• This monthly round-up brings you the latest stories from the world of technology.

• Top tech stories: Global data centres expected to consume more electricity than Japan by 2030; Low-cost green hydrogen generating prototype produces clean water as byproduct; Lego opens a $1 billion clean energy-run factory.

1. Global data centres expected to consume more electricity than Japan by 2030

By 2030, data centres are set to consume more electricity than Japan does today, according to new research.

The Energy and AI report from the International Energy Agency found that while centres consumed around 415 terawatt-hours (TWh) globally in 2024, this will more than double to 945 TWh over the next five years. The US is set to make up the largest share of the projected increase, followed by China.

“AI is one of the biggest stories in the energy world today – but until now, policymakers and markets lacked the tools to fully understand the wide-ranging impacts,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.

He added that increased usage will be felt more keenly in some nations than others.“The effects will be particularly strong in some countries,” he explained. “For example, in the United States, data centres are on course to account for almost half of the growth in electricity demand; in Japan, more than half; and in Malaysia, as much as one-fifth.”

The growing energy demands of data centres have also been explored in the World Economic Forum’s Artificial Intelligence’s Energy Paradox: Challenges and Opportunities report.Image: World Economic Forum

But while the report warned of increased consumption, it also states that AI has the potential to unlock major efficiencies and operational gains for the energy sector. The technology is already being used to detect faults and has the potential to increase the capacity of transmission lines.

Renewable sources of energy were identified as having the most potential to meet the increased energy demands. Coal currently provides around 30% of the electricity needed to run data centres, and solar, wind, and hydro-generated energy supply around 27%.

With these sources predicted to grow at an annual average rate of 22% up to 2030, the report says they could meet nearly 50% of the increased demand.

2. Low-cost green hydrogen-generating prototype produces clean water as byproduct

A device designed to create low-cost green hydrogen is able to produce clean, potable water as a byproduct.

The technology, designed by a Cornell University-led collaboration of researchers, can produce 200 millilitres of hydrogen per hour using seawater and natural sunlight.

The team behind the device estimates that it can reduce the cost of green hydrogen production to $1 per kilogram within 15 years.

Speaking to the Cornell Chronicle, project leader Lenan Zhang, assistant professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Cornell Engineering, said: “Water and energy are both critically needed for our everyday life, but typically, if you want to produce more energy, you have to consume more water.

“On the other hand, we need drinking water, because two-thirds of the global population are facing water scarcity. So there is a bottleneck in green hydrogen production, and that is reflected in the cost.”

Working with scientists from MIT, Johns Hopkins University and Michigan State University, Zhang and his team have built a 10 cm x 10 cm prototype which uses heat from the sun – which is typically wasted by photovoltaics – to warm and evaporate seawater.

As the seawater evaporates, the salt is left behind. The clean water can then be captured and split into hydrogen and oxygen.

“Now, for the first time, we can produce a sufficient amount of water that can satisfy the demand for hydrogen production,” added Zhang. “And also we have some additional water for drinking. Two birds, one stone.”

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What is the Forum doing to address the global water challenge?

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3. In brief: Other tech stories to know

Lego has opened a $1 billion factory which it says will soon rely on clean energy alone to operate from early 2026. Located in the industrial area of Binh Duong, Viet Nam, the premises will use 12,400 solar panels and an energy storage system. “We just want to make sure that the planet that the children inherit when they grow up needs to be a planet that is still there. That is functional,” Lego CEO Niels Christiansen told The Associated Press.

Chinese scientists from Guizhou Education University have developed a new material from moss that can absorb oil and repel water. The sponge-like product has been created to combat oil spills, and the research team behind the innovation say it can be reused multiple times, “maintaining 90% of its initial absorption capacity after 10 cycles”.

A robotic dog has been used to reactivate equipment in a potentially hazardous area in a nuclear power site, the BBC has reported. Dounreay in Scotland is being decommissioned, and safety requirements mean workers are unable to enter the area to power up a crane needed to lift containers of waste. The Boston Dynamics-built robot – named Spot – used an attachment to grip a pole and restart the machinery.

New lunar vehicle technology has been exhibited at the Space Symposium 2025 in Colorado Springs, US. Lunar Outpost revealed its latest lunar terrain vehicle prototype, the Lunar Outpost Eagle, which was developed in collaboration with General Motors, Goodyear, MDA Space and Leidos. It features autonomous navigation, a reconfigurable cargo bed and a robotic arm. Japan’s Bridgestone Corporation, meanwhile, unveiled an updated concept for a lunar rover tyre made of metal. Rubber-based wheels are unable to meet the demands of the lunar environment.

Japanese shipping company Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line has revealed it will build a 310,000-ton capacity methanol-powered crude oil carrier. The fuel is expected to lower greenhouse gas emissions and can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around 15%, the company says.

4. More on technology on the Forum

Organizations including IBM, Google and Quantinuum are having significant success in advancing some areas of quantum computing, but increased public awareness, education and investment are key to building the skillsets to support the quantum economy. This article from Katia Moskvitch Lead, Quantum Technology, World Economic Forum uncovers the benefits and potential of the technology.

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Wind and solar are now the cheapest sources of electricity on Earth but their value plummets during times of excess generation. Discover how thermal batteries are a cost-effective and scalable alternative way of converting intermittent electricity to always-on energy here.

Roads remain one the most dangerous types of infrastructure, with around 1.19 million people losing their lives in road traffic accidents each year. However, by using AI and satellite technology, we are able to predict, prevent, mitigate and manage road traffic risks before they escalate. This article from Valerann’s Vice-President, Marketing, Olga Gonzalez and Chief Business Officer and Co-Founder, Michael Vardi, explores how we can make our roads more efficient while saving lives.

https://www.weforum.org/stories/2025/04/data-centres-hydrogen-technology-news-april-2025/