Industrial Gas Giants Secret Electricity Superusers Exposed

The article highlights a lesser-known industry that consumes vast amounts of electricity: industrial gas suppliers. While tech companies are under scrutiny for their increasing energy demands due to data centres, companies like Linde, Air Liquide, and Air Products, which control 70% of the global industrial gas market, are quietly consuming comparable, or even greater, amounts of electricity.

These companies produce essential gases like nitrogen, oxygen, and helium, which are crucial for various industries, from healthcare (MRIs) to manufacturing (steel) and consumer goods (toothpaste). However, the process of producing and transporting these gases is highly energy-intensive. A new report from Action Speaks Louder reveals that the efforts of these companies to reduce electricity consumption or transition to renewable energy sources are insufficient to significantly reduce carbon emissions.

The report points out that Linde's electricity consumption in 2024 surpassed that of major tech companies like Alphabet's Google and Samsung Electronics, as well as oil giant TotalEnergies. Air Liquide and Air Products' power usage was similar to that of Shell and Microsoft. This high energy consumption is primarily due to air-separation units, which use large compressors to liquefy air and separate it into its constituent gases. These units are responsible for a significant portion of the industry's electricity demand and contribute substantially to carbon dioxide emissions in major polluting countries like China and the US.

Fuente Original: https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/25/10/31/1646235/the-worlds-secret-electricity-superusers-revealed?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed

Artículo generado mediante LaRebelionBOT