I think the phrase is actually flights of fantasy, but... well, you'll see.
Data centers. Have you ever really thought about them when you're poking around online and the world is at your fingertips? Probably not, but we have to have a place to store all our big data that we just can't seem to part with. We're full-blown digital hoarders.
Data centers use a huge amount of electricity, and they must have a steady supply 24/7, 365. Data centers depend on enormous backup generators (that run of fossil fuels) in the event of a power outage. Data centers require on demand, reliable power.
But this industry fit of fantasy proclaims that we can run data centers on 100% renewable power. No, we can't. We don't have the technology to produce on-demand supplies of electricity from 100% renewable generators. Wind and solar only run part of the time, when their fuel is made available by Mother Nature. A data center that relies 100% on wind and solar will 100% use its backup generators for at least 50% of the time. And doesn't that defeat the purpose of "clean energy" in the first place?
The fit of fantasy examines several data center clusters in the U.S., including the nation's largest data center market in Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia data centers operate on 94% fossil fuel electricity. 94%!!!! That's the type of power needed to power a 24/7 365 power hog like data centers.
But, never fear, this fit of fantasy thinks the problem can be solved by building new transmission. I'm going to guess the author hasn't bothered to examine PJM's recent competitive solicitation for new transmission projects to solve the issue of powering Northern Virginia's data center power suck. It looks like this.
Data centers. Have you ever really thought about them when you're poking around online and the world is at your fingertips? Probably not, but we have to have a place to store all our big data that we just can't seem to part with. We're full-blown digital hoarders.
Data centers use a huge amount of electricity, and they must have a steady supply 24/7, 365. Data centers depend on enormous backup generators (that run of fossil fuels) in the event of a power outage. Data centers require on demand, reliable power.
But this industry fit of fantasy proclaims that we can run data centers on 100% renewable power. No, we can't. We don't have the technology to produce on-demand supplies of electricity from 100% renewable generators. Wind and solar only run part of the time, when their fuel is made available by Mother Nature. A data center that relies 100% on wind and solar will 100% use its backup generators for at least 50% of the time. And doesn't that defeat the purpose of "clean energy" in the first place?
The fit of fantasy examines several data center clusters in the U.S., including the nation's largest data center market in Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia data centers operate on 94% fossil fuel electricity. 94%!!!! That's the type of power needed to power a 24/7 365 power hog like data centers.
But, never fear, this fit of fantasy thinks the problem can be solved by building new transmission. I'm going to guess the author hasn't bothered to examine PJM's recent competitive solicitation for new transmission projects to solve the issue of powering Northern Virginia's data center power suck. It looks like this.
One proposed solution simply imports more fossil fuel electricity from the Ohio Valley. That's sure to speed the "transition" (to 100% fossil fuel power). Other solutions pump fossil fuel electricity in from Pennsylvania. It's all about importing more fossil fuel electricity instead of building reliable renewable generators near the load. That's because, first of all, PJM can only order transmission, not generation, and second wind and solar cannot supply reliable power that will run a data center 24/7 365.
Where's the disconnect?
Where's the disconnect?
The superficial examination of how easy it will be to build new transmission is where this fantasy starts having fits.
Plans to transition U.S. data centers to renewable energy power sources are impeded by current utility transmission infrastructure. The main problems are outdated power lines, delays in planning and permitting for new transmission and distribution projects and supply chain bottlenecks. Upgrading existing transmission lines can take as long as three years, according to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, due to time-consuming regulatory hurdles, resulting in multi-million-dollar costs.
An electric line is just an empty extension cord, not plugged in to anything. Unplugged extension cords do not produce electricity. What you need is another plug -- a reliable generator on site. Having extra extension cords won't produce power if there's no place to plug them in. Not having enough extension cords is not the problem. "Time consuming regulatory hurdles" is something this author doesn't know anything about. There are no hurdles for simple rebuilds on existing rights-of-way. More extension cords are not the answer.
Upgrading power transmission infrastructure to accommodate renewable energy sources is a top priority for utility companies. Recently adopted federal legislation provides $2.5 billion in public funding for this effort. Additionally, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) plans to study and address these ongoing issues. Utility companies are cooperating with regulators, city officials, operators and developers throughout the U.S. to improve connectivity.
Do you have any idea how much "power transmission infrastructure" costs? A good sized transmission project that connects renewable energy resources easily costs MORE THAN $2.5 billion. Qu'est-ce que "public funding"? There's no such thing. What they meant to say is TAXPAYER FUNDING by people like you. This legislation won't do anything but complicate things. How many times has the federal government run to the rescue with handfuls of cash and solved a problem efficiently and cheaply? FERC plans to study and address them? How? Do tell! I'm betting you don't even have a ghost of an idea.
This report highlights select regional data center markets that are working to advance renewable energy power availability and solve transmission and distribution issues. These markets all depend on local renewable energy sources and are at the forefront of a transition necessary for the data center industry to grow on a sustainable basis.
WTH? These markets depend on local renewable energy sources? Where are they going to put millions of acres of solar panels and wind turbines in crowded Northern Virginia when every square inch of available real estate is covered with data centers, warehouses, and urban sprawl? What you're depending on is faked "plans" by utilities checking the politically correct boxes while raking in a huge pile of money. Dominion doesn't give a fig about the environment, or your data center. It only loves money. Dominion will say or do anything, even if it knows what it is saying is impossible, as long as foolish data center companies enable bigger profits for Dominion.
The data center industry cannot grow on a sustainable basis unless they starting building nuclear plants inside the data centers.
An electric line is just an empty extension cord, not plugged in to anything. Unplugged extension cords do not produce electricity. What you need is another plug -- a reliable generator on site. Having extra extension cords won't produce power if there's no place to plug them in. Not having enough extension cords is not the problem. "Time consuming regulatory hurdles" is something this author doesn't know anything about. There are no hurdles for simple rebuilds on existing rights-of-way. More extension cords are not the answer.
Upgrading power transmission infrastructure to accommodate renewable energy sources is a top priority for utility companies. Recently adopted federal legislation provides $2.5 billion in public funding for this effort. Additionally, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) plans to study and address these ongoing issues. Utility companies are cooperating with regulators, city officials, operators and developers throughout the U.S. to improve connectivity.
Do you have any idea how much "power transmission infrastructure" costs? A good sized transmission project that connects renewable energy resources easily costs MORE THAN $2.5 billion. Qu'est-ce que "public funding"? There's no such thing. What they meant to say is TAXPAYER FUNDING by people like you. This legislation won't do anything but complicate things. How many times has the federal government run to the rescue with handfuls of cash and solved a problem efficiently and cheaply? FERC plans to study and address them? How? Do tell! I'm betting you don't even have a ghost of an idea.
This report highlights select regional data center markets that are working to advance renewable energy power availability and solve transmission and distribution issues. These markets all depend on local renewable energy sources and are at the forefront of a transition necessary for the data center industry to grow on a sustainable basis.
WTH? These markets depend on local renewable energy sources? Where are they going to put millions of acres of solar panels and wind turbines in crowded Northern Virginia when every square inch of available real estate is covered with data centers, warehouses, and urban sprawl? What you're depending on is faked "plans" by utilities checking the politically correct boxes while raking in a huge pile of money. Dominion doesn't give a fig about the environment, or your data center. It only loves money. Dominion will say or do anything, even if it knows what it is saying is impossible, as long as foolish data center companies enable bigger profits for Dominion.
The data center industry cannot grow on a sustainable basis unless they starting building nuclear plants inside the data centers.
Fits of fantasy. No matter how much fiction you write, you cannot force it into being.
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