We use the internet for everything from entertainment, communication, research, and it has completely transformed the way we work. Most people don’t realize that emissions from internet and cloud usage are quickly exceeding the amount of carbon from other industries. In 2023, cloud computing accounts for around 3% of all global emissions, which is more than the airline industry, shipping, and food processing.
Greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) are often emitted due to the energy used in powering the data centers and servers necessary for online activities like sending emails and browsing the web. Even seemingly minor online actions, such as sending emails, can cumulatively contribute to global emissions in significant ways. According to research at Lancaster University, a standard email without attachments can emit approximately 0.004 kg CO2e. Even storing spam emails in your inbox produces carbon, around 0.01 kg CO2e a year per email. So if you’re one of those people (like me) with over a thousand emails sitting in your promotions inbox, on average those add up to produce 10 kg CO2e per year. That’s the equivalent of driving a car about 250 miles according to the EPA! One more reason to get to Inbox Zero.
Measuring the emissions produced from internet and technology use is complex. Should the energy required to run the servers be calculated as well as refrigerant from the AC units that ensure they don’t overheat? Should employee commutes to work each day be included? What about the energy to manufacture the computers in the first place? While some data centers use renewable energy sources, others still rely on fossil fuels, leading to varying levels of GHG emissions by company and by region.
The GHG Protocol is clear that all these elements need to be accounted for and reported, and due to expansion of the EU ETS cap and trade scheme in 2024, many companies will begin to pay carbon taxes passed on from their carbon-emitting vendors starting this year. So what can companies do? In fact, there are several steps that companies can take to reduce their emissions and exposure to carbon taxes.
A first step is to evaluate emissions hotspots and benchmark important vendors to understand which are failing to make reduction progress. Selecting cloud vendors based on their emissions profiles is an increasingly important step for many companies. Google has the second highest DitchCarbon Score of the major cloud vendors, due to their key efforts including encouraging employees’ sustainable commutes, working to electrify their offices, and making sure their buildings meet green standards such as LEED. One specific office location, Sunnyvale, is being built completely using the mass timber technique, allowing the building to produce 96% less emissions than it would with a normal concrete and steel structure. See our full score criteria and weightings here.
To generate less emissions during normal work, employees can collectively make a dent by unsubscribing from unwanted commercial email lists. Organizations can take easy steps like setting employee email spam and deleted inboxes to clear out more quickly by default. They can also choose to adopt more eco-friendly cloud service providers and messaging tools. According to IT company Thales, Slack and Teams require less energy from servers than sending emails.
The emissions produced from employees’ everyday technology use is relevant for many companies to include in their Scope 3 reporting, and vendor selection can make a material difference in overall company emissions. DitchCarbon has streamlined the process of comparing vendor emissions and calculating company-specific emissions from Scope 3 spend by aggregating hundreds of thousands of primary company emissions disclosures. If we can help with any of this, please get in touch.
The carbon market is entering a new phase, one defined not just by tonnes of CO₂ reduced but by the tangible, real-world benefits that come with high-integrity projects. Buyers are no longer solely satisfied with credits that neutralise emissions; they’re actively seeking carbon credit co-benefits that protect biodiversity, create jobs, and strengthen local ecosystems.
Nissan has struck a new emissions-pooling deal with BYD, a Chinese electric vehicle maker. This partnership aims to help meet the European Union’s tough carbon dioxide limits for carmakers set for 2025. Nissan’s partnership with BYD lets it combine its European fleet emissions with BYD’s low-emission record. This helps Nissan avoid penalties while it shifts to electric mobility.
The move shows how traditional automakers are adapting to quick climate rules. They are forming strategic partnerships to stay compliant and grow their electric lineups.
Understanding EU Emission Rules
The European Union enforces some of the toughest vehicle emission standards in the world. Starting in 2025, carmakers must limit their average emissions to about 93.6 grams of CO₂ per kilometer. This is measured using the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP). The rule applies to every automaker based on the average emissions of the new cars they sell in the EU each year.
If a company’s average exceeds its target, it faces a fine of €95 for each gram per kilometer above the limit multiplied by the number of cars sold. For large manufacturers, this can easily translate to hundreds of millions, or even billions, of euros in penalties.
