Inside the Plot to Cover Europe with Gas-Powered AI Data Centres | Gas turbine manufacturers are confident they will win the battle over whether Europe’s AI boom will be powered by fossil fuels. (www.desmog.com)
from silence7@slrpnk.net to world@lemmy.world on 30 Apr 13:28
https://slrpnk.net/post/37209584

“I just think the American market is ahead of us [and] the same thing is going to happen here”, said a turbine sales representative from UK-based manufacturer Langley Holdings, which also sponsored the March 25-26 Datacloud conference and primarily sells to the UK. “It just will take a bit longer and it will be a bit harder because more people will be saying, ‘hang on a minute, we don’t want to be burning greenhouse gasses.’”

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Vergissmeinnicht@lemmy.ca on 30 Apr 13:34 next collapse

Do they not realize gas in Europe is not anywhere as cheap as it is in the US?

myrmidex@belgae.social on 30 Apr 13:50 next collapse

There will always be politicians they can bribe lobby.

tal@lemmy.today on 30 Apr 14:09 next collapse

goes to look up numbers

It looks like it was pretty close around 2009.

spglobal.com/…/070521-ct-european-gas-lng-ukraine…

<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.today/pictrs/image/5df1f19f-beb7-499b-8ec3-145deee6dc83.webp">

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world on 30 Apr 14:21 next collapse

They do and that’s kinda the point.

  • Convince Europeans that data centers are a requirement for social stability in the 21st century.
  • Install a bunch of gas powered centers on European territory.
  • Build supply chain from the gas-rich Permian Basin to Europe.
  • Profit.

Not unlike how the US has made it a policy to export gas-powered automobiles and trucks globally for the last 80 years. This all becomes leverage to extend the influence and profitability of the O&G sector.

frongt@lemmy.zip on 30 Apr 23:44 collapse

It’s still cheaper in bulk than other forms. Fossil fuels have excellent energy density.

Greyghoster@aussie.zone on 01 May 02:46 collapse

Sadly most the energy density is wasted as only a small proportion is captured to do work. Renewables capture almost all of the energy. Renewables are definitely better from an energy density standpoint as you need a lot less to match the theoretical energy density of fossil fuels.

ParlimentOfDoom@piefed.zip on 30 Apr 13:41 next collapse

Gas is more expensive AND takes longer to build a facility than slapping up some solar panels/turbines does

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world on 30 Apr 14:22 next collapse

But who is going to build the gas turbines? (Americans 😇)

Who is going to build the solar panels / windmills? (China 👹 )

ParlimentOfDoom@piefed.zip on 30 Apr 14:30 collapse

This article is literally about a UK turbine maker. And China isn’t the only solar manufacturer

UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world on 30 Apr 14:36 collapse

American gas turbine manufacturer Mitsubishi Power Aero

A sales representative from MWM, the European arm of U.S.-based gas generator manufacturer Caterpillar

Langley Holdings was the only UK-based gas manufacturer mentioned.

Rothe@piefed.social on 01 May 12:10 collapse

Neither should be necessary, because we don’t need anymore energy-guzzling AI datacenters. They are an enormous waste of energy and effort, solely for the shortsighted profit of the Epstein-class oligarchs.

Jiral@lemmy.org on 30 Apr 18:41 collapse

This is not more than the wild claims of some gas turbine lobbyist and focus mainly on the UK. The EU is currently trying hard to reduce the reliance on gas, that lobbyist won’t change that as it is a pretty fundamental strategic requirement.