Power Of Compute. Just after yesterday’s headlines about nuclear failures and solar’s growth, we have the IPO for Fervo energy, a geothermal tech provider. With the headline valuation, you can see that the promise of future opportunity is driving the market for anything that can get more electrons to the AI / Data Center trend.
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News
1 Reuters:
Fervo Energy eyes $6.5 billion valuation in US IPO
2 Politico:
Democratic leaders want an affordability debate on AI. Critics say they’re ducking the real fight.
3 Bloomberg:
AI Boom to Add Hidden Extra Cost to Northeast US Power Bills
4 The Guardian:
Solar booms in industrial US midwest as energy crisis persists
5 PV-Tech:
CIP acquires Orsted onshore unit, launches Perigus Energy with 826MW capacity
6 Utility Dive:
Dominion upbeat on offshore wind as cost estimate eases, sales rise
7 Energy Storage News:
US administration ‘must make it easier to get things built,’ DOE chief of staff says
8 Canary Media:
For cheaper power, Virginia’s local utilities build small grid batteries
Opinions:
9 PV-Magazine:
Tigo Energy expands Predict+ capabilities to enhance financial forecasting for United States energy producers
Have a great day!
Yann
May The Fourth. Be with you. (Yes, I still have never watched Star Wars)
Everyone Loves Data Centers. At least they used to and I am guessing it’s much more nuanced now. I think that most people like using their AI but consumer use of AI isn’t really what is driving the need for the amount of compute we are seeing in the gold rush of building data centers. The problem that you’re seeing is that energy use is through the roof, construction is bother neighbors and inflation of energy prices can be tied back to their build outs. That’s why you’re seeing some moratoriums, community opposition and some political angst about how to communicate this growth.
News
1 Politico:
Data centers used to be a prize. States are having second thoughts.
2 UTility Dive:
Southern Co. electricity sales soar on 42% data center growth
3 PV-Magazine:
First Solar reaffirms 2026 guidance as CuRe launch and record India sales drive Q1 margin expansion
4 Bloomberg:
Nuclear AI Startup Fermi Promised Land and Ample Power. But It Couldn't Sign a Single Client
6 PV-Tech:
Tata Power targets 10GW ingot-wafer capacity with US$685 million investment
7 Energy Storage News:
Data centres’ speed-to-power need driving US LDES commercialisation
8 Canary Media:
Used EVs are on the upswing in America
Opinions:
9 Solar Power World:
How dual-use solar gets built
Have a great day!
Yann
Negative Rates. West Texas gas is negative which means that the cost of storage is greater than the demand for the commodity. Basically generators are choosing between paying for storage or how much they pay for buyers.
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News
1 Axios:
Where the energy shock is turned upside down
2 Bloomberg:
The AI Boom Is Cushioning the US Economy From Iran War Impact
3 UTility Dive:
Senators vow to block permitting reform over Trump’s renewables obstruction
4 Reuters:
First Solar's quarterly sales rise on higher solar panel demand
5 PV-Tech:
Indian PV manufacturer Inox Solar acquires Boviet Solar’s US module assembly operations
6 Energy Storage News:
US administration ‘must make it easier to get things built,’ DOE chief of staff says
7 Canary Media:
Two California bills would push utilities to get more out of their grids
Opinions:
8 PV-Magazine:
Solar Manufacturing USA 2026
Have a great day!
Yann
Feature In The System. In yesterday’s Senate hearing several Senators voiced their concerns about the ongoing silent but obvious campaign to halt solar development progress. Especially during a time when demand is skyrocketing, gas turbines are slow to come by and global fossil production / logistics are impacted by the Middle East conflicts; solar should be the generation that the US doubles into, focused by the private capital and demand for our generation. Secretary Burgum wasn’t interested taking a firm position whether the Interior department would be opening the floodgates of demand aside from disagreeing (vehemently) about the federal court’s ruling that the DOI memo should be rescinded.
Is This The Why? Given the macros and the reality without our system of energy capitalism, I’ve been giving it some thought on why this DOI would want to make it harder for private enterprise to build and develop solar. Ultimately, when I read the headlines about utility Capex and the pipeline of gas power that data centers are signing up for, I think that slowing solar may have something to do with this. Any thoughts?
News
1 Latitude Media:
Senators say permitting reform hinges on DOI advancing solar, wind permits
2 Bloomberg:
Meta’s Need for Gas Power Boosts Entergy Spending by $14 Billion
3 Utility Dive:
CAISO expects ‘solid launch’ for EDAM, first Western day-ahead market
4 Barrons:
Enphase Stock Falls After Earnings as Solar Slump Overshadows Data Center Push
5 New York Times:
The World Needs Natural Gas Now, but the U.S. Is Exporting All It Can
6 Reuters:
TotalEnergies to wait for stable Strait of Hormuz transit before resuming operations in region
7 PV-Tech:
EU bans funding for energy projects using Chinese inverters—will it move the needle on cybersecurity?
8 Energy Storage News:
‘A turning point’
9 Canary Media:
A new bill would help VPPs replace peaker plants in California
10 PV-Magazine:
More than 67 GW storage, 14 GW solar seek interconnection in PJM’s reopened queue
Opinions:
11 Axios:
What's next for oil after the UAE's decision to quit OPEC
Have a great day!
Yann