Source: ICCT
Analysts say the combined risk for the industry could reach over €10 billion if several automakers fail to meet the new limits.
The EU wants to speed up the shift to electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrids. They aim to stop selling new petrol and diesel cars by 2035. While many automakers have increased EV output, the pace of change remains uneven across brands and regions.
Pooling 101: How Automakers Share Emissions to Survive
To give companies flexibility, EU rules allow them to form “emissions pools.” This system lets manufacturers combine their vehicle fleets and calculate an average CO₂ figure together.
If one company has a cleaner fleet—such as an EV producer—it can offset the higher emissions of another. The combined average determines whether the group meets the EU target.
Source: ICCT
Pooling has become a common compliance tool in Europe. Tesla made hundreds of millions of euros by teaming up with legacy automakers like Fiat Chrysler and Honda. They used Tesla’s zero-emission cars to meet their emissions goals. Nissan’s new agreement with BYD follows the same principle.
By linking with BYD, Nissan can count a share of BYD’s low-carbon vehicle sales toward its own compliance calculation. This partnership will lower Nissan’s average emissions in Europe by 2025. This move helps the company steer clear of hefty fines.
Why Nissan Turned to BYD
Nissan had previously joined an emissions pool with Renault as part of their long-time alliance. Nissan has decided to partner with BYD, one of the largest EV makers. This choice comes as the Renault–Nissan partnership operates more independently and EU rules get stricter.
BYD’s growing success in Europe made it an attractive partner. The company has quickly grown its market share. This is thanks to all-electric and plug-in models that create almost no tailpipe emissions.
Nissan’s strong performance helps offset the higher emissions from its petrol and hybrid models. These models still account for a large part of its sales in Europe.
Industry analysts say this decision reflects both opportunity and necessity. It gives Nissan breathing room as it works to increase its electric lineup in Europe. The company plans to sell only fully electric cars in Europe by 2030. For now, pooling provides a temporary solution to stay compliant as EV production increases.
The Debate: Compliance Shortcut or Climate Setback?
The deal benefits both companies in different ways. For Nissan, the partnership avoids immediate financial penalties and protects its market position during a challenging transition.
For BYD, it could provide a new revenue stream, as the company may receive payment or carbon credits for its contribution to the pooled fleet. It also strengthens BYD’s presence in Europe, where competition in the EV market is intensifying.
However, not everyone sees pooling as a long-term solution. Environmental groups and some policymakers say these deals can slow real emission cuts. High-emission automakers rely on cleaner partners rather than fully changing their production lines. These strategies might meet legal rules, but they do little to speed up the actual drop in transport emissions.
Still, the system remains a legal and effective compliance method under EU law. Most experts agree that pooling will last until electric vehicle production and sales are strong. This strength will make partnerships between automakers unnecessary.
A Growing Trend in the Auto Industry
Nissan and BYD’s collaboration is part of a wider trend among carmakers facing tighter environmental rules. Over the past few years, multiple manufacturers have entered pooling agreements with EV specialists to avoid penalties.
According to industry data, nearly a dozen major automakers are now part of emissions pools across Europe. These arrangements are likely to increase in the short term.
EV sales are rising fast, but challenges remain. Traditional carmakers struggle to switch to electric models due to:
Infrastructure gaps
High battery costs
Supply-chain issues
Pooling provides short-term relief. It helps the industry sell vehicles in Europe and stay within emissions limits.
From Pooling to Full Electrification
For Nissan, this agreement marks another step in its broader electrification plan. The company will launch more all-electric and hybrid vehicles. This plan is backed by new EV production hubs in the UK and Spain. By 2028, Nissan plans to launch several next-gen models. These will help reduce average emissions without depending much on pooling, which is important in its net-zero goal.
Nissan’s Roadmap to Net Zero
Nissan has set a long-term goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its entire business by 2050. This includes not only vehicle emissions but also their manufacturing, supply chain, and end-of-life processes. The company’s climate strategy focuses on electrifying its lineup, cutting factory emissions, and using more recycled and low-carbon materials.
Long-Term Goal: Carbon Neutral by 2050
Nissan’s 2050 vision aims for zero emissions across the full lifecycle of its vehicles—from production to use and recycling. The company wants every car it sells, and every factory it operates, to be carbon neutral by mid-century. This goal aligns with global climate efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.
