Amazon AWS to Power Data Centers with Microbe-Mined 'Green Copper'

Amazon's massive data center expansion just found an unlikely ally: microorganisms. According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Amazon Web Services (AWS) plans to utilize copper from an Arizona mine that leaches metal from ores using bacteria.

Amazon AWS Nuton Bioleaching Partnership

AWS has signed on as the first customer for Nuton Technologies, the developer of this 'bioleaching' process. Unlike traditional smelting, bioleaching uses naturally occurring microorganisms to extract copper from low-grade ore that would otherwise be economically unviable to mine. This method is reported to use significantly less water and produce lower carbon emissions compared to conventional mining.

Cloud-Optimized Mining Operations

The collaboration is a two-way street. AWS isn't just buying the copper; it's also providing 'cloud-based data and analytics support' to Nuton. By leveraging AWS's computational power, Nuton can optimize its biological extraction process, making the 'green' mining operation even more efficient through real-time data analysis.