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AI & Enterprise

Batteries gain ground as AI data centre power strains make them cheaper than gas turbines

Battery energy storage systems are becoming a lower-cost option than natural gas turbines as power demand from AI data centres surges, according to an analysis cited in the report. Wood Mackenzie said four-hour batteries were cheaper than open-cycle gas turbines in all 43 markets it studied, while turbine prices rose and delivery times lengthened. Solar was the cheapest new power source, and pairing solar with batteries can add flexibility.

AI & Enterprise

Trump regulation puts AI data centers on alert; costs could jump if Chinese equipment is blocked

The U.S. boom in building AI data centers is heightening supply-chain risks tied to reliance on Chinese power and optical communications equipment. If Washington tightens restrictions on national security grounds, shortages and higher costs could slow data center construction. Key components such as transformers, switchgear, batteries and optical transceivers depend heavily on China, while existing supply shortfalls for power equipment are already emerging, with limited near-term substitution capacity.

Industry

Unitree IPO frenzy leaves question of when robots will do housework

China’s humanoid robot maker Unitree has pulled off a record-breaking IPO, but attention is shifting from flashy demonstrations to whether its robots can earn money in factories and homes. The company raised about $900 million and was valued at about 61 billion yuan, with heavy subscription demand. Analysts and filings point to limits in dexterity, durability and battery life, while high valuation and U.S. regulatory risks loom.