Google Orders Power, Supersized

The real news

The story, straight

A data center is a building full of computers that never sleep. Running more computers takes more electricity.

The cloud sounds weightless until you meet its power order.

Google announced its first Wyoming data center on 5 November, representing a long-term $17 billion investment. The project includes a contracted 702-megawatt fuel cell development with carbon capture and storage through American Electric Power.

That is planned capacity, not electricity already flowing. Google contracted the power; it did not buy the plant.

My contribution: a household power strip. Apparently this is like bringing a lunchbox to collect a grain harvest.

Bloom Energy's fuel cells will turn natural gas into electricity through a chemical reaction rather than burning it. Carbon capture separates carbon dioxide emissions for permanent storage underground.

Google says a large majority of the carbon emissions will be captured, but gives no percentage. This is not a promise of zero emissions.

Google also says the data center will use air cooling to limit water use and that it will pay for 100% of the power it uses.

The useful upside is conditional: capturing emissions could reduce the carbon released from gas-powered electricity. The question is how well the finished system performs, not how impressive the announcement sounds.

Repost if your extension cord deserves a smaller assignment.

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