Data centres

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emordnilap
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Data centres

Post by emordnilap »

In the light of climate change, what are powerswitichers' thoughts on the construction and running of data centres?

One is planned upwind of me and it seems on first glance that the dominant source of power will be 18 on-site 'lean-burn' gas generators; I could be wrong as I haven't studied the proposal fully yet. There'll also be mains power, on-site solar pv and back-up diesel, with a 'vertical farm' using heat capture planned, to make everything alright again.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
kenneal - lagger
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Re: Data centres

Post by kenneal - lagger »

Sounds like they've got a good Greenwash contractor involved in that project!
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adam2
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Re: Data centres

Post by adam2 »

I would prefer that such facilities be built in the UK rather than overseas.
Data centers use a great deal of electricity, and UK electricity is greener than that in many other places.
UK electricity is also reliable which should minimise use of standby diesel generation.
Also consider employment in the UK rather than exporting the jobs.

Depending on WHAT data is to be handled, there might also be national security advantages in having such data centers in the UK rather than elsewhere.

More information is needed.
Total load in Mw.
What percentage of this will be from ON SITE PV.
What percentage of this will be from on site natural gas generating plant.
What is the expected efficiency of the proposed gas burning plant.
What percentage of total demand will be met from the grid.

Generating power on site has the merit of reducing the small but real grid losses involved in buying it in.

Data centers need a lot of cooling, hopefully this will be energy efficient.
Cooling towers are more efficient than dry coolers.
Thermal storage cooling can reduce peak electric loading, or alternatively can store cold during sunlight for later use, IF THE PV array is big enough.
Absorption chillers can use the exhaust heat from gas turbines or from reciprocating gas engines.
"Installers and owners of emergency diesels must assume that they will have to run for a week or more"
kenneal - lagger
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Re: Data centres

Post by kenneal - lagger »

We have plenty of jobs in the UK and new jobs just mean more immigration usually. We should be exporting jobs to poorer countries and helping them to educate the people necessary to fill that type of job. That way we might reduce the queues in Northern France of people trying to get here by small boat.

Woking and Southampton have systems in place to collect heat and coolth for use in other businesses that require those resources. It should be something that other places invest in.
Action is the antidote to despair - Joan Baez
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emordnilap
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Re: Data centres

Post by emordnilap »

kenneal - lagger wrote: 09 Aug 2021, 14:44 Sounds like they've got a good Greenwash contractor involved in that project!
The whole project is swimming in reassuring tones and phrases.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
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emordnilap
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Re: Data centres

Post by emordnilap »

adam2 wrote: 10 Aug 2021, 05:43More information is needed.
Total load in Mw.
What percentage of this will be from ON SITE PV.
What percentage of this will be from on site natural gas generating plant.
What is the expected efficiency of the proposed gas burning plant.
What percentage of total demand will be met from the grid.
This data centre is local to me, being proposed for a green field site in the west of Ireland. I'll find some links.
I experience pleasure and pains, and pursue goals in service of them, so I cannot reasonably deny the right of other sentient agents to do the same - Steven Pinker
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