Yazılar

Chevron Advances Plans to Develop U.S. Data Centers with Power Generation

/in /tarafından

Chevron is moving forward with plans to develop data centers in the U.S., entering the permitting and engineering phases for multiple sites, according to a company executive. These centers will also feature the generation of electricity, primarily powered by natural gas, to meet the growing demand from data centers across the country. The energy consumption of these facilities, which are large warehouses for servers, is expected to triple in the next three years as the need for artificial intelligence and computing power intensifies.

The Big Tech industry has already begun securing power purchase agreements to meet their massive electricity demands, with some companies buying power directly from nuclear plants or signing deals with utilities to add power generation to the grid. This surge in data center demand is shaking up the U.S. power industry, with record peak demand and a rise in natural gas consumption.

Chevron, alongside ExxonMobil, announced plans last year to start power generation specifically for data centers, marking a departure from their usual focus on supplying energy for their own operations. Daniel Droog, Chevron’s Vice President of Power Solutions, stated at the CERAWeek conference in Houston that there is “high customer interest” in this new venture.

With data centers growing larger—some now requiring 50 times more power than traditional facilities—Chevron is targeting the development of power plants and data center sites with capacities around 1 gigawatt (GW), expected to be operational by 2027 or 2028. Droog emphasized that speed, reliability, and scale are central to their strategy.

The company has not revealed specific customers or the exact locations of these future data centers but indicated that southern, western, and midwestern regions are likely targets. These centers will be primarily powered by natural gas, with some sites potentially incorporating carbon capture or renewable energy sources.

Natural gas, which was previously avoided by Big Tech due to climate concerns, has now become a favored option due to its relatively low cost and availability in the U.S., the world’s largest gas producer. The company is also set to receive seven GE Vernova gas turbines by 2026, to aid in the power generation process.

Poland Hopes for AI Chip Export Restrictions to Be Lifted Under Trump

/in /tarafından

Poland is optimistic that the Trump administration will reverse the AI chip export restrictions imposed during the final days of President Joe Biden’s tenure. Dariusz Standerski, Poland’s deputy digital minister, expressed hopes on Wednesday that these restrictions, which limit Poland’s access to U.S.-designed AI chips, may be lifted under the new leadership.

The law, which was implemented by the Biden administration, categorized countries into three tiers. While 18 nations, including Japan, Britain, and France, were largely exempt from the restrictions, Poland and 120 other countries faced strict caps. Countries like Russia, China, and Iran were entirely barred from receiving the technology. Standerski criticized the decision, calling it “irresponsible” and stating that the Biden administration failed to provide a clear explanation for Poland’s placement in the second tier.

However, Standerski noted that Poland’s dialogue with the Trump administration had been “very constructive,” and he believes there is a “big chance” that Poland could be moved to the first tier, which would provide it with unrestricted access to the technology. Ongoing consultations are expected to last until May 15.

In addition, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski discussed the potential rollback of these restrictions with U.S. Vice President JD Vance at the AI Action Summit in Paris last month. Tech groups, including Microsoft, have also urged the Trump administration to ease these restrictions, advocating that such measures should not be extended to U.S. allies.

Furthermore, the European Commission has voiced support for the idea, stating that the EU should be able to access advanced AI chips from the U.S. without limitations.

TeamViewer Sets Medium-Term Growth Targets After 1E Acquisition

/in /tarafından

TeamViewer, the German software developer, revealed its medium-term revenue growth goals on Wednesday following the completion of its $720 million acquisition of IT firm 1E, resulting in a 5% rise in its shares. The company forecasts that its revenue will reach between 1.03 billion and 1.06 billion euros ($1.07-$1.10 billion) by 2028, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 44% to 45%.

In the fiscal year 2024, TeamViewer reported revenue of 671 million euros, maintaining a 44% adjusted EBITDA margin. After the announcement of its acquisition of 1E in December, TeamViewer’s shares initially faced a decline of over 20%, but have since gradually rebounded, supported by stronger-than-expected preliminary full-year results.

CEO Oliver Steil highlighted that while acquisitions are never inexpensive, the purchase of London-based 1E provides TeamViewer with blue-chip customers and enhances its presence in the U.S. market, offering strong synergy potential for both short- and long-term growth. TeamViewer’s enterprise business, contributing around 23% of total revenue, has been increasing in importance, with a 37% revenue rise in Q4 2024 to 45.5 million euros, primarily driven by seasonal factors.

The Americas, which account for roughly 35% of TeamViewer’s total revenue, have shown an improvement in customer sentiment following the U.S. presidential election, after a period of slower purchasing and uncertainty.