission's Radical Nuclear Plan Could Revolutionize How the World Feeds Its Data Machines
IN A NUTSHELL 💡 Deep Fission plans to revolutionize energy by burying micro-reactors underground to power data centers efficiently. plans to revolutionize energy by burying underground to power data centers efficiently. 🤝 Strategic partnerships with companies like Endeavour highlight the growing trend of leveraging nuclear power in the tech industry. highlight the growing trend of leveraging nuclear power in the tech industry. 🔧 The use of small modular reactors (SMRs) promises cost reduction and increased accessibility through mass production techniques. promises cost reduction and increased accessibility through mass production techniques. 📈 Despite regulatory challenges, Deep Fission targets operational status by 2029, potentially transforming the U.S. nuclear landscape. The concept of burying nuclear reactors underground might seem like a scene from a sci-fi movie, but it's becoming a reality thanks to innovative startups like Deep Fission. In a world grappling with escalating energy demands, especially from data centers powering AI technologies, traditional energy sources are being pushed to their limits. As a response, the nuclear sector is undergoing a renaissance, with companies exploring groundbreaking ways to generate clean and efficient power. Deep Fission, in collaboration with data center developer Endeavour, aims to harness subterranean nuclear power to meet these demands. But how exactly does this approach work, and what implications does it have for the future of energy? The Rise of Subterranean Nuclear Power The 1950s marked the beginning of underground nuclear testing as countries sought to minimize fallout from aboveground detonations. Fast forward to today, and this concept of using the earth as a natural barrier is being revisited by Deep Fission. By lowering small modular reactors into one-mile-deep boreholes, the company aims to utilize the insulating properties of the earth to safeguard its operations. This method not only promises enhanced safety but could also reduce the need for the tons of concrete traditionally required for reactor construction. Deep Fission's partnership with Endeavour signals a significant step toward realizing this vision, with plans to generate 2 gigawatts of subterranean nuclear power. The startup's innovative approach aligns with the growing trend among nuclear companies to develop compact reactors that can be mass-produced, subsequently lowering costs and increasing accessibility. The collaboration also underscores a broader effort within the tech industry to secure reliable and sustainable energy sources to fuel the ever-increasing computational power required by AI technologies. '18 Hours Without Cooling': Nuclear Reactor Left Unprotected After Technician Closes Wrong Valve in Alarming Safety Breach Strategic Partnerships and Investments Strategic partnerships are at the core of Deep Fission's approach, as demonstrated by its recent deal with Endeavour. Although the financial terms of the agreement remain undisclosed, it highlights the trust and confidence stakeholders have in the startup's vision. The partnership is part of a broader trend where tech giants like Google and Amazon are turning to nuclear startups to meet their energy needs. For instance, Google has teamed up with Kairos for 500 megawatts of reactors, while Amazon collaborates with X-Energy for around 300 megawatts. These alliances emphasize the importance of sustainable and efficient energy solutions in the tech industry. As data centers continue to expand globally, their energy consumption increases, necessitating innovative solutions like those offered by Deep Fission. Such partnerships not only showcase the potential of nuclear power in a modern context but also highlight the critical role of investment in driving technological advancements and sustainability efforts. 'Elusive Plasma Voids Found': US Scientists Crack Tokamak Confinement Mystery After Decades of Global Fusion Frustration The Promise of Small Modular Reactors At the heart of Deep Fission's strategy is the use of small modular reactors (SMRs). These reactors offer numerous advantages over traditional nuclear power plants, primarily due to their compact size and modular design. By utilizing mass production techniques, SMRs promise to significantly reduce the cost of nuclear power, making it a more viable option for widespread adoption. Their smaller footprint also allows for easier integration into existing infrastructure, maximizing land use efficiency. Deep Fission's reactors employ pressurized-water designs, a reliable technology used in various applications, from nuclear submarines to large-scale power plants. This approach highlights the adaptability and versatility of SMRs, making them suitable for a wide range of energy needs. The ability to generate power at a cost of five to seven cents per kilowatt-hour positions Deep Fission as a competitive player in the energy market, with the potential to revolutionize how we think about nuclear power. 'America Races to Catch China': U.S. Fast-Tracks Nuclear Reactor Testing in Urgent Bid to Regain Global Energy Lead Regulatory Challenges and Future Prospects Despite the promising prospects of subterranean nuclear power, regulatory approval remains a significant hurdle for startups like Deep Fission. The company began the licensing process with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in March, facing a timeline that, historically, could span several years. However, recent changes in legislation have introduced an 18-month limit for the NRC to approve or reject small modular reactors, expediting the process and providing a clearer path for innovation. As Deep Fission targets operational status for its first reactor by 2029, it joins a wave of companies poised to transform the nuclear landscape in the U.S. While the path to regulatory approval is fraught with challenges, the potential benefits of this technology are undeniable. As the world continues to seek sustainable and efficient energy solutions, could subterranean nuclear power be the breakthrough we've been waiting for? This article is based on verified sources and supported by editorial technologies. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (27)
