Tennessee Data Center Intel

Recent Tennessee data center news

• Jan 6, 2026

  The top AMD stories of 2025

  AMD announced a series of product launches, partnerships, acquisitions and infrastructure deals in 2025 to boost AI performance across desktops, mobile, data centers and supercomputers.

  • Main announcement: AMD rolled out multiple AI-focused products and deals in 2025 including the Pensando Pollara 400GbE Ultra Ethernet-compliant NIC (announced June), Instinct MI350 accelerators and rack-scale platform (June), Ryzen Threadripper Pro 9000 WX-Series (Computex, May), EPYC 4005 processors (May), and the acquisition of AI software startup Brium (June). It also struck a 6-gigawatt agreement with OpenAI (first 1 GW deployment of MI450 GPUs set to begin in H2 2026) and announced collaboration with the U.S. DOE to build two more supercomputers at ORNL (Lux AI and Discovery).
  • Background and additional details: AMD and Saudi-backed Humain signed a $10 billion deal to develop AMD-based AI data centers spanning Saudi Arabia to the U.S.; Lux AI and Discovery represent a combined $1 billion public/private investment; other items include security microcode patches (Feb), a Meltdown/Spectre-like alert (July), DigitalOcean GPU Droplets partnership (June), and IBM collaboration on hybrid quantum-classical computing (Aug). Timelines: OpenAI 1 GW deployment in second half of 2026, HPE GX5000 system unlikely available until 2027, ORNL supercomputers planned to join existing systems “in the next few years.”
• Jan 3, 2026

  ‘Just an unbelievable amount of pollution’: how big a threat is AI to the climate?

  The Guardian reports on the climate risks posed by the AI boom and rapid datacentre expansion, highlighting methane releases, rising electricity demand and policy calls for moratoria or regulation.

  • Main announcement/action: The article documents direct observations and expert analysis showing datacentre-driven pollution (e.g., Sharon Wilson’s thermal imaging of xAI’s Colossus suggesting large methane releases), Ireland’s datacentres consuming one-fifth of national electricity (projected to near one-third), and IEA/BloombergNEF projections that datacentre electricity demand could grow substantially; it also notes a $625m (£467m) investment package announced by US energy secretary Chris Wright.
  • Background and details: The piece cites IEA and LSE/Systemiq studies that model both risks and potential emissions savings from AI, references calls for a moratorium by the UN special rapporteur and a US environmental coalition of more than 230 groups, and records corporate and sectoral actions (e.g., Google, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, and utility rules in Ireland requiring 80% of a datacentre’s consumption to come from new renewables over time).
• Jan 2, 2026

  Transformers in 2026: Shortage, Scramble, or Self-Inflicted Crisis?

  Wood Mackenzie and POWER report that U.S. transformer supply remains structurally out of balance, with multi-year deficits in large power and generator step-up units even as manufacturers commit major North American investments.

  • Main findings and actions:Wood Mackenzie estimates a 30% shortfall for power transformers and 10% for distribution units in 2025, with demand increases since 2019 of 119% for power transformers and 274% for GSUs; lead times average 128 weeks for power transformers and 144 weeks for GSUs. Despite nearly $1.8 billion–$2.0 billion in announced North American manufacturing investments since 2023, major corporate commitments include Hitachi Energy (over $1 billion continental, CA$270 million Varennes expansion, $457 million South Boston, VA project due by 2028, $106 million Alamo, TN expansion), Siemens Energy ($150 million Charlotte plant, production targeted early 2027), Eaton ($340 million South Carolina facility targeting 2027), Prolec GE (more than $300 million), Virginia Transformer Corp. ($40 million), ERMCO (>$70 million), and Central Moloney ($50 million). Unit prices have also climbed: power transformers +77%, GSUs +45%, some distribution up to 95%.

  • Background, policy, and procurement details: Federal trade measures (copper tariffs up to 50%, expanded Section 232 steel/aluminum duties) and the budget package nicknamed “One Big Beautiful Bill” (phasing down some renewables credits and tightening FEOC rules) have raised input costs and domestic‑content constraints; federal/state incentives and site support are driving reshoring to Virginia, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and elsewhere. Counterpoints include broker Patrick Tarver of Bolt Electrical LLC, who argues “There is not a shortage” and attributes delays to utility/EPC procurement practices (qualification lists, vendor rules) rather than factory capacity; Tarver says he can deliver standard substation transformers in 12 to 14 months and typically charges 12%–15% over factory cost.

