back to article Startup plugs AI datacenters into biogas-powered energy

A UK datacenter startup realized it could have to wait until the late 2030s for power grid connection dates, and has instead turned to modular facilities located at the site of renewable energy sources. Chainergy, which was founded in 2022, is putting AI datacenter infrastructure inside enclosures that are similar to shipping …

  1. cyberdemon Silver badge
    Terminator

    Putting the Bit Barn into an actual Barn

    Great..

    Although I do fear the day when the machines start herding us all into biogas oubliettes to be 'digested' for fuel.

  2. codejunky Silver badge
    FAIL

    Erm

    "We asked Chainergy if it was considering other renewable energy sites such as those based on solar or wind, but Behan told us these are currently too intermittent for its requirements."

    Well that was a seriously dumb question to ask wasnt it? Why would they consider something so wildly unreliable? They found a method with 95% uptime and you ask if they are considering methods with no reliability?

    Surely this is the opportunity to boast about the green energy with 95% uptime not to push monuments to a sky god.

    As for the actual achievement, well done. That they are producing energy so much cheaper than the grid should be a wake up to people how the gov has and is still trying to push the wrong solutions.

    1. Doctor Syntax Silver badge

      Re: Erm

      A bit of lateral thinking would enable the two to be combined. Use wind when it's available and biogas (also wind?) when it isn't with some storage capacity for the biogas to balance things out.

      1. codejunky Silver badge

        Re: Erm

        @Doctor Syntax

        "A bit of lateral thinking would enable the two to be combined."

        They could also line the place with gold but what would be the point?

        "Use wind when it's available and biogas (also wind?) when it isn't with some storage capacity for the biogas to balance things out."

        So how many steps and how much wasted money and how much stupidity in all of that vs a 95% reliable energy source backed by reliable fossil fuel.

        Why pay for monuments to a sky god, and expensive storage capacity that certainly isnt good enough grid level (dunno if it is for them), and the biogas solution they are currently using which sounds good?

        Surely just thinking about it you can see how excessively expensive unreliables are to this and if you apply that to grid level you can see why UK energy is in such a poor shape.

  3. Evil Scot Bronze badge
    Joke

    And the remaining solids?

    Do they use that to feed the AI models?

  4. Flak
    Go

    Some systems thinking at last.

    Now add to that district heat networks - to use the waste heat.

    Any other thoughts? I am sure there are quite a few additional systems / requirements that could be complementary.

  5. drankinatty

    Biogas from Biomass is NOT Sustainable

    Am I missing something here? Is this "Biogas" generated from the same "Biomass" that led to widespread deforestation to produce the "biomass" part? https://www.southernenvironment.org/news/new-study-confirms-harmful-impacts-of-biomass/ I certainly hope I'm ignorant in this regard?

    1. FrogsAndChips Silver badge

      Re: Biogas from Biomass is NOT Sustainable

      The article you're linking refers to burning wood pellets to generate electricity, not biogas. The facility here uses food and agricultural waste to produce biogas (methane), no deforestation involved.

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