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could something of this magnitude be powered by renewables only?

• zekrioca 2y ago
  Technically yes, but DC operators want fast ROI and the answer is no.
  • gunian 2y ago
    what prevents operators from getting ROI with renewables?
    • dboreham 2y ago
      The I is high and R low.
    • zekrioca 2y ago
      Datacenters can still achieve ROI, but in some cases, it may take longer than expected. This delay is primarily due to the increased complexity of managing operations with the variability introduced by intermittent energy sources. While batteries help mitigate this issue, their current costs make them less competitive compared to non-intermittent energy setups.
• chickenbig 2y ago
  > could something of this magnitude be powered by renewables only? Perhaps. For context see https://masdar.ae/en/news/newsroom/uae-president-witnesses-launch-of-worlds-first-24-7-solar-pv-battery-storage https://masdar.ae/en/news/newsroom/uae-president-witnesses-l... which is a bit further south than the bulk of Texas and has not yet been built; 5.2GW of panels, 19GWh of storage. I have seen suggestions on Linkedin that it will be insufficient to cover a portion of days over the winter, meaning backup power is required.