Japan Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Pakistan's quiet solar rush puts pressure on national grid
Pakistanis are increasingly ditching the national grid in favour of solar power, prompting a boom in rooftop panels and spooking a government weighed down by billions of dollars of power sector debt. The quiet energy revolution has spread from wealthy neighborhoods to middle- and lower-income households as customers look to escape soaring electricity bills and prolonged power cuts. Down a cramped alley in Pakistan's megacity of Karachi, residents fighting the sweltering summer heat gather in Fareeda Saleem's modest home for something they never experienced before — uninterrupted power. "Solar makes life easier, but it's a hard choice for people like us," she says of the installation cost. Saleem was cut from the grid last year for refusing to pay her bills in protest over enduring 18-hour power cuts. A widow and mother of two disabled children, she sold her jewellery — a prized possession for women in Pakistan — and borrowed money from relatives to buy two solar panels, a solar inverter and battery to store energy, for 180,000 rupees ($630). Arsalan Arif, a local businessman, cleans solar panels installed on his house's rooftop in Pakistan's port city of Karachi on June 24. | AFP-JIJI As temperatures pass 40 degrees Celsius, children duck under Saleem's door and gather around the breeze of her fan. Mounted on poles above homes, solar panels have become a common sight across the country of 240 million people, with the installation cost typically recovered within two to five years. Making up less than 2% of the energy mix in 2020, solar power reached 10.3% in 2024, according to the global energy think tank Ember. But in a remarkable acceleration, it more than doubled to 24% in the first five months of 2025, becoming the largest source of energy production for the first time. It has edged past gas, coal and nuclear electricity sources, as well as hydropower, which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars of investment over the past decades. As a result, Pakistan has unexpectedly surged towards its target of renewable energy, making up 60% of its energy mix by 2030. Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember, said that Pakistan was "a leader in rooftop solar." 'The great Solar rush' Soaring fuel costs globally, coupled with demands from the International Monetary Fund to slash government subsidies, led successive administrations to repeatedly hike electricity costs. Prices have fluctuated since 2022 but peaked at a 155% increase, and power bills sometimes outweigh the cost of rent. Solar panels are seen installed across the rooftops of a residential neighborhood in Karachi on June 24. | AFP-JIJI "The great solar rush is not the result of any government's policy push," said Muhammad Basit Ghauri, an energy transition expert at Renewables First. "Residents have taken the decision out of clear frustration over our classical power system, which is essentially based on a lot of inefficiencies." Pakistan sources most of its solar equipment from neighboring China, where prices have dropped sharply, largely driven by overproduction and tech advancements. But the fall in national grid consumers has crept up on an unprepared government burdened by $8 billion of power sector debt, analysts say. Pakistan depends heavily on costly gas imports, which it sells at a loss to national energy providers. It is also tied into lengthy contracts with independent power producers, including some owned by China, for which it pays a fixed amount regardless of actual demand. A government report in March said the solar power increase has created a "disproportionate financial burden onto grid consumers, contributing to higher electricity tariffs and undermining the sustainability of the energy sector." A local resident cleans a solar panel installed on his house's rooftop in Karachi on June 23. | AFP-JIJI Electricity sales dropped 2.8% year-on-year in June, marking a second consecutive year of decline. Last month, the government imposed a new 10% tax on all imported solar, while the energy ministry has proposed slashing the rate at which it buys excess solar energy from consumers. 'Disconnected from the public "The household solar boom was a response to a crisis, not the cause of it," said analyst Jones, warning of "substantial problems for the grid" including a surge during evenings when solar users who cannot store energy return to traditional power. The national grid is losing paying customers like businessman Arsalan Arif. A third of his income was spent on electricity bills at his Karachi home until he bought a 10-kilowatt solar panel for around 1.4 million rupees (around $4,900). "Before, I didn't follow a timetable. I was always disrupted by the power outages," he said. Now he has "freedom and certainty" to continue his catering business. In the eastern city of Sialkot, safety wear manufacturer Hammad Noor switched to solar power in 2023, calling it his "best business decision," breaking even in 18 months and now saving 1 million rupees every month. The cost of converting Noor's second factory has now risen by nearly 1.5 million rupees under the new government tax. "The tax imposed is unfair and gives an advantage to big businesses over smaller ones," he said. "Policymakers seem completely disconnected from the public and business community."
