Inside the Plot to Cover Europe with Gas-Powered AI Data Centres
www.desmog.com
As the UK and EU debate how to source the vast quantities of electricity they’ll need to power their grand visions of home-grown artificial intelligence (AI), the gas turbine sector is confident that governments will soon follow the lead of the United States – by clearing the way for Big Tech to embrace natural gas. […]

“I just think the American market is ahead of us [and] the same thing is going to happen here”, said a turbine sales representative from UK-based manufacturer Langley Holdings, which also sponsored the March 25-26 Datacloud conference and primarily sells to the UK. “It just will take a bit longer and it will be a bit harder because more people will be saying, ‘hang on a minute, we don’t want to be burning greenhouse gasses.’”

    • frongt@lemmy.zipEnglish
      0·
      5 days ago

      It’s still cheaper in bulk than other forms. Fossil fuels have excellent energy density.

    • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      5 days ago

      They do and that’s kinda the point.

      • Convince Europeans that data centers are a requirement for social stability in the 21st century.
      • Install a bunch of gas powered centers on European territory.
      • Build supply chain from the gas-rich Permian Basin to Europe.
      • Profit.

      Not unlike how the US has made it a policy to export gas-powered automobiles and trucks globally for the last 80 years. This all becomes leverage to extend the influence and profitability of the O&G sector.