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I imagine data centers make the best economic sense when they can run full tilt 24/7. You’ll double your payoff time if you can only run work when the sun shine

by ip26 11mo ago

I imagine data centers make the best economic sense when they can run full tilt 24/7. You’ll double your payoff time if you can only run work when the sun shines.

epistasis 11mo ago
In most parts of the country, solar plus batteries to get through 24 hours will be cheaper than $110/MWh.
- bawolff 11mo ago
  Do you have a source for that, when i googled it came up closer to $200/MWh for new york, but that was from older sources. The only thing i saw approaching this price point was if you were somewhere like las vegas. I also think you would need more than 24 hours battery. You have to prepare for freak weather events that reduce system capacity. I also wonder what time horizon we are talking. solar and batteries presumably have to be replaced more often than nuclear.
  - toast0 11mo ago
    > I also think you would need more than 24 hours battery. You have to prepare for freak weather events that reduce system capacity. In general, yes. Not really in the context of utility generation for a DC, though. A DC should have onsite backup generation, at least to supply critical loads. If your contracted utility PV + storage runs out, and there's no spare grid capacity available (or it's too expensive) you can switch to onsite power for the duration. The capex for backup power is already required, so you're just looking at additional spending for fuel, maybe maintenance if the situation requires enough hours on backup.
  - pseudalopex 11mo ago
    The article cited a report which said new build solar and storage could cost from $50 to $131. And new build wind and storage could cost $44 to $123.[1] Civilian nuclear reactors replace fuel gradually over 3 to 6 years typically. 20 year old solar panels work now. New solar panels are expected to work over 30 years. Utility scale lithium ion batteries are expected to last 10 to 15 years. [1] https://www.lazard.com/media/5tlbhyla/lazards-lcoeplus-june-2025-_vf.pdf https://www.lazard.com/media/5tlbhyla/lazards-lcoeplus-june-...

by ip26 11mo ago

I imagine data centers make the best economic sense when they can run full tilt 24/7. You’ll double your payoff time if you can only run work when the sun shines.

epistasis 11mo ago

In most parts of the country, solar plus batteries to get through 24 hours will be cheaper than $110/MWh.

bawolff 11mo ago
Do you have a source for that, when i googled it came up closer to $200/MWh for new york, but that was from older sources. The only thing i saw approaching this price point was if you were somewhere like las vegas. I also think you would need more than 24 hours battery. You have to prepare for freak weather events that reduce system capacity. I also wonder what time horizon we are talking. solar and batteries presumably have to be replaced more often than nuclear.
- toast0 11mo ago
  > I also think you would need more than 24 hours battery. You have to prepare for freak weather events that reduce system capacity. In general, yes. Not really in the context of utility generation for a DC, though. A DC should have onsite backup generation, at least to supply critical loads. If your contracted utility PV + storage runs out, and there's no spare grid capacity available (or it's too expensive) you can switch to onsite power for the duration. The capex for backup power is already required, so you're just looking at additional spending for fuel, maybe maintenance if the situation requires enough hours on backup.
- pseudalopex 11mo ago
  The article cited a report which said new build solar and storage could cost from $50 to $131. And new build wind and storage could cost $44 to $123.[1] Civilian nuclear reactors replace fuel gradually over 3 to 6 years typically. 20 year old solar panels work now. New solar panels are expected to work over 30 years. Utility scale lithium ion batteries are expected to last 10 to 15 years. [1] https://www.lazard.com/media/5tlbhyla/lazards-lcoeplus-june-2025-_vf.pdf https://www.lazard.com/media/5tlbhyla/lazards-lcoeplus-june-...