- Tech News & Insight
- November 16, 2025
- Hema Kadia
Renewables are emerging as the default option for new AI campuses, but the share that is truly carbon-free around the clock will hinge on siting, storage, and market design. Annual REC matching is no longer sufficient for leading buyers; the bar is shifting toward hourly, 24/7 carbon-free energy matching initiatives. Yet diurnal and seasonal variability limits how much of a siteโs load can be met by solar and batteries alone, especially in non-sunny regions or during prolonged weather events. Expect mixed portfolios: on-site renewables and batteries, off-site PPAs (solar and wind), emerging long-duration storage, and grid purchases backed by hourly certificates where available.



