According to a report by Avendus Capital, the capacity of India’s data center (DC) market is predicted to rise by 500 MW over the next four years, signaling a considerable expansion of the business. According to the report, the demand for AI is expected to outpace the needs for traditional cloud computing due to the increase in AI workloads. One of the world’s fastest-growing markets, India’s DC capacity has already doubled, from around 540 MW in 2019 to over 1,011 MW in 2023. Over the next three years, the sector is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 26%, the report added. Sovereign wealth funds, long-term pension funds, and private equity firms are among the many investors drawn to this expansion. The top seven cities in India account for over 94% of the country’s installed DC capacity. Over the next five years, Mumbai is estimated to provide 40% of the increased capacity, with Chennai and Delhi contributing 25% and 15%, respectively. With Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities seeing increased data usage, smaller edge DCs are expected to see significant demand.
UP govt to set up e-mobility dashboard, mobile app to boost EV accelerator cell
The Uttar Pradesh government is creating a mobile app and web-based e-mobility dashboard for the EV Accelerator Cell, the Economic Times reported. The dashboard will provide a centralised platform for tracking and managing electric vehicle (EV) registrations throughout the state. The features of the mobile app and web-based e-mobility dashboard will include greater data visibility, enhanced monitoring, efficient administration, transparency, and public participation. To create an extensive database, the project would also incorporate data from the housing department, power corporation, transportation, urban development, and Uttar Pradesh Development Systems Corporation Ltd (UPDESCO).
AI could lower risks to critical mineral supplies: Study
A recent research published in Nature has found that AI could reduce risks associated with critical minerals mining and supply. AI may shorten the time it takes for mining ventures to move from exploration to extraction, the research said. Enhanced mineral mapping can be accomplished by using AI techniques such as remote sensing and drone-based photogrammetry to automate the process and more accurately identify places with higher potential for new deposits. AI could determine the length of the mine’s extraction cycle more precisely and has the potential to enhance drilling efficiency by forecasting rock fragmentation and providing real-time performance review. AI algorithms can also be applied to equipment selection to lower risk. AI can be utilised for equipment management and predictive maintenance once the mine is operating, which will reduce the need for repairs. The report added that AI algorithms have the potential to mitigate environmental risks and calamities related to energy mining, especially when it comes to a few critical minerals like cobalt and lithium.
Canada to tax Chinese EVs, including Teslas, at 100%
Canada said that it would apply a 100% tariff on Chinese electric vehicle imports and a 25% tariff on Chinese steel and aluminium imports, following the lead of the US and the EU, Reuters reported. All EVs transported from China are subject to the duties, which would include Tesla vehicles. After Tesla began importing electric vehicles (EVs) manufactured in Shanghai to Canada in 2023, the country’s largest port in Vancouver had a 460% increase in car imports from China annually, reaching 44,356. According to Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau, China’s deliberate, state-directed policy of overcapacity is the reason Ottawa is taking this action. On October 1, the tariffs will go into effect. Canada’s second-largest trading partner is China, after the US.
Ford shifts gears on its EV plans, BMW beats Tesla in European EV sales for first time
Ford Motor Company has reorientated its approach for electric vehicles, with a new emphasis on producing a new commercial van and two new electric pickup trucks, the Associated Press reported. Ford is reportedly losing millions on its existing EVs and has stated that because of the high cost of batteries, it will not be producing fully electric three-row SUVs and will instead concentrate on producing those cars as gas-electric hybrids.
According to market research company JATO Dynamics, BMW overtook American automaker Tesla to take the lead in the European battery electric vehicle (BEV) market for the first time. According to the research, Tesla witnessed a 16 percent decline in registrations last month, while BMW saw a 35 percent increase in sales from a year earlier.
₹1,000 crore Green Tug Transition Programme launched for a “green maritime sector”
The Centre has launched the Green Tug Transition Program (GTTP) to replace traditional harbour tugs that run on fuel with more environmentally friendly and sustainable options. A harbour tug is a type of vessel specially designed to offer the necessary support during the different manoeuvres carried out by other vessels or floating devices within the port. An investment of ₹1,000 crore will be needed, according to an official statement. The first phase of the GTTP will start on October 1, 2024, and will last until December 31, 2027. At least two green tugs will be purchased or rented by each of the four major ports— Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Deendayal Port Authority, Paradip Port Authority, and V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority. The announcement also stated that as the sector develops, new cutting-edge green technologies including hybrid, methanol, and green hydrogen will be adopted. The first set of tugs will be battery-electric. Any new tug constructed in India after 2033 that is used in Indian ports must adhere to new norms, the official statement said.
About The Author
