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re: Could the data center boom revive the rooftop solar industry?
Posted on 5/13/26 at 7:21 am to Victor R Franko
Posted on 5/13/26 at 7:21 am to Victor R Franko
quote:
Massive data centers are being built and planned for west Texas, and I mean bum frick west Texas.
They're being built over the Permian Basin so as to be on top of natural gas for their own energy production. The location must be at the 90 corner of Texas pan handle, SE corner of NM. The Ogallala aquifer reaches that far south.
Victor, that sounds like solid plans and makes them self-sufficient. The idea of having tapping into an aquifer with an open system is idiotic though. I don't understand why an open water-cooling system would be allowed. Water is a serious concern across the country.
0
Posted on 5/13/26 at 8:35 am to Powerman
I don't think you grasp how much power these data centers actually need if you think putting some solar panels on the roof will work. Just one of these massive data centers require more power than the whole city of New Orleans to operate. A few solar panels on the roof ain't gonna cut it. And that's the space they need to put all of the HVAC units to cool those buildings.
Posted on 5/13/26 at 8:39 am to Stealth Matrix
quote:
I think the data center craze is going to collapse with the AI bubble, me.
This is a cope for people who were too retarded to invest in the AI boom and missed out on all the gains
Posted on 5/13/26 at 8:39 am to Powerman
quote:
With data centers consuming vast amounts of regional electric power and driving up prices in some markets I could see owners of single family homes eventually rethinking the math on if a solar panel and battery system might make sense for them.
How about these massive data centers put solar panels on their roofs first without subsidies and see how that goes?
Posted on 5/13/26 at 8:39 am to lowhound
quote:
I don't think you grasp how much power these data centers actually need if you think putting some solar panels on the roof will work.
I literally build these things for a living. I'm not talking about putting solar panels on the roof of data centers. I'm talking about residential people reconsidering residential rooftop solar once their energy costs start going parabolic. Also grid reliability will be a concern. If there is a rolling blackout it's going to be the residences that get their power turned off, not the data centers.
Posted on 5/13/26 at 8:41 am to Tarps99
quote:
How about these massive data centers put solar panels on their roofs first without subsidies and see how that goes?
Because this would accomplish next to nothing?
Posted on 5/13/26 at 9:21 am to Stealth Matrix
quote:
industry?
by Stealth Matrix
I think the data center craze is going to collapse with the AI bubble, me.
It's not a bubble if everyone is using it.
Posted on 5/13/26 at 9:40 am to Powerman
The efficiency which is poor (and reliability, at night, during overcast) of solar make it a poor choice.
They need megawatts (gas turbine / portable nuclear) to power this equipment.
They need megawatts (gas turbine / portable nuclear) to power this equipment.
Posted on 5/13/26 at 9:43 am to Powerman
Who cares.
Posted on 5/13/26 at 9:44 am to Powerman
quote:
Because this would accomplish next to nothing?
You sure about that. An acre of land can produce anywhere from 300 to 500 MW hours per year.
That could definitely put a dent in the energy consumption of the data center especially if the data center covers a large area with a large roof. I would be better there than a consuming more farmland or placing it on residential roofs.
Posted on 5/13/26 at 9:46 am to Stealth Matrix
quote:
I think the data center craze is going to collapse with the AI bubble, me.
It absolutely will. Once a company captures 70% of the AI market and the race is over, the data center industry will implode over night.
Posted on 5/13/26 at 9:49 am to Tarps99
Gates is busy on technology to block out the sun...
Microsoft’sMSFT billionaire founder Bill Gates is financially backing the development of sun-dimming technology that would potentially reflect sunlight out of Earth’s atmosphere, triggering a global cooling effect. The Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx), launched by Harvard University scientists, aims to examine this solution by spraying non-toxic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) dust into the atmosphere — a sun-reflecting aerosol that may offset the effects of global warming.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2021/01/11/bill-gates-backed-climate-solution-gains-traction-but-concerns-linger/
Microsoft’sMSFT billionaire founder Bill Gates is financially backing the development of sun-dimming technology that would potentially reflect sunlight out of Earth’s atmosphere, triggering a global cooling effect. The Stratospheric Controlled Perturbation Experiment (SCoPEx), launched by Harvard University scientists, aims to examine this solution by spraying non-toxic calcium carbonate (CaCO3) dust into the atmosphere — a sun-reflecting aerosol that may offset the effects of global warming.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2021/01/11/bill-gates-backed-climate-solution-gains-traction-but-concerns-linger/
Posted on 5/13/26 at 10:02 am to Ailsa
quote:
Microsoft’sMSFT billionaire founder Bill Gates is financially backing the development of sun-dimming technology
This is the absolute dumbest thing. Complaints about global warming due to man made CO2 (which is false) but man actually trying limit the amount of sun is a great idea. We already have an epidemic of D3 deficiency and how much plant life would this kill. No idea the effects on weather cycles that this would have. It is just idiotic to think that we can control the massive environment of this world.
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