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Dec 16
Fuel cells and SMRs emerge as possible alternatives to AI data center power shortage
The US government is beginning to grow cautious of AI data centers (AIDCs) because of their enormous pressure on power grids. In facing the hard limits of energy resources, policymakers will be forced to reallocate resources and shift priorities. If an AIDC cannot present a comprehensive power generation and consumption plan and relies solely on access to the public grid, the project is almost impossible to pass approval.
A recent report from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) states that the global nuclear industry is expected to commission fifteen nuclear reactors in 2026, adding approximately 12GW of fission-based electricity capacity. This expansion will reverse the decline seen in 2025, when global nuclear capacity decreased by about 1.1GW. BNEF statistics show that only two new reactors became operational globally by November 2025, while seven reactors were permanently shut down.
AI is inevitably driving innovation in global server architecture. AI servers differ significantly from traditional servers in design philosophy and operational mode. This reflects not only innovations in computing architecture but also emerging challenges in energy consumption and thermal management driven by rapidly increasing computational demands.
Next-generation lithium ceramic battery manufacturer ProLogium Technology has announced the launch of its fourth-generation superfluid all-inorganic solid-state battery, with plans to begin mass production at its Taoyuan Science Park facility in Taiwan starting mid-2026. In addition to targeting electric vehicle (EV) applications, ProLogium is actively pursuing markets including robotics, electric bicycles, and energy storage systems (ESS), with related partnerships expected to be unveiled at the January 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Taiwan-based Singtex Industrial, a supplier of eco-friendly functional textiles, has begun mass production at its newly invested polyester dyeing and finishing facility in northern Taiwan, marking a major step in its vertical integration strategy even as near-term margins remain under pressure during the capacity ramp-up phase.
AI data centers (AIDCs) in the US are reshaping power dynamics between energy and technology sectors. Although they were once considered a cornerstone of cloud services and AI, it has become clear that their unrelenting power consumption has caused electricity bills to skyrocket. According to January 2025 statistics from the National Energy Assistance Directors Association (NEADA), the national average electricity bill in the US has risen by around 11%, roughly three times the overall inflation rate. In the first half of 2025, approximately 14 million people nationwide were behind on their electricity bills, with average debts reaching US$789, an increase of about 30% year-over-year compared with 2022.
As artificial intelligence applications and model scales continue their rapid expansion, the technology industry faces a mounting infrastructure crisis: power supply cannot keep pace with demand. Time Magazine has declared there is no turning back from AI's unrelenting growth, yet this advancement comes at a steep cost—massive energy consumption that is pushing data centers to the limits of existing power grids.
Amid a global push for carbon neutrality and soaring electricity demand, nuclear fusion is moving back into the spotlight—not as a distant scientific aspiration, but as a potential near-term solution. With major reactor projects delayed and energy needs growing, countries are reassessing the traditional Tokamak-based R&D path and seeking faster, more agile alternatives.
Academia Sinica, the highest academic institution in Taiwan, announced on December 10 that it has successfully discovered a deep geothermal heat source nearly 4,000 meters underground in a northeastern region of the country in collaboration with the state-owned CPC oil and gas company.

The European Union's high-stakes climate battle is approaching a decisive moment. The European Commission is preparing to review its 2035 zero-CO2 emissions mandate for new cars, an exercise that was expected to be little more than routine. Instead, Germany's open opposition to a full ban on internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles has turned the process into one of the most politically sensitive fights in Europe's auto industry.

The global power equipment supply chain is facing a transformer shortage due to the unrelenting AI data center construction and demand for renewable energy. Delivery times for key equipment have been significantly extended, with some large transformers requiring as long as 24 months. This not only tests grid resilience but also creates challenges for major tech firms urgently seeking new power capacity.
Taiwan has set a goal for 30% of its energy to come from renewable sources by 2030, but the solar power sector is encountering mounting policy and public pressure that could slow its growth. After the Legislative Yuan passed three legal amendments regarding new solar power developments, foreign investors and local developers alike are concerned that the tighter regulations will increase uncertainty and hinder development in the solar industry in 2026.