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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.
1
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.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 1:25 am to jp4lsu
quote:
The idea of having tapping into an aquifer with an open system is idiotic though
Every ounce of water pulled from the aquifer to irrigate crops, used for drinking water or flush toilets all goes into an open system, all of it. Eventually it'll make its way back into the aquifer. The trick is to not take it out faster than it can be refilled.
I'm not making a case to use up the aquifer for data centers. What I'm saying, I guess, is that the water and energy is there in the Permian Basin, and it's being used. The water and energy benefits society in many ways, of course drinking water, sanitation, crop irrigation, are some. What society needs to include, or not, is the benefit of data centers in that list of benefits. The benefits of locating the data centers away from energy sensitive population centers vs. the issues they bring to those population centers. The value and benefits of data centers themselves?
Imho opinion, nothing really "idiotic", more so that society and technology are moving fast, maybe to fast. Those data centers are going to happen, what are the trade offs needs to be evaluated.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 6:30 am to Victor R Franko
I agree with on removing water at a rate that doesn't deplete the aquifer. We know there are issues currently with water and aquifers. I don't see why data centers should be allowed to tap into them an open system, when they can build a closed loop system. Sure more expensive for them, but they are making a killing and they will continue to grow more and more needing more and more water. I just think it is dumb to use an open system. It's great for the data center because it is cheaper, but not great for those that need the water.
Water for farms is much more important than data centers that have the capability to use a closed system. Farms do not.
Water for farms is much more important than data centers that have the capability to use a closed system. Farms do not.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 6:53 am to 10thyrsr
quote:
I am involved with data centers (DTC)
Doubtful based on your comments.
quote:
Most of the entities constructing DTC do so in parallel with solar generation, wind where appropriate
Negative
quote:
and battery storage (BESS)
This is to do two things.
1. Ride through momentary utility outages
2. Stabilize power demand due to fast load changes caused by AI chipset learning
quote:
A lot of people hate the DTC, because of the perceived water use for cooling.
It isn’t just perceived. They use a shite load of water in reality (shite load of power too).
Posted on 5/14/26 at 6:57 am to Powerman
quote:
Could the data center boom revive the rooftop solar industry?
Yes. In 12 years Elon will have data centers orbiting earth, powered by solar. If we continue on this mad rush to strangle local economies and build them here, they’ll all be abandoned shells in 12 years.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 7:03 am to LSUwag
quote:
The equipment is way too expensive and installation necessitates that holes are put through my roof.
That’s a hard NO for this Florida man.
It is borderline retarded to put solar panels on your roof if you have yard space. It is way to expensive. No way I am putting panels on my roof where you can hardly even get t them for maintenance and trouble shooting.
Currently paying someone to do solar is far to expensive for me. DIY brings down the cost tremendously.
I don't currently have any solar system running my house. But I do have a couple of solar/grid chargeable power stations with solar panels for each. These will keep my refrigerator and my deep freezer running during power outages. Plan on expanding no sun run time with a server rack battery setup at some point.
These are for emergencies. But the thing is they can be used to cut my energy bill slightly.
Solar panels is fairly cheap. Inverters and charge controllers aren't too expensive. Currently it is the batteries that are the biggest hurdle for a big system.
A server rack battery is going to run about 750. This is why down from say 1200 dollars a couple of years ago. Batteries keep getting better and the cost keep moving down.
It is nice to not have to fire up a gas generator when the lights go out for just a few hours. With my setup I don't have to run extension cords etc. for just a couple of hours of power.
I realize this thread is about grid supplementation and on an individual basis system that can make a dent or take you completely off grid are available for DIYers at reasonable cost.
Posted on 5/14/26 at 7:07 am to Powerman
It’s already started.
Pulte/Nvidia Startup
Pulte/Nvidia Startup
Posted on 5/14/26 at 7:09 am to Burt Reynolds
They thought this was another 2000 tech bubble 
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