Mid-Term Targets Under Nissan Green Program 2030
To reach this long-term target, Nissan launched the “Green Program 2030,” a set of mid-term goals that guide its transition over the next decade. The plan includes cutting emissions in both manufacturing and vehicle use.
Source: Nissan
In Europe, Nissan has set an ambitious goal for all its new cars to be fully electric by 2030. In Asia, the carmaker is also investing in EV supply chains and battery development.
Back in its home, Japan, Nissan has introduced new technologies to reduce factory emissions and is promoting renewable energy use across its facilities. In North America, the company is launching new hybrid and electric models to meet rising consumer demand for cleaner vehicles.
Source: Nissan
The company plans to reach carbon neutrality through three main strategies:
Electrification of vehicles
Cleaner manufacturing
Circular supply chain
Nissan’s decision to pool emissions with BYD in Europe fits within its broader decarbonization strategy. The deal gives Nissan temporary flexibility as it ramps up production of electric models and upgrades its European operations to lower carbon intensity.
For BYD, the partnership supports its strategy of expanding into European markets. The company continues to grow its sales network across the continent, with production plans in Hungary and potential sites in France. Its role as a compliance partner shows its strength as a global EV leader. It can influence industry trends beyond just its own brand.
Pooling remains a practical tool for now, giving Nissan and others time to adjust. Yet, as regulations tighten and public expectations rise, long-term success will depend on how quickly these companies can shift from depending on emission credits to producing truly zero-emission vehicles of their own.
The United States is entering a new phase in clean energy. It now combines artificial intelligence (AI), advanced data centers, and nuclear power in one system. At the center of this shift is Project Matador, aka Donald J. Trump Generating Plant, a plan to build an 11-gigawatt (GW) energy and data campus in Texas.
The project aims to become one of the largest clean energy and computing developments in the world. Led by Fermi America LLC, it could change how data centers get their power. Its mix of nuclear, solar, natural gas, and battery storage is designed to provide steady, low-carbon energy for the growing AI and chip industries.
The Vision Behind Project Matador
Project Matador is one of the most ambitious U.S. energy projects in decades. It will cover about 5,855 acres in Carson County, Texas, under a 99-year lease with Texas Tech University.
Source: Fermi America
The site will host four Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors, along with solar panels, batteries, and natural gas plants. Together, these systems will generate up to 11 GW of reliable power for large data centers and chip factories built on the same campus.
Fermi America plans to begin construction in 2026. The first nuclear reactor could start running by 2031, with all 4 completed by 2038. The total cost could reach $70–90 billion.
The nuclear reactors will use the proven AP1000 design, known for its strong safety features. The site near Amarillo was chosen for its stable geology, existing infrastructure, and strong power connections. The area also sits next to a long-standing federal facility, which helps with environmental and safety approvals.
Building the AI Energy Campus of the Future
Project Matador is more than a power plant – it’s a purpose-built, vertically integrated energy campus designed to power America’s next wave of digital industries: hyperscale AI data centers and advanced semiconductor manufacturing. By combining four Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear reactors, large-scale battery storage, combined-cycle natural gas, and on-site solar, Matador delivers round-the-clock, zero-carbon electricity within a single, secured perimeter.
This model solves major challenges for high-tech facilities. AI systems and chip fabs demand continuous, multi-gigawatt power – often beyond what traditional grids can supply. Matador’s behind-the-meter setup keeps energy onsite, delivering reliable power directly to data centers and manufacturing plants. Its nuclear generators supply up to 4.4 GW of steady baseload, while batteries provide backup and frequency control, guarding sensitive compute clusters from outages. Natural gas and solar add further resilience, keeping operations stable even during grid stress.
For data centers, this means 24/7 uptime and low-carbon power for demanding AI, cloud, and security workloads. Hyperscale operations can use over 3 GW each, so every minute of reliable energy protects millions in value and supports technology leadership. Google, Meta, and Nvidia benefit directly from Matador’s self-sustaining grid, bypassing public utility risks.
