[bob1029]

Project Kilby is probably the most intelligent approach to this problem so far.

https://www.chevron.com/newsroom/2026/q2/chevron-signs-20-ye...

The idea is to bring the data centers, power generators and energy supply together in the ~same physical space so the only thing you have to transmit is data. Moving energy is way more expensive than moving information.

[jon-wood]

Are you really saying that in 2026, a year when only the nuts are still trying to claim climate change isn’t a thing, the most intelligent approach to the problem of powering data centres that are mostly being built for the purpose of juicing share prices is gas turbines at an industrial scale? The most intelligent approach is to not build the things. The next most intelligent approach is solar and batteries nearby. Way down the bottom of the list is burning gas to power them.

[bob1029]

The natural gas is already being flared off to protect the environment (CH4 is a much worse greenhouse gas than CO2).

The key with this project is that instead of wasting the thermal energy from this unused gas, we feed it into power plants that are constructed nearby, eliminating the need for new pipeline infrastructure and providing some actual value.

You could go on to argue the oil fields themselves should cease production. This is the only way to actually stop the methane coming out of the ground. Even then it wouldn't happen overnight.

[altcognito]

Flared from oil production.

I'm sympathetic to the idea that "we're already flaring off the gas", but increasing dependency on the process is the wrong direction all the same.

[georgemcbay]

You seem to be assuming the people proposing and making these decisions value the continuation of humanity over share prices.

What are you, some kind of a Luddite? (/s)

[Bratmon]

> Moving energy is way more expensive than moving information

But this project is still moving energy- it's just moving natural gas instead of electricity!

[bob1029]

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=48630029#48631807

[buckle8017]

Its west Texas, the natural gas is already nearby.

[fragmede]

The ocean tidal power data center idea was a neat one.

[ericd]

I don’t see how that generates anywhere near enough power, think about the potential energy of a bucket of water going up and down that amount over the course of a day.

[vitally3643]

Sure, but then multiply that by several million buckets. Tidal flows can represent a lot of water volume, way more than you'd expect

[ericd]

Seems way more material/capex intensive than solar/wind? Also, the sea is generally a brutal maintenance nightmare.

[nradov]

Neat how? Tidal power never made economic sense. There are only a limited number of places with enough tidal flow to even potentially make it viable. Any moving parts in the marine environment require frequent expensive maintenance due to growths and corrosion. Environmentalists will file lawsuits against anything that causes any damage anywhere, even if it would be a net environmental benefit compared to alternatives.

[fragmede]

Ocean waves aren't going to stop at night or on a cloudy day, and don't care if the wind is blowing. Yes, tidal power has its own set of problems, but it doesn't have those ones. The more amazing power source I heard about though is the enhanced geothermal power that Fervo is doing.

https://youtube.com/shorts/9ltVH8RQYFk

[cactusplant7374]

I agree. It has to be more viable than sending GPUs to space.

[wongarsu]

Both are questionable. Tidal power is super neat in theory but we really struggle to make it viable in practice. GPUs in space are probably the lower risk option, but with even more questionable economics

My preferred outlandish idea would be to put the data centers next to solar farms in the Sahara. I just don't know yet how we are going to make the batteries to power that through the night

[ssl-3]

Perhaps: At night, the solar-powered datacenter simply sleeps. (This doesn't fit every workload, but it can fit more than zero of them.)

[fragmede]

You put mirrors in space so the sun shines at night in certain places.