• Dec 30, 2025

  Scorecard: Looking Back at Data Center Frontier’s 2025 Industry Predictions

  Data Center Frontier published a 2025 scorecard grading eight data center industry trends and issued verdicts on each, emphasizing that power, cooling, and utility coordination dominated what shaped the industry in 2025.

  • Main announcement: Data Center Frontier released a year-end scorecard evaluating eight core trends with graded verdicts (e.g., “VERDICT: MASSIVE HIT” for power constraints and hyperscale megacampuses; “VERDICT: STRONG HIT” for natural gas bridging supply). The article cites specific figures and deals including estimates that U.S. data center energy use could reach up to 12% of U.S. electricity by 2028 (Congressional Research Service), a reported $120+ billion of AI data center spending shifted off balance sheets (Financial Times), and Alphabet’s $4.75 billion acquisition of Intersect Power to align energy and compute deployment timelines.
  • Background and details: The piece documents operational shifts in 2025—liquid direct-to-chip cooling moved to baseline design assumptions (TrendForce: DLC adoption ~33% in 2025), natural gas and behind-the-meter generation emerged as fast-to-deploy reliability options (ExxonMobil’s 1.5-GW plant plans and CCS pairing), and quantum and immersion cooling progressed technically but remained “Too Early” for broad adoption. It also notes concrete geographic and market examples (record-low primary market vacancy at 1.6% per CBRE; secondary market growth in Central Ohio, Indiana, Louisiana, Utah, Colorado, North Carolina, Tennessee).
• Dec 30, 2025

  Environment and health in New Mexico: top stories of 2025

  Source NM published a roundup of New Mexico’s top environment and health stories of 2025, highlighting PFAS contamination, a measles outbreak, federal land policy shifts, inclusion of New Mexican downwinders in RECA, data center development impacts, and groundwater toxic metals.

  • Main coverage: Source NM summarized key 2025 actions: PFAS regulation efforts (EPA 2029 deadline for public water systems; NM Environment Department proposed PFAS rules to the Environmental Improvement Board with public hearings potentially as early as February), RECA expansion that now includes New Mexican downwinders with an application deadline Dec. 31, 2027 and an online portal the Department of Justice expects by year-end, and Project Jupiter — Doña Ana County approved $165 billion in bonds for a large data center campus that has applied for permits to build natural gas generating stations and was told the permit applications were “incomplete” and given until Jan. 19 to provide more information.
  • Background and other details: The piece also reports a measles outbreak with more than 100 cases over six months (outbreak ended in September), discovery of toxic metals (antimony, arsenic, uranium) in Mora County groundwater potentially linked to Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire-suppression foam with approximately $2 billion remaining in federal compensation funds under consideration, and federal land policy shifts (USDA roadless rule consultation; Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s comments on the Conservation and Landscape Health Rule) with New Mexico leaders urging protection around Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
• Dec 22, 2025

  Analyzer delivers real-time insights for US power grid

  Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the University of Tennessee have developed a Universal GridEdge Analyzer that provides real-time, high-resolution insight into electric grid behavior and has won an R&D 100 Award.

  • Device capabilities and deployment: The compact analyzer measures 60,000 samples/second of voltage and current waveforms, then compresses, encrypts, and streams the data to centralized servers; it can be embedded in power electronics, installed on distribution lines, or plugged into wall outlets, and is already being used by utilities in Hawaii and Texas to monitor fast grid dynamics and power electronics behavior.
  • Context and applications: Building on UT’s FNET/GridEye network of ~200 U.S. sensors and ~100 worldwide, the new analyzer captures high-speed incidents that older systems miss and is specifically used to understand how data centers and distributed energy plants with batteries interact with the grid, including voltage fluctuations at AI data centers that can trigger rapid switches to backup power.
• Dec 22, 2025 · IT Brief Asia

  HPE dominates TOP500 with trio of exascale leaders

  Hewlett Packard Enterprise has built the world’s three fastest exascale supercomputers (El Capitan, Frontier, Aurora), delivered six of the top ten TOP500 systems overall, and supplied ten of the top 20 Green500 energy-efficient machines.

