Watch On A single modern AI GPU is estimated to consume up to 3.7 MWh of power annually , and with each server rack containing multiple AI GPUs, that means that it consumes a lot of electricity just to keep it running. This also means they generate a lot of heat — so these systems must be cooled to operate efficiently. Cooling accounts for nearly 40% of data center power use, and it’s also another major source of noise pollution, especially if a site relies on air-cooling. Although a single fan might not make much noise, the scale at which they’re deployed is starting to have a noticeable impact on the sound level they generate.
These are meant to run when there’s limited to no power supply, but that is not limited to blackouts. Electricity providers can also reduce the amount of power they deliver to a data center during peak hours, meaning the site’s backup power supply will have to take over to ensure that it operates at full capacity even with less power from the utility company. Aside from that, it must also be tested for up to 50 hours annually, meaning the community surrounding the data center can expect these noises to come on at any time.
The United States does not lack flat, open land away from population centers on which to build data centers. However, AI hyperscalers prefer to locate their campuses near existing infrastructure so they don’t have to spend massive amounts of time and resources building everything from scratch. A few data centers are being built on former industrial sites, like shuttered factories and abandoned paper mills, but there are not enough of these around for the number of projects being proposed and built. As the negative effects of building these sites too close to population centers are slowly being revealed, we expect opposition to these projects to keep increasing.
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Key considerations
- Investor positioning can change fast
- Volatility remains possible near catalysts
- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/artificial-intelligence/data-centers-face-increasing-infrasound-complaints-from-neighboring-communities-sounds-do-not-register-on-decibel-meters-but-irritate-local-citizens#main
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.