Link: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/05/tsmc-taps-wind-power-as-ai-chip-demand-soars-taiwan-feels-energy-crunch/

TSMC backs renewables during record demand for energy-hungry chip manufacturing.

I remember reading, a while back, that something like 15% of Taiwan's total electrical power usage goes to chip fabs.

What I read was saying that TSMC probably has a ton of room for electricity optimization, but it's just not worth it. Like, what I was reading was talking about how they never shut off machines, even if they aren't making chips, because just introducing temperature variations is enough to add more variables that might screw up yield rates.

I work at a big global size production company. And I can confirm that this is not them. If the cost of the extra startup time/waste/hassle is bigger than the idle time. Companies will just consume more power. This is not just TSMC

something like 15% of Taiwan’s total electrical power usage goes to chip fabs

IRL cyberpunk