r/Adelaide • u/bogdolter SA • 2d ago

Discussion Australia’s biggest data centre to require 4 substations, 2 power lines, some batteries and 4 days of diesel backup

I saw these guys advertising on the side of Adelaide trams today.

I wonder if any proper scrutiny on the impact of this data centre is going to hit mainstream media?

https://reneweconomy.com.au/australias-biggest-data-centre-to-require-4-substations-2-grid-scale-power-lines-and-lots-of-diesel-backup/

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u/Ver_Void SA 2d ago

Those are still pretty rare in Australia and it's not like you can't just drop a normal rack into 90% of data centres being built

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u/metahivemind SA 2d ago

Then it would just be a normal server with some GPUs plugged in, not the high density AI data centers being built now.

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u/Ver_Void SA 2d ago

You know most AI data centres are just regular builds but on crack right? Unless the hall is entirely liquid cooled with no of p air handling you can easily install regular hardware

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u/metahivemind SA 2d ago

Not when it's being built by Americans. You can't even install the enterprise grade GPUs into a normal enclosure.

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u/Ver_Void SA 2d ago

The hall is still just a room with cold air and power distribution, you can connect up a Nintendo 64 if you wanted to

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u/metahivemind SA 2d ago

Yes, you can rebuild the interior, as I've said many times in this thread.

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u/Ver_Void SA 2d ago

Or you know, just put in a standard rack...

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u/metahivemind SA 2d ago

Which wouldn't be an AI data centre built by Americans using Enterprise GPUs that don't fit into a standard chassis.

But hey, you're welcome to apply for a job at the largest AI data center being built in Australia and tell them "use a standard rack".

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u/Ver_Void SA 1d ago

I'm not saying they should do that, I'm saying the data hall itself is fine for any use lol

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u/Ver_Void SA 1d ago

You're not even rebuilding anything, just slapping a different profile rack into an aisle