  • Main announcement: HPE-built systems occupy the top three TOP500 positions (El Capitan, Frontier, Aurora). Key performance figures: El Capitan — 1.809 exaflops (4% gain), Frontier — 1.353 exaflops, Aurora — 1.021 exaflops; HPE also built six of the top ten TOP500 systems and ten of the top 20 Green500 systems using fanless direct liquid cooling derived from Cray designs.
  • Background and details: The ranking confirms institutional locations and uses: El Capitan at Lawrence Livermore National Labouratory (AMD Instinct MI300A); Frontier at Oak Ridge National Labouratory (AMD Instinct MI250 + AMD Epyc); Aurora at Argonne National Labouratory (built with Intel). HPE announced additional sovereign AI installs: TELUS (Canada) — 22.74 petaflops and Alem.Cloud Sovereign AI (Kazakhstan) — 20.48 petaflops, and continues to deploy second-generation exascale designs, liquid-cooled architectures, and open-source tools such as Chapel under the High Performance Software Foundation.
• Dec 18, 2025

  2025 in review: ORNL’s top science news stories

  Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced delivery of two next-generation DOE AI supercomputers and multiple research collaborations across AI, quantum, nuclear and manufacturing.

  • Main announcement: ORNL, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, AMD, and HPE, will deliver two AI supercomputers, Lux and Discovery, with Lux launching in 2026 and Discovery in 2028, to enable AI-capable research across energy, manufacturing, medicine and national security; ORNL also signed an agreement with Atomic Canyon to streamline nuclear licensing using AI (combining HPC, simulations and AI document analysis).
  • Additional details and partnerships: ORNL worked with Kairos Power and Barnard Construction on large-scale 3D-printed polymer composite forms for concrete structures at Kairos Power’s Oak Ridge campus (Hermes demonstration reactor site); collaborated with EPB and University of Tennessee Chattanooga on the first transmission of an entangled quantum signal over a commercial network; partnered with Quantum Brilliance, NVIDIA, Beehive Industries, and others on quantum-HPC, additive manufacturing, and materials advances; managed by UT-Battelle for DOE Office of Science.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Can Ford’s battery pivot power its future as EV sales stall?

  Ford will dissolve its joint venture with SK On and repurpose the Glendale, Kentucky battery plant to produce lithium iron phosphate (LFP) grid batteries.

  • Main action and implementation: Ford announced a pivot to grid storage, planning to spend $2 billion over the next two years to retool the Kentucky plant to make LFP cells packaged in 20-foot containers with at least 5 MWh each, and to ship at least 20 GWh annually by the end of 2027. Ford will dissolve the JV with SK On (SK On will take the BlueOval City/Tennessee plant) and will also produce cells for home batteries at its Marshall, Michigan factory.
  • Background and concrete details: The move accompanies a $19.5–$20 billion EV-related write-down to reflect lost EV plans and the JV dissolution; the Kentucky facility will lay off about 1,600 employees, and Ford expects demand drivers including U.S. policy changes (the One Big Beautiful Bill Act) and rising domestic storage demand. Ford positions the effort as a redeployment of capital to serve grid and data-center customers amid increased U.S. push for domestically produced LFP cells.
• Dec 18, 2025

  Plug Power 2025: A Year of Momentum, Milestones, and Meaningful Progress

  Plug has published a year-end 2025 blog highlighting major operational milestones across its hydrogen electrolyzer, fuel cell, and production network businesses.

  • Electrolyzers & fuel cells: Plug shipped >185 MW of GenEco electrolyzers in 2025 (total >317 MW across 70+ units, operating on every continent except Antarctica) and deployed >3,100 GenDrive fuel cell units, growing the installed base to >72,000 units and completing >20 million hydrogen fuelings in 2025 and >1 billion fuelings cumulatively.
  • Hydrogen production & logistics: Its U.S. plants in Georgia, Tennessee, and Louisiana produced >4,600 metric tons of hydrogen in 2025 (Woodbine, GA >2,500 t, Charleston, TN 1,541 t, St. Gabriel, LA 561 t), with network capacity >40 tons/day, high uptimes (up to 99.7% availability) and an expanded logistics fleet of 34 liquid and 89 gas trailers, while new customer deals include 55 MW with Carlton Power (UK) and **8 GW with Allied Green Ammonia (Australia, Uzbekistan, UAE).