The high steel intensity of low carbon power sources confronts us with a so-called “catch-22”, a situation in which there seems to be no escape from a problem no matter what we do. We need much more steel if we replace thermal power plants with renewable ones. Because there is not enough steel scrap available, we can only produce that extra steel from iron ore in blast furnaces burning fossil fuels. To address climate change, we need to build low-carbon sources quickly and in great numbers. However, to achieve circular material flows and build low-carbon power sources from scrap and renewable electricity, we would have to do the opposite: slow down the development of a low-carbon power grid.
Les article de Low tech magazine sont toujours longs mais absolument passionnants, sourcés et instructifs.
From simple ChatGPT queries — which themselves can consume as much electricity as a 60-watt incandescent bulb does in 10 minutes — to more complex image and video creations, to fast-growing enterprise implementation and hardware integration, the AI boom is spiking demand for power on an already-strained grid.
Tristan Nitot et sa loi d’Eroom, impeccable. 👌
« The staggering electricity demand needed to power next-generation technology is forcing the US to rely on yesterday’s fuel source: coal. »
Difficile de ne pas déprimer sec face à l’absurdité. 😩