Britain isn't considering datacenters' thirst for water in its 'AI superpower' ambitions The UK government's blueprint for turning Britain into an AI superpower largely ignore the water datacenters need, prompting warnings that these facilities could end up competing with homes and businesses for supply. The warning comes as parts of southern, central, and eastern England move closer to drought, putting the pressure …
"Major businesses should pay for the water infrastructure they need so that the costs don't fall onto households."
But think of the shareholders, and their lost profits! No, no, no! We cant have that! We'll slip Farage another couple of Mil, for security purposes of course. And when he is prime minister, then all this can go away. I'm sure the Plebs wont mind paying a bit more on their bills, to keep their betters in Cognac...
If the government are shareholders, that would be great. The government doesnt need dividends or a high share price.
Quite frankly, it's absolutely ridiculous that you would privatise a basic utility. A private company needs to make enough money to satisfy the shareholders and C-Suite. That means profits will be prioritised over investments. A Utility company should be non-profit. All operational profit should be reinvested in upgrades and network extensions. If money is left over after all the investment is accounted for, then prices for the users should decrease. By all means, run the C-Suite as if it were a private company, with their bonuses based on generating enough operational profit to fund the necessary internal investment side.
But a utility running as a private company has to generate enough profit to satisfy the shareholders. And the C-suite are beholden to the shareholders, so either prices rise to generate more profit, or investment is cut to hold on to that profit. Or more likely both. Which is how you get the high prices, crap service, and regular environmental failures you get from a utility like Thames Water.
Nationalisation, done right, could be a massive benefit. But considering it's politicians driving the job, the chances of it being done right, are minimal...
"That means profits will be prioritised over investments."
Investments drive profits, as any dumbass C-suiter knows. The real problems are government interference - as is pointed out in the article. Data centre water use is specifically excluded from planning by government diktak. Building reservoirs takes years because of the environmental impact studies required, etc. These are not simple problems to solve but simply blaming it all on the C-suite is retarded.
Yes, a smart C-suite understands that Investments drive Profits. BUT current C-suites are encouraged/incentivized to focus on this quarter's profits. An Investment now is a drop in this quarter's profits, and that affects the C-suite bonuses. It also affects the shareholders dividends, which can see the C-suite canned very quickly.
Intel pay out Billions per year in dividends (covered right here in El Reg reporting). When Pat Gelsinger (CEO at the time) suggested stopping dividends for a year to invest in extra Foundry things, he was sacked by the board within a week. Those extra billions might have turned the company around, as it is, well it will limp along...
Thames Water has paid out 100's of millions of dollars in dividends since being privatised. That's money that should have gone into investment. A Utility should never have money taken out of it, the money should always stay in for upgrades and improvements. A private Utility will never achieve that!
… or based on expensive gas often sitting on standby as backup.
Scotland is self sufficient in green electricity, and only has 1 remaining gas fired by power station in Peterhead. The whole nation paying UK- wide electricity rates seems unfair. Esp. As excess is shipped to England and Northern Ireland.
If Britain wants to be an AI superpower why does it think it needs to host the data centres?
Surely the real prize is attracting the people who build the models and the companies that employ them. To do that Britain needs to be an attractive place to live and work. It needs a competitive tax regime, excellent law and order, good healthcare, affordable housing, strong universities, vibrant culture, etc.
Get those fundamentals right and the AI sector will flourish along with plenty of other high value industries.
"excellent law and order, good healthcare, affordable housing, strong universities, vibrant culture" - everywhere with these social advantages has a high rate of tax. Indeed, there's a direct correlation between high tax rates and happiness. You're just gullible and greedy and so believe the opposite to be true.
Why would you own a car in Singapore?
Healthcare is excellent and is paid for via a mandatory medical savings account with the Government covering any shortfalls. Which all in all sounds like a better system than in the UK.
Minimum annual leave limits are like minimum wages, only an issue if you're not in a position to negotiate for better.
but then they would have to remove the shit.
Might as well tap straight into the sewerage system. Would be rather apt: shit in - shit out.
Who would have thought it "Flushing for Britain" could help make it an "AI superpower."
"Loose shits sink MIPS."
The financial companies that loaned all the money are where the buck stops.
Silver Point Capital and Elliott Asset Management effectively control Thames Water. They bought debt, ramped up the debt, took the dividends and the interest payments and are not going to hold the Government to ransom.
If they just shut Thames Water down and closed the doors turning everything off like a normal failed business what is going to happen?
I give it less than an hour before the Government caves in. They know it which is why big (mostly foreign) money should never ever have been allowed near UK utilities.
Basically we are screwed and the lenders continue to laugh.
Now factor in that the Government is proposing to partner with outfits like this to use pension funds to invest in infrastructure. It is just insane.
I was under the impression that Britain is an island, totally surrounded by lots and lots and lots of water. To be sure, it's _salt_ water, but there's an easy fix: massive desalination plants powered by the continual jaw-jaw-jawing in Parliament. Why, then the problem would be to limit the intake, or they'd drain the North Sea... Think of all the jobs which would become available... and the excess salt is sure to have something valuable in it! We can make Britain a world power again!
It isn't just about the water consumption, It's electricity consumption. Air, water and noise pollution. It is also detrimental to animals and insects, this includes farm animals and our lovely bees. Why on earth would we want these US data centres in our country? China was stopped from building wind turbines due to National security concerns yet the US who are currently causing issues globally and really can't be trusted can build AI data centres and ruin our country. The people need to say No to this.
