TechCrunch Startup News Solar crushed 2024, but emissions were up as industry used more natural gas
6 snips
Feb 25, 2025 Solar and wind have surged to nearly 25% of electricity demand in the U.S., revolutionizing the energy landscape. However, increased reliance on natural gas has led to rising carbon emissions, complicating sustainability efforts. With $338 billion invested in the energy transition, the podcast delves into the challenges of balancing growing electricity demands from tech giants and data centers. It also contrasts the U.S. and China's energy strategies while proposing innovative solutions for optimizing energy use.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Energy Transition vs. Emissions
- The U.S. invested a record $338 billion in energy transition in 2024, but carbon emissions still rose.
- Increased natural gas demand offset the growth of renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Natural Gas Impact
- A 1.3% rise in natural gas demand led to a 0.5% increase in U.S. carbon emissions.
- This was driven by industrial users and power plants burning natural gas for power and heat.
Data Center Demand
- Skyrocketing demand from data centers is driving increased electricity demand.
- Tech companies invest heavily in new data centers to power cloud operations and AI.