The $100 billion Stargate project, a massive AI venture backed by OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank, is turning to solar power and batteries to fuel its energy needs. This move aims to address the growing demand for power in data centers, which is set to skyrocket in the coming years.

Renewable energy installations, led by SoftBank’s SB Energy, will play a key role in powering Stargate. While solar and batteries won’t be the only energy sources, they’re expected to take the lead due to their speed and efficiency. Unlike nuclear or natural gas plants, which can take years to build, solar farms can be up and running in as little as 18 months.

This urgency is driven by the explosive growth of AI and cloud computing, which have sent energy consumption soaring. Experts predict that data centers could consume 12% of the U.S.’s total power by 2028, up from just 4.4% in 2023. Without quick solutions, nearly half of new data centers could face power shortages by 2027.

Nuclear energy has been a popular choice for tech companies like Google and Microsoft, but delays and high costs have slowed its adoption. Solar power, with its modular design and faster construction timelines, is emerging as a practical alternative. Plus, its ability to connect directly to data centers could further speed up implementation.

As Stargate races to meet its ambitious goals, solar energy might just be the secret weapon that keeps the lights on.