←back to thread

337 points throw0101c | 2 comments | | HN request time: 0.65s | source
Show context
gazpacho ◴[] No.44609473[source]
I just wish we forced every new data center to be built with renewables or something. The marginal cost over a conventional data center can’t be that big compared to the total cost, and these companies can afford it. Maybe it can help advance the next generation of small modular nuclear reactors or something.
replies(8): >>44609595 #>>44609691 #>>44609701 #>>44609832 #>>44609881 #>>44609976 #>>44610155 #>>44614308 #
1. phil21 ◴[] No.44609832[source]
Many of these companies are very interested in small nuclear tech as a means to power these facilities. The major bottleneck now for most of them is finding sites where grid capacity exists to power them.

Talking to anyone in the space for more than 30 minutes and nuclear with come up.

I very much hope the hype cycle lasts long enough for some of this capital raining down from the sky to get these reactors deployed in the field, because those will be a lasting positive from this hype cycle - much like laying railroad infrastructure and fiber optic cables came from other hype cycles.

I've often said that the robber barons sucked, but at least they left massive amounts of physical infrastructure for the average person to benefit from. The hype cycles of late leave very little in comparison.

replies(1): >>44613129 #
2. ikr678 ◴[] No.44613129[source]
I'm concerned that the move-fast-and-break-things crowd will attempt to ply their trade on reactor tech and leave us with a bunch of failed projects in jurisdictions that won't hold them to account. The space is heavily regulated for a reason.