Malay Mail
7 days ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Pakistan's great solar escape: Households flee the grid, spooking debt-laden government
KARACHI, July 17 — Pakistanis are increasingly ditching the national grid in favour of solar power, prompting a boom in rooftop panels and spooking a government weighed down by billions of dollars of power sector debt. The quiet energy revolution has spread from wealthy neighbourhoods to middle- and lower-income households as customers look to escape soaring electricity bills and prolonged power cuts. Down a cramped alley in Pakistan's megacity of Karachi, residents fighting the sweltering summer heat gather in Fareeda Saleem's modest home for something they never experienced before — uninterrupted power. 'Solar makes life easier, but it's a hard choice for people like us,' she says of the installation cost. Saleem was cut from the grid last year for refusing to pay her bills in protest over enduring 18-hour power cuts. A widow and mother of two disabled children, she sold her jewellery — a prized possession for women in Pakistan — and borrowed money from relatives to buy two solar panels, a solar inverter and battery to store energy, for 180,000 rupees (RM2,675). As temperatures pass 40°Celsius, children duck under Saleem's door and gather around the breeze of her fan. Mounted on poles above homes, solar panels have become a common sight across the country of 240 million people, with the installation cost typically recovered within two to five years. Making up less than two per cent of the energy mix in 2020, solar power reached 10.3 per cent in 2024, according to the global energy think tank Ember. But in a remarkable acceleration, it more than doubled to 24 per cent in the first five months of 2025, becoming the largest source of energy production for the first time. It has edged past gas, coal and nuclear electricity sources, as well as hydropower which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars of investment over the past decades. As a result, Pakistan has unexpectedly surged towards its target of renewable energy, making up 60 per cent of its energy mix by 2030. Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember, told AFP that Pakistan was 'a leader in rooftop solar'. 'The great Solar rush' Soaring fuel costs globally, coupled with demands from the International Monetary Fund to slash government subsidies, led successive administrations to repeatedly hike electricity costs. Prices have fluctuated since 2022 but peaked at a 155-per cent increase and power bills sometimes outweigh the cost of rent. 'The great solar rush is not the result of any government's policy push,' Muhammad Basit Ghauri, an energy transition expert at Renewables First, told AFP. 'Residents have taken the decision out of clear frustration over our classical power system, which is essentially based on a lot of inefficiencies.' Pakistan sources most of its solar equipment from neighbouring China, where prices have dropped sharply, largely driven by overproduction and tech advancements. But the fall in national grid consumers has crept up on an unprepared government burdened by US$8 billion of power sector debt, analysts say. Pakistan depends heavily on costly gas imports, which it sells at a loss to national energy providers. It is also tied into lengthy contracts with independent power producers, including some owned by China, for which it pays a fixed amount regardless of actual demand. A government report in March said the solar power increase has created a 'disproportionate financial burden onto grid consumers, contributing to higher electricity tariffs and undermining the sustainability of the energy sector'. Electricity sales dropped 2.8 per cent year-on-year in June, marking a second consecutive year of decline. Last month, the government imposed a new 10-per cent tax on all imported solar, while the energy ministry has proposed slashing the rate at which it buys excess solar energy from consumers. 'Disconnected from the public 'The household solar boom was a response to a crisis, not the cause of it,' said analyst Jones, warning of 'substantial problems for the grid' including a surge during evenings when solar users who cannot store energy return to traditional power. The national grid is losing paying customers like businessman Arsalan Arif. A third of his income was spent on electricity bills at his Karachi home until he bought a 10-kilowatt solar panel for around 1.4 million rupees. 'Before, I didn't follow a timetable. I was always disrupted by the power outages,' he told AFP. Now he has 'freedom and certainty' to continue his catering business. In the eastern city of Sialkot, safety wear manufacturer Hammad Noor switched to solar power in 2023, calling it his 'best business decision', breaking even in 18 months and now saving 1 million rupees every month. The cost of converting Noor's second factory has now risen by nearly 1.5 million rupees under the new government tax. 'The tax imposed is unfair and gives an advantage to big businesses over smaller ones,' he said. 'Policymakers seem completely disconnected from the public and business community.' — AFP
