Computer data centres should go solar
You know all these great stuff we use online? Google, this blog, your website, all of it is housed in data centres. These are, essentially, giant computer warehouses. Racks and racks and racks of serves live there connected to the Net and the power grid. All of this computing uses a ton of power. On GigaOm comes a simple suggestion that could help all of us:
To resolve this issue, I have been speaking with entrepreneurs that are working to solve the problem using solar energy. The theory is that if you can generate enough solar energy you can sufficiently supplement the utility company power and then locate a hosting provider in locations that are desirable to enterprises, such as downtown Manhattan or San Francisco.
Dissecting this theory a bit, modern hosting providers today are being built to serve 300 watts per square foot. Assuming a 100,000 square-foot hosting facility, that is a massive power consumption of 30 megawatts. If you build a 100,000 square-foot solar energy system on the roof of the hosting facility, my friends in the solar energy business tell me that would generate a total of only 1 megawatt. Yet, a solar energy system is geared toward shaving power during peak hours only, so you may only need 10 megawatts. That is still far more power than possible using solar energy.
Source: GigaOM » Time for Solar Power Data Centers?
By supplimenting a data centres power needs with solar, wind, whatever we can both reduce the load on the system and reduce greenhouse gas emissions required to generate power. With generous tax credits large power consumers can do a great thing for all of us.
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