Silver Shortage feature by Jon Forrest Little
The surge in artificial intelligence and cloud computing is driving an unprecedented wave of investment in solar energy by the world’s largest tech companies-Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft-collectively known as hyperscalers. These companies are rapidly expanding their renewable energy portfolios, signing deals across 34 states to secure vast amounts of solar power for their energy-hungry data centers and operations.
Amazon, for example, is now the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy, with more than 500 solar and wind projects globally-enough to power 7.2 million U.S. homes annually. Google recently inked a 724MW solar power purchase agreement in Oklahoma to directly supply its data centers, part of its broader goal to run entirely on carbon-free energy by 2030. Microsoft’s latest deal with Nexamp will add 100 new community solar projects across the U.S., targeting regions with little existing solar infrastructure and delivering both clean energy and local economic benefits.
This marks a major shift for the solar industry. Hyperscalers are not just buying renewable energy-they are catalyzing the construction of new solar plants, accelerating grid modernization, and supporting domestic job creation. Their investments are helping to tip the balance away from fossil fuels, making solar a cornerstone of America’s future energy mix and a critical solution for meeting soaring AI-driven electricity demand
Solar is Becoming Relatively Cheap. Even if you Double the Silver price, Solar is still very inexpensive!
Why is Solar so Cheap?
Facts to Consider:
Between 2025 and 2030, global solar photovoltaic (PV) installations are projected to expand at an unprecedented pace
with most authoritative forecasts converging on a total exceeding 4,000 gigawatts (GW) of new solar capacity added worldwide in this six-year span.
International Energy Agency (IEA):The IEA forecasts that more than 4,000 GW of new solar PV will be installed globally by 2030
accounting for approximately 80% of all new renewable capacity additions in this period
Now let’s add Solar + Samsung’s Silver Solid State Battery
Remember that Samsung can leverage “made in Vietnam” to be lower than EV batteries made in China
Let’s just add up the projected Solar use along with Samsung’s Silver Solid State Battery
Solar + Samsung’s Silver Solid State BatteryTotal Silver Use: Four Billion, Eight hundred Fifty Seven Million, Six Hundred Forty Five Thousand, Troy Ounces of Silver!
Almost 6 years of Global Silver Mining Output
Doesn’t count military and aerospace (largest users of Silver, unreported due to “national security”
Doesn’t count AI
Doesn’t count Robotics
Doesn’t count 5G
Doesn’t count electronics
Doesn’t count Jewelry
Doesn’t count Bullion (bars and coins)