The Deep View: Big Tech vies for power (literally). Comment: Ireland need to be investigating this, if we plan to have data centres and FDI companies commited to Ireland

Posted on November 24, 2025 by michelleclarke2015
ENERGY
Big Tech vies for power (literally)
Tech companies want to hold the power, literally and figuratively. 
On Friday, a Meta executive told Bloomberg that the company is getting into energy trading to shore up US power plants amid the AI-driven boom in demand. Urvi Parekh, Meta’s head of global energy, said the decision will give the company the flexibility to enter long contracts for energy, as power plant developers “want to know that the consumers of power are willing to put skin in the game,” she told Bloomberg. 
Meta isn’t the first tech company on the hunt for power. Tech firms like Microsoft, Amazon and Google have all invested in nuclear energy, and Google is even setting its sights on moonshots like space-based data centers that directly run on the sun’s energy. 
Each of these firms sees the writing on the wall, Dan Stein, CEO of Giving Green, told The Deep View: “Companies just need more electrons than the grid can currently provide.”As it stands, we’re in for a power shortfall of up to 13 gigawatts for data centers by 2028, according to Morgan Stanley analysts. 
But actually getting their hands on the energy needed stands to risk their “social license to operate,” said Stein. If increased energy demand from their data centers causes local pollution, increased carbon emissions or up retail power prices, Stein noted, it’s not a good look. 
Getting into energy trading, as Meta is doing, allows for creativity in sourcing electricity, and gives these firms the flexibility to sell extra power if they buy too much, Stein said. To put it simply, they’re supporting the creation of power, not just benefiting from it. 
“To solve all these problems, hyperscalers are needing to get creative with energy contracting,” said Stein. “With companies signing large, forward-looking contracts, becoming formal energy traders is an obvious next step.”
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About michelleclarke2015

Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
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