Slashing CO2Compute power from clean energy leftovers.
Big Picture
Solar and wind farms make more energy than the grid can handle. This surplus just goes to waste, even as the energy needs of computing are blowing up. With the pace of AI alone, electricity demand in the US is expected to 10x by 2030. Compounding the issue, investment in renewable energy projects is shrinking due to sagging returns. To satisfy computing’s insatiable energy appetite, we need to squeeze more usable juice – and value – out of renewables.
How it Works
Rune has developed data centers that run solely on unused bits of electricity from solar and wind farms. What makes this possible is a proprietary new chip design and smart controller purpose-built to convert unused electricity into compute power at the generation source. Rune’s low capex data centers can ramp up and down as needed to take advantage of energy oversupply when grid demand is down, providing some of the cheapest possible compute power.
Unfair Advantage
Rune offers the cheapest way to boost the value of renewables, at ⅕ the cost of energy storage. They also give renewable energy providers a new revenue stream, monetizing energy they normally wouldn’t see a dime from. So Rune’s offering pencils out regardless of a plant’s utilization rates. On top of all that, the team pairs a veteran chip maker with the renewable energy investor who built this business model at SoftBank Energy, giving Rune a clear edge in the space.
08
Percent
of global energy demand from data centers by 2030
WILLIAM LAYDEN CO-FOUNDER & CEO
Prior to Rune, William led development of SoftBank Energy’s clean power data center model and founded a hydropowered bitcoin mine operation with Cube Hydro.
VARUN PALIVELA CO-FOUNDER & CTO
Varun is a specialist in chip design and veteran of the semiconductor industry, heading up design work across leading firms including Qualcomm, Nuvia, and Arm.
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The New York Times
Will more wind and solar PV capacity lead to more generation curtailment?
IEA