Data Centers 7 August 2025 - 3 February 2026

Microsoft’s new AI data-center bet: superconducting cables to squeeze more power in less space
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Microsoft’s new AI data-center bet: superconducting cables to squeeze more power in less space

Microsoft is testing high-temperature superconductor power lines for data centers as U.S. grid constraints delay expansion. Early results show the cables can carry as much power as conventional lines in less space, but high costs and cooling demands may keep the technology in pilot stages. Microsoft has not disclosed investment amounts or deployment timelines.
February 10, 2026
Amazon AWS data center expansion in Europe hits seven-year power grid queues
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Amazon AWS data center expansion in Europe hits seven-year power grid queues

Amazon Web Services says delays of up to seven years in connecting to Europe’s power grid are stalling new data center projects. The company told Reuters these waits now rival real estate and construction as the main obstacle to expansion. The EU is considering proposals to speed up grid permits and modernize infrastructure. Italy and Spain face particular backlogs due to speculative project filings.
February 3, 2026
How Confidential Computing Lets Cloud Providers Process Your Data Without Decryption
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No Peeking: How Confidential Computing Lets Cloud Providers Process Your Data Without Decryption

Major cloud providers expanded confidential computing in 2024–2025, enabling encrypted data processing on CPUs and GPUs with hardware TEEs such as Intel SGX, AMD SEV, and NVIDIA H100. Microsoft, Google, AWS, and IBM now offer confidential VMs and enclaves with attestation and key management. EU DORA and NIST CSF 2.0 drove adoption. ABI Research forecasts the market reaching $160 billion by 2032.
August 11, 2025
Energy Storage Revolution
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2025 Energy Storage Revolution: Breakthrough Batteries, Gravity Systems & Hydrogen Powering the Future

The IEA says global storage capacity must hit 1,500 GW by 2030, a 15-fold jump, with batteries making up 90%. Battery prices dropped about 20% in 2024, averaging $115/kWh, as global manufacturing capacity reached 3.1 TWh. Rongke Power completed the world’s largest flow battery in China, while Energy Vault and Highview Power launched large-scale gravity and liquid air storage projects.
August 8, 2025
Energy Consumption in Data Centers
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Data Centers Are Power Hogs—These Technologies Are Finally Fixing That

AWS says its Graviton3 processors use 60% less energy than typical x86 cloud chips and now power over half of new AWS servers. Google’s TPUs deliver up to 30 times more performance per watt than GPUs for some AI tasks. Liquid cooling captures up to 80% of chip heat, with over half of new hyperscale servers expected to use it by 2027. MIT researchers cut AI job carbon footprints by up to 90% using smart scheduling tools.
August 7, 2025