Semiconductor manufacturing is also strengthened. Chip fabs are North America’s most power-sensitive assets – a single disruption can halt modernization and risk supply chains. By hosting robust, secure energy onsite, Matador drives U.S. onshoring under the CHIPS Act, boosting sector growth and jobs.
Alongside these benefits, the campus reduces grid strain, lowers emissions, and creates thousands of jobs. Fermi America’s initiative sets a new standard for strategic nuclear and hybrid energy infrastructure, anchoring America’s future in clean, resilient, and tech-driven power. With 11 GW of clean electricity, Matador reduces foreign dependence and supports federal goals for secure compute and chip operations – driving over 50,000 jobs and future-proof growth. Its integrated model establishes a global benchmark for sustainable, strategic industrial power.
Building Global Partnerships: South Korea’s Role in the U.S. Nuclear Comeback
The company signed important deals in South Korea for nuclear technology and component production. It signed a FEED (front-end engineering design) deal with Hyundai Engineering & Construction. This deal will kick off the engineering of four AP1000 reactors.
Also, it reached a deal with Doosan Enerbility. This agreement secures long-lead components, such as reactor pressure vessels and steam generators. These moves lock in key suppliers and help protect the project’s timeline and cost estimates.
Toby Neugebauer, Co-founder & CEO of Fermi America, stated:
“Doosan Enerbility and Hyundai E&C have been waiting for an American company to stop power pointing about nuclear and start building it. Their firm commitment to Fermi America positions us for action, leveraging their track record of success to build clean, new nuclear power at the velocity and scale the President demands and the U.S. requires.”
Fermi notes that it was the first company to file a combined operating license that the NRC accepted for review in September 2025. The company thanked Texas leaders. It also highlighted the state’s new $350 million funding for the Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office (TANEO) to support the build.
These partnerships will boost the AP1000 reactor supply chain. They will also strengthen connections between the U.S. and Korea in advanced energy development.
The AP1000, built by Westinghouse Electric Company, is one of the world’s safest and most efficient nuclear reactor designs. It uses passive safety systems that can cool the reactor without human action or external power. This makes it ideal for modern, high-security facilities like Project Matador.
Fermi America will fund construction through a mix of private equity, REITs, and federal loan guarantees. This method shares financial risk. It also makes sure the project follows strict safety and environmental rules.
Nuclear Power’s Return and How UROY Stands to Gain From It
Projects like Matador show that nuclear power is making a comeback in the U.S. After years of slow progress, nuclear energy is now viewed as essential for clean power and energy security. The rise of AI, cloud computing, and electric vehicles has sharply increased demand for dependable electricity.
For investors, this creates new opportunities in uranium and nuclear development. Uranium Royalty Corp (UROY) is one company well-positioned to benefit. Based in Canada, UROY owns royalties and streams linked to uranium mines around the world. This means it earns a share of revenue from uranium production without operating the mines itself.
UROY also holds physical uranium reserves, giving it direct exposure to fuel price increases. As new reactors like those at Matador move closer to construction, demand for uranium will rise. UROY’s business model allows investors to gain from this trend without the high costs or risks of running a mining company.
UROY benefits when uranium prices climb or when more nuclear power plants sign fuel contracts. The U.S. currently produces less than 10% of the uranium it needs and depends heavily on imports. To fix this, the government is supporting efforts to rebuild the domestic uranium supply chain.
Source: EIA
As new U.S. nuclear projects start – including Matador, TerraPower’s Natrium reactor, and Oklo’s advanced fission systems – the need for uranium fuel will grow. That means higher demand for UROY’s royalty partners and assets.
Even though UROY is not tied to a single project, its portfolio rises in value as the global nuclear market expands. If the U.S. adds dozens of gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2040, UROY could see major growth in both royalty revenue and asset value.
The Bigger Picture: Clean Power for the Digital Era
Project Matador shows how the energy transition and the digital economy are coming together. AI and chip manufacturing need clean, steady power — and nuclear energy can deliver it.
For the U.S., this kind of project also supports national security, ensuring that data and computing systems run on domestic, reliable energy.
For investors, companies like UROY offer a simple way to invest in the nuclear revival. They benefit as more projects move forward and uranium demand increases.
The next generation of clean energy will go beyond solar and wind. It will combine nuclear stability, renewable flexibility, and digital intelligence, all working together to power the AI age.
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