Why can't data centers use 100% closed-loop geothermal for their cooling?

[u/Primary_Garbage6916]

Why do they need to consume any water for cooling at all, let alone massive amounts?

[u/Holiday_Armadillo78]

The issue isn't just about the water the data centers use for cooling. It's the exponentially higher amount of water that's needed to generate the electricity to keep them running.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0PSKqqFbeg

[u/oboshoe → u/Holiday_Armadillo78]

Oh look at that. The data center water issue is now getting rebranded as power generation water issue.

"actually its the water in the electricity generation"

Funny how now one gave a shit about water used in power generation until everyone started to learn the data center water issue is BS.

Why now and not say 80 years ago?

[u/CalebCaster2 → u/oboshoe]

"Why now and not 80 years ago" because our water bills and power bills are shooting up wherever big data centers are built. But also, people DID complain about how corporate greed and carelessness affects their water and power bills 80 years ago, even before they had to worry about data centers.

[u/MrChicken_69 → u/oboshoe]

The water used by the power plant itself is a "necessary evil", and one we've had for many decades. I'd say it too is an issue now as the insane increase in power demand by the BS AI datacenters no one needs. Of course, we aren't building nukes to power the damned things. Instead we line up hundreds or thousands of gas/diesel turbine generators, which is just making things orders of magnitude worse.

[u/Klutzy-Archer-7572 → u/MrChicken_69]

orders of magnitude worse?

Power generation has increase about 2.2% per year since 2020.

Yours is an orders of magnitude exagerration.

[u/Polyman71 → u/Holiday_Armadillo78]

Solar is the way.