What AI Data Centers Don’t Want You to See
This PBS Terra investigation uses thermal drone footage to visualize the heat emanating from one large data center. When concerns about water usage come up, data center developers claim that their new closed-loop cooling systems solve that problem entirely. No more water shortages!
Unfortunately though, to run those closed-loop water cooling systems takes a huge amount of power - much more than the current electrical grid can deliver. So hyperscale facilities have to build rows upon rows of diesel generators on site to supplement that power which in turn creates the insane heat signatures you see in the video. It also creates a whole lot of the worst kind of particulate matter air pollution. They know they can’t create more water, but they can create more energy.
Too bad it comes with a steep price.