4 ms·
Solar works as well as it does only because we’ve spread it out and connected it to a grid. When it is overcast in one spot it is sunny elsewhere. That “elsewh
by jiggawatts 2mo ago
Solar works as well as it does only because we’ve spread it out and connected it to a grid. When it is overcast in one spot it is sunny elsewhere.
That “elsewhere” has to be far enough away to get different weather.
This means a grid capable of transferring 100% of the needed power.
So even if you plopped a new DC in the middle of a field of panels you’d still need a ~1 GA grid connection… or a battery array many times the size as you’d otherwise need just to cover night time usage.
- int_19h 2mo agoAll those companies are sitting on literally hundreds of billions of dollars in cash. If they need this so badly, let them build the connection and other infrastructure.
- jiggawatts 2mo agoCash doesn't buy time machines. They want to build the data centres right now, but the power companies and other energy suppliers are booked solid for 5+ years out. Money or not, you can't just click your fingers and instantly get regulatory approval, or spin up a facility to build parts that only a handful of places have ever figured out how to mass-manufacture. Gas turbine blades are especially difficult, but batteries and panels are not far behind. There are a surprisingly small number of shops capable of making power switching gear and transformers too.
- watwut 2mo ago> They want to build the data centres right now, And I want them to behave in a decent way, but universe does not ensure we get what we want. They should be forced to build a grid in a way that does not speeds up global warming. What they want should be irrelevant.