The Alternative Green Energy Thread

QrizB

JKenH said:

We’ve sacrificed our traditional industries on the altar of Net Zero ...

UK heavy industry collapsed in the 70s and 80s, when "net zero" wasn't a thing and Greens were fringe cranks.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3BXXLW52xgQ

JKenH said:

..  only to replace them with something more palatable to progressive classes that still  generates huge amounts of CO2.

The ludicrous environmental cost of AI datacentres has been well documented in other outlets. For example:

https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2024/sep/15/data-center-gas-emissions-tech

Magnitio

JKenH said:

I am cynical  

Definition of cynical: "concerned only with one's own interests and typically disregarding accepted standards in order to achieve them."

JKenH

QrizB said:

JKenH said:

We’ve sacrificed our traditional industries on the altar of Net Zero ...

UK heavy industry collapsed in the 70s and 80s, when "net zero" wasn't a thing and Greens were fringe cranks.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3BXXLW52xgQ

JKenH said:

..  only to replace them with something more palatable to progressive classes that still  generates huge amounts of CO2.

The ludicrous environmental cost of AI datacentres has been well documented in other outlets. For example:

https://amp.theguardian.com/technology/2024/sep/15/data-center-gas-emissions-tech

Yes, that’s a great article and makes my point that those in power don’t seem to care about all the increased energy usage that AI data centres will consume. In fact the official plan is to drive even more of these. 

The UK government is accelerating efforts to build the infrastructure needed to support AI growth. AI Growth Zones will unlock investment in AI-enabled data centres and support infrastructure by improving access to power and providing planning support. This will help drive innovation, create high-skilled jobs, and strengthen the UK’s position as a leader in AI.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/ai-growth-zones/ai-growth-zones-open-for-applications

At the same time vehicle manufacturers are cutting jobs. Manufacturing vans at Luton has already stopped and Ellesmere Port is at risk.

 “Stellantis UK does not stop, but Stellantis production in the UK could stop,” said Maria Grazia Davino, former Managing Director at Stellantis UK at the time.

Around 2,500 jobs across the UK supply chain, including at Luton and Ellesmere Port, are at risk.

https://sustainabilitymag.com/news/net-zero-fines-impact-on-vauxhall

Maybe the government needs to ensure that all new data centres are powered purely and directly by renewable energy and not accept the fudge of buying RECS or using PPAs. Data centres still need power when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining and are adding to the problem of balancing the grid. 

Netexporter

Data centres should be mandated to be located where they can be linked to district heating systems, or to provide heat for industrial processes. That way the total energy required for heating is reduced with the bonus of a side order of data processing.

QrizB

Netexporter said:

Data centres should be mandated to be located where they can be linked to district heating systems, or to provide heat for industrial processes. That way the total energy required for heating is reduced with the bonus of a side order of data processing.

There's a company called Deep Green (funded by Octopus) that's promoting data centres at swimming pools:

https://thenextweb.com/news/deep-green-octopus-energy-swimming-pools-data-centre

Netexporter

Indeed. They featured on Rare Earth, the other week.

NedS

QrizB said:

There's a company called Deep Green (funded by Octopus) that's promoting data centres at swimming pools:

https://thenextweb.com/news/deep-green-octopus-energy-swimming-pools-data-centre

I like the thinking.

thevilla

A while ago there was a program on TV about the first electronic component ( a hall effect sensor) taking advantage of graphene.  It used something like 1000th the energy of conventional components.  I'm guessing this advance will soon make it into GPUS used in data centres and their energy requirements will fall off a cliff.  Maybe I'm just over optimistic.

JKenH

I wonder how well large scale solar and wind farms will be received in the South East.

Miliband pushes developers to build more wind and solar farms in the South

New proposals come after the Energy Secretary scrapped controversial zonal pricing plans

Ed Miliband wants to overhaul energy market rules to encourage developers to build more wind and solar farms in the South of England.

The Energy Secretary plans to cut so-called transmission charges for southern renewable developers to incentivise them to build more wind and solar near England’s power-hungry cities.

At the same time, he has proposed increasing rates for developers in northern areas or offshore to discourage them from building in these remote locations.

The proposals could boost low carbon energy in the South but see a rash of solar farms and wind turbines in formerly rural areas.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2025/07/10/miliband-pushes-developers-to-build-more-wind-and-solar-far/

QrizB

JKenH said:

I wonder how well large scale solar and wind farms will be received in the South East.

I live in the central south (ex- Southern Electric region) and I'd love to see them.

There are a lot of NIMBYs here, though. There was onshore wind proposed a few miles ago, which they objected to, and there now a campaign against a proposed solar farm.