Arab News
16-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's quiet solar rush puts pressure on national grid
KARACHI: Pakistanis are increasingly ditching the national grid in favor of solar power, prompting a boom in rooftop panels and spooking a government weighed down by billions of dollars of power sector debt. The quiet energy revolution has spread from wealthy neighborhoods to middle- and lower-income households as customers look to escape soaring electricity bills and prolonged power cuts. Down a cramped alley in Pakistan's megacity of Karachi, residents fighting the sweltering summer heat gather in Fareeda Saleem's modest home for something they never experienced before — uninterrupted power. 'Solar makes life easier, but it's a hard choice for people like us,' she says of the installation cost. Saleem was cut from the grid last year for refusing to pay her bills in protest over enduring 18-hour power cuts. A widow and mother of two disabled children, she sold her jewelry — a prized possession for women in Pakistan — and borrowed money from relatives to buy two solar panels, a solar inverter and battery to store energy, for 180,000 rupees ($630). As temperatures pass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), children duck under Saleem's door and gather around the breeze of her fan. Mounted on poles above homes, solar panels have become a common sight across the country of 240 million people, with the installation cost typically recovered within two to five years. Making up less than two percent of the energy mix in 2020, solar power reached 10.3% in 2024, according to the global energy think tank Ember. But in a remarkable acceleration, it more than doubled to 24% in the first five months of 2025, becoming the largest source of energy production for the first time. It has edged past gas, coal and nuclear electricity sources, as well as hydropower which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars of investment over the past decades. As a result, Pakistan has unexpectedly surged toward its target of renewable energy, making up 60% of its energy mix by 2030. Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember, told AFP that Pakistan was 'a leader in rooftop solar.' Soaring fuel costs globally, coupled with demands from the International Monetary Fund to slash government subsidies, led successive administrations to repeatedly hike electricity costs. Prices have fluctuated since 2022 but peaked at a 155-% increase and power bills sometimes outweigh the cost of rent. 'The great solar rush is not the result of any government's policy push,' Muhammad Basit Ghauri, an energy transition expert at Renewables First, told AFP. 'Residents have taken the decision out of clear frustration over our classical power system, which is essentially based on a lot of inefficiencies.' Pakistan sources most of its solar equipment from neighboring China, where prices have dropped sharply, largely driven by overproduction and tech advancements. But the fall in national grid consumers has crept up on an unprepared government burdened by $8 billion of power sector debt, analysts say. Pakistan depends heavily on costly gas imports, which it sells at a loss to national energy providers. It is also tied into lengthy contracts with independent power producers, including some owned by China, for which it pays a fixed amount regardless of actual demand. A government report in March said the solar power increase has created a 'disproportionate financial burden onto grid consumers, contributing to higher electricity tariffs and undermining the sustainability of the energy sector.' Electricity sales dropped 2.8% year-on-year in June, marking a second consecutive year of decline. Last month, the government imposed a new 10-% tax on all imported solar, while the energy ministry has proposed slashing the rate at which it buys excess solar energy from consumers. 'The household solar boom was a response to a crisis, not the cause of it,' said analyst Jones, warning of 'substantial problems for the grid' including a surge during evenings when solar users who cannot store energy return to traditional power. The national grid is losing paying customers like businessman Arsalan Arif. A third of his income was spent on electricity bills at his Karachi home until he bought a 10-kilowatt solar panel for around 1.4 million rupees (around $4,900). 'Before, I didn't follow a timetable. I was always disrupted by the power outages,' he told AFP. Now he has 'freedom and certainty' to continue his catering business. In the eastern city of Sialkot, safety wear manufacturer Hammad Noor switched to solar power in 2023, calling it his 'best business decision,' breaking even in 18 months and now saving 1 million rupees every month. The cost of converting Noor's second factory has now risen by nearly 1.5 million rupees under the new government tax. 'The tax imposed is unfair and gives an advantage to big businesses over smaller ones,' he said. 'Policymakers seem completely disconnected from the public and business community.'
