this post was submitted on 11 Dec 2024
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wait, they couldn't get substation big enough so they're running straight gas turbines just to power this thing? and it's not even CCGT (there would be visible cooling towers unless there's a lake nearby)? i guess they're doing this this way because it's compact and doesn't require water, but they're 1. paying premium for baseline power, more than for regular price from utility, or normal gas plant, and 2. running pollution -> profit machine straight from captain planet episode
reuters article (through neuters, it works like nitter but for reuters) https://neuters.de/business/environment/musks-xai-operating-gas-turbines-without-permits-data-center-environmental-group-2024-08-28/
to be specific, untreated gas turbine exhaust contains a lot of nitrogen oxides. similar thing (bar particulates) also happens with diesel engines, but usually there's a catalytic converter downstream. venting it like this is also a massive waste of energy because another ~half of power is still recoverable in steam turbine, for example in my city there's large CCGT plant with ~350MW gas turbine, ~150MW steam turbine coupled to it and another ~400MW waste heat is pushed into municipal heating grid. smaller turbines are much less efficient than that
that is part of their mission statement, yes