Intel Testing Solar Power For Data Centers 66
miller60 writes "Intel has installed solar panels at a New Mexico facility to test the potential for using photovoltaic solar power in data centers. Solar has proven impractical in data centers thus far for reasons of cost (too high) and capacity (too low). Intel will test the 10-KW solar array with data center containers and as supplemental power for summer capacity challenges, and says the project is a first step toward solar data centers. The project is housed at the New Mexico site of Intel's recent research in air side economizers in data center cooling."
I'd think solar HVAC would come before PV. (Score:4, Insightful)
It's a much simpler task [wikipedia.org]. You use solar heat to drive an absorption or adsorption cycle rather than a compressor. Datacenters need lots of cooling, after all.
Core 2 Duo Thermal is the answer (Score:2, Insightful)
Solar energy would be good but that's not the only clean energy solution.
You ever stood behind a rack of servers? Those things put out a lot of heat. If we can tap geothermal energy from deep underground, we should be able to grab it from a server room and convert it to energy.
Using that heat energy for electricity will also reduce the amount of cooling power needed.
I plan to finalize that solution after I put the finishing touches on my perpetual motion machine.
Re:Photovoltaics aren't yet up to breakeven... (Score:4, Insightful)
By the way: "Breakeven" in this context is "costs no more than installing and buying grid power" - appropriately amortized over the life of the installation.
Re:Photovoltaics aren't yet up to breakeven... (Score:3, Insightful)
By the way: "Breakeven" in this context is "costs no more than installing and buying grid power"
Depends on where you are. Many areas of the country have much higher electric costs, and a lot of sun. With tax credits available, it often times is a good investment.