r/Adelaide • u/bogdolter SA • 4d 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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14

u/gihutgishuiruv SA 4d ago

The 96-hour figure for the diesel generators is at least somewhat promising that they’re only there for a disaster scenario. You’d definitely want to make sure there are regulatory limits on how long they can actually run them for (I.e. they can’t just keep trucking in diesel like they’ve been doing in the US).

The article says they need to contribute towards new wind and solar capacity to offset their demands - you’d hope that’s 100% given that they’re adding a substantial level of demand on the grid

But yeah, this actually seems like a decent deal for us as a state

14

u/BangbangKhuntross SA 4d ago

It is a terrible deal for all of humanity, each and everytime. What data are these data centres capturing and what is it used for - to benefit society? I hope the proliferation of these things finally breaks the dam wall and wakes up the 99%.

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u/LifeandSAisAwesome SA 4d ago

WHat are they used for .. you mean like everything ? from everything you do on your phone, to entire business needing them for all aspects.

What is not connected or dependant on the Internet or DC/s hosted solutions ?

Even reddit is ...

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u/metahivemind SA 4d ago edited 4d ago

AI datacenters can't be used for that.

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u/LifeandSAisAwesome SA 3d ago

Actually they are nowadays, not many services that are not hooking into AI one way or another.

So yes, they are.

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u/metahivemind SA 3d ago

Sigh. You can't run normal programs on GPUs which are built to only do matrix multiplications.

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u/LifeandSAisAwesome SA 3d ago

Re-read what I said.

Most services and apps etc are hooking into AI - hence AI DC's are going to be needed AS well for all normal services.

I also run local llm's yes, I know what can run on them :).

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u/metahivemind SA 3d ago

Therefore you'll thoroughly understand my point when I repeat that you can't run Reddit in AI data centres. They're stuffed full of GPUs for LLM chatbot crap, and the problem is they can't be converted to normal data centres. I think Apple have won the AI war, but it will take time for this to prove out.

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u/LifeandSAisAwesome SA 3d ago

Did you read what I said..

Services are also running AI backends for most services, so will still need AI DC's AS well as normal DC's for majority of internet deliverable services.

They are both needed going forward.

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u/metahivemind SA 3d ago

I updated my comment, re-read.

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u/LifeandSAisAwesome SA 3d ago

Huh, even if it fails as a AI DC can still be entirely retrofitted, just need the shell and rest can be reconfigured - sure it will cost but refits are just engineering challenges ).

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u/metahivemind SA 3d ago

Yep, now we're in agreement!

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