Asharq Al-Awsat
16-07-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Pakistan's Quiet Solar Rush Puts Pressure on National Grid
Pakistanis are increasingly ditching the national grid in favor of solar power, prompting a boom in rooftop panels and spooking a government weighed down by billions of dollars of power sector debt. The quiet energy revolution has spread from wealthy neighborhoods to middle- and lower-income households as customers look to escape soaring electricity bills and prolonged power cuts, said AFP. Down a cramped alley in Pakistan's megacity of Karachi, residents fighting the sweltering summer heat gather in Fareeda Saleem's modest home for something they never experienced before -- uninterrupted power. "Solar makes life easier, but it's a hard choice for people like us," she says of the installation cost. Saleem was cut from the grid last year for refusing to pay her bills in protest over enduring 18-hour power cuts. A widow and mother of two disabled children, she sold her jewelry -- a prized possession for women in Pakistan -- and borrowed money from relatives to buy two solar panels, a solar inverter and battery to store energy, for 180,000 rupees ($630). As temperatures pass 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit), children duck under Saleem's door and gather around the breeze of her fan. Mounted on poles above homes, solar panels have become a common sight across the country of 240 million people, with the installation cost typically recovered within two to five years. Making up less than two percent of the energy mix in 2020, solar power reached 10.3 percent in 2024, according to the global energy think tank Ember. But in a remarkable acceleration, it more than doubled to 24 percent in the first five months of 2025, becoming the largest source of energy production for the first time. It has edged past gas, coal and nuclear electricity sources, as well as hydropower which has seen hundreds of millions of dollars of investment over the past decades. As a result, Pakistan has unexpectedly surged towards its target of renewable energy, making up 60 percent of its energy mix by 2030. Dave Jones, chief analyst at Ember, told AFP that Pakistan was "a leader in rooftop solar". 'The great Solar rush' Soaring fuel costs globally, coupled with demands from the International Monetary Fund to slash government subsidies, led successive administrations to repeatedly hike electricity costs. Prices have fluctuated since 2022 but peaked at a 155-percent increase and power bills sometimes outweigh the cost of rent. "The great solar rush is not the result of any government's policy push," Muhammad Basit Ghauri, an energy transition expert at Renewables First, told AFP. "Residents have taken the decision out of clear frustration over our classical power system, which is essentially based on a lot of inefficiencies." Pakistan sources most of its solar equipment from neighboring China, where prices have dropped sharply, largely driven by overproduction and tech advancements. But the fall in national grid consumers has crept up on an unprepared government burdened by $8 billion of power sector debt, analysts say. It is also tied into lengthy contracts with independent power producers, including some owned by China, for which it pays a fixed amount regardless of actual demand. A government report in March said the solar power increase has created a "disproportionate financial burden onto grid consumers, contributing to higher electricity tariffs and undermining the sustainability of the energy sector". Electricity sales dropped 2.8 percent year-on-year in June, marking a second consecutive year of decline. Last month, the government imposed a new 10-percent tax on all imported solar, while the energy ministry has proposed slashing the rate at which it buys excess solar energy from consumers. 'Disconnected from the public "The household solar boom was a response to a crisis, not the cause of it," said analyst Jones, warning of "substantial problems for the grid" including a surge during evenings when solar users who cannot store energy return to traditional power. The national grid is losing paying customers like businessman Arsalan Arif. A third of his income was spent on electricity bills at his Karachi home until he bought a 10-kilowatt solar panel for around 1.4 million rupees (around $4,900). "Before, I didn't follow a timetable. I was always disrupted by the power outages," he told AFP. Now he has "freedom and certainty" to continue his catering business. In the eastern city of Sialkot, safety wear manufacturer Hammad Noor switched to solar power in 2023, calling it his "best business decision", breaking even in 18 months and now saving 1 million rupees every month. The cost of converting Noor's second factory has now risen by nearly 1.5 million rupees under the new government tax. "The tax imposed is unfair and gives an advantage to big businesses over smaller ones," he said. "Policymakers seem completely disconnected from the public and business community."
