mesaMar 31

Data centers are creating ‘heat islands’ and warming the land around them by up to 16 degrees | CNN

The vast data centers that power artificial intelligence are so energy hungry that they’re heating up their surroundings, according to new research. It’s an alarming finding given the number of data centers is predicted to explode over the next few years.

Scientists have found an alarming environmental impact of vast data centers

The vast data centers that power artificial intelligence are so energy hungry that they’re heating up their surroundings, according to new research. It’s an alarming finding given the number of data centers is predicted to explode over the next few years.

CNN
Show threadKongarMar 31

Years ago, I was driving through NY city-ish. We pulled over in a rest area and I saw a sign about turning your engine off. I thought it was the stupidest thing I had ever seen, as did many other people apparently as their cars were idling. Then I got out of my car. I was wrong. The heat was insane. I couldn’t wrap my little head around it. I started doing the engineer math thing because it didn’t make sense.

Doesn’t surprise me at all these massive data centers are creating little heat domes. The cars were bad enough, and they are a fraction of the energy.

Show threadKairosMar 31
100% of electricity burned turns to heat save light that leaves earth. Gigawatt data center? That’s ~650,000 1500w space heaters.
Show threadExcessShiv
Isn’t the largest data center currently something like 100MW? So “only” 0.1GW…65.000 space heaters is still insane though.
Mar 31 at 6:38pmWeb
Show threadKairosMar 31
Oh. I originally put megawatt and thought that was too small so I just incremented the metric exponent.
Show threadmushroommunkMar 31
That currently exist? I believe Colossus is pushing 150MW and aiming for 300. But Gigawatt centers are on the way
DOE unveils 10-gigawatt Ohio data center, gas-powered energy plan

The U.S. Department of Energy has announced a public-private partnership with SoftBank and AEP Ohio to develop a massive artificial intelligence data center and power complex at a former uranium enrichment site in southern Ohio. The project announced Friday includes a planned 10-gigawatt data center and up to 10 gigawatts of new power generation, most of it fueled by natural gas, along with billions in grid upgrades. Officials say the initiative will create thousands of jobs and support AI growth while keeping electricity costs down. The secretaries of energy, commerce and interior visited Piketon on Friday for the project announcement.

AP News
Show threadExcessShivApr 1
I mean, it’s a bit disingenuous to use a GW example in relation to the article, when the largest currently in operation is 0.15GW
Show threadexpatriadoMar 31
we were asked 400MW for a new data center, we told them 100MW is the max we could provide for now, and increase later, we have a new natural gas plant soon to enter operation to replace two retiring coal plants, but looks like we’re postponing decommission targets to keep demand
Show threadwonderingwandererApr 1
The planet is fucked.
Show threadCethinApr 1
I’ve had a pretty longstanding belief that a lot of the AI push is to inflate energy demand, as we increasingly add more renewables. In order to keep dirty energy “creating revenue” we need an energy sink to offset any added energy. I think this was crypto, and then NFTs. Those both faded away as soon as the AI stuff started being pushed. I don’t believe this is totally a coincidence.
Show threadEinskjaldiApr 1
You can have a complex of multiples though and they to congregate near each other for short interconnection.