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Amazon To Test AI-Created Material For Carbon Capture In Data Centers

Amazon is stepping up its environmental efforts by testing a groundbreaking carbon-removal material for its data centers. The company, which is tackling the growing emissions linked to the artificial intelligence systems powering these centers, has partnered with Orbital Materials, a startup that used AI to design the innovative substance.

Jonathan Godwin, CEO of Orbital Materials, explained that the new material acts like an atomic-level sponge, with cavities precisely sized to capture CO2 without interacting with other elements. This targeted approach could be a game-changer in carbon filtration.

One of the appealing aspects of the new material is its cost-effectiveness. Godwin estimates that the material could account for just 10% of the cost associated with renting a GPU chip for AI training, significantly less than the price of traditional carbon offsets.

Meanwhile, the demand for energy in data centers is rising, as AI’s rapid development requires more power and cooling solutions. This surge poses a challenge for Amazon, which is committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.

Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world’s largest cloud provider by revenue, plans to begin piloting the AI-designed carbon removal material in one of its data centers starting in 2025. This initiative is part of a three-year collaboration with Orbital, which will also gain access to AWS’s technology and open-source AI tools for further development.

Howard Gefen, General Manager of AWS Energy & Utilities, stated that the partnership would promote sustainable innovation, but financial details remain undisclosed. Orbital, with offices in Princeton, New Jersey, and London, began its journey about a year ago by setting up a lab to synthesize AI-designed materials. The startup aims to work with AWS to test additional AI-generated solutions, addressing water usage and cooling requirements in data centers. Godwin co-founded Orbital, which currently employs 20 people and is supported by investors such as Radical Ventures and Nvidia’s venture arm. Before this, Godwin contributed to materials science work at Alphabet’s DeepMind until 2022.

Cyprus Aquaculture Production Highlights Resilience Amid EU Downturn

New data from Eurostat reveals a notable contraction in European Union aquaculture production, with overall volumes and values declining even as Cyprus continues to maintain its engagement in the sector.

Overview Of EU Aquaculture Production

EU aquaculture reached 1 million tonnes of fish, molluscs, algae and crustaceans in 2024, with a total value of €4.6 billion. Compared with 2023, production declined by 3.7% in volume and 3.6% in value, reflecting weaker sector performance.

Cyprus’ Role In European Aquaculture

Among the European nations, Cyprus produced 9,053.9 tonnes of farmed aquatic organisms, a modest yet steady contribution that underscores its role as an active participant in the region’s diversified aquaculture network.

Leading Contributors To EU Aquaculture

Production remains concentrated among a small group of countries. Spain led with 246,137 tonnes, representing 24.3% of total EU output. France followed with 181,434 tonnes, or 17.9%, and Greece with 127,493 tonnes, or 12.6%. Italy produced 98,051 tonnes, or 9.7%, while Poland accounted for 43,554 tonnes, or 4.3%. Together, these five countries generated more than two-thirds of total EU aquaculture output.

Species Breakdown And Economic Impact

Mussels emerged as the most produced species by live weight, accounting for 32.8% of the total EU output. In contrast, when assessed by economic value, trout led with 17.9%, followed by seabass (14.5%) and gilthead seabream (13.5%). These figures highlight the varying dynamics of species-specific production and their corresponding market impacts.

Sectorial Outlook

The 2024 data indicate a contraction in EU aquaculture, with declines in both output and value. Cyprus and other smaller producers continue to contribute to the overall supply as the sector adjusts to changing market conditions.

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