Re:AI's energy footprint
by HPsquared on Wednesday May 21, 2025 @05:43AM
(#44049787)
The main process for polysilicon manufacturing (Siemens process) uses electricity. That doesn't need fossil fuels.
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The step before to reduce the silicon dioxide requires carbon, which is where the fossil fuels come in.
Same thing with steel – both are critical input materials and can be made without fossil fuels, but they aren’t today. Maybe a carbon tax would fix that!