-Laelth

Wave power and thermal gradient power (bottom of the sea is cooler than the top, low temp fluids could drive generators). I note that neither seem able to fit within the structure in the picture, though. At least, to any significant degree.

.... practical or inexpensive at the scale needed for a large data center.

Plus, the barge doesn't look like one suitable for anchoring in the open ocean, where thermal gradients may be large enough to provide significant energy. I'm not sure what the thermal gradient is in a more sheltered area, such as San Francisco Bay, for example. I wish I knew more about the engineering aspects of thermal gradient power. Something to research, I guess. It sounds like an interesting project. (Once upon a time I worked with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI) in Moss Landing, CA on power and telemetry systems for deep ocean free floating meteorology buoys. But that was a couple of decades ago.)

This one is experimental but its exactly the sort of thing Google goes in for, is being studied in their backyard at Stanford and it doesn't require the sort of structures missing from that picture, only seawater and freshwater. Both of which are abundant at that location.

It may not be entirely viable immediately but it can't be discounted. Note though that the issue cited in the article (silver is expensive, looking for a better (-) electrode) doesn't really apply, they're not trying to produce a lot or produce cheaper batters, it's merely a giant battery perfectly suited to this function.

http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/04/stanford-salt-water-battery-a-better-design/

... have proven practical, nor inexpensive. Knowing a little bit about how much energy data centers consume, I don't think that's practical on a barge this size.

waves that seems quite promising. It's likely that it's an add on mostly because the opportunity to incorporate some green technology is great PR, but hopefully they will use cutting edge tech and with solar, it helps reduce reliance on bio fuels. Solar took a long time to be at all practical too.

There's the wave technology, where something anchored to a generator floats up and down on the waves, the up and down motion generating the electricity, but I can't imagine that technology could power something like Google's data center.

Collecting metadata vs collecting all-data. Google is an internet empire.

Not to mention the cooling requirements to remove 300-500 kW of generated heat per pod, times 24 pods. That would be 2 more barges, 1 with a self contained power-plant and 1 with the HVAC equipment to run those using today's technology, so it is definitely not running live servers in it.

My crackpot theory is that google is running a massive R and D project to see if they can develop the technology to power/cool pods from endothermic /wave power at that scale. And of course they would be keeping that secret. It would be game-over if they even come close to developing that. But, what the hell - they have the money and scientists to go for it.

Of course the tech for that at the scale we are talking is at least a decade away - but you gotta start sometime.

Sorry to be dense, but could you further elaborate on what competition is for that sort of thing and what edge it would give them?

Thanks, tj!

PB

In Switzerland they have worked it to supplement the heating and power in some places, but on a scale to go multiple MW, it would pretty much be a game-changer.

There would be a drastic reduction in the need for the use of diesel to fire steam turbine generators, and it would pretty much put the use of coal based power plants to an end. That pretty much can be extrapolated to the end of the use of fossil fuels to generate electricity.

Obviously - the big boys in the coal, oil , and natural gas industries do not want that to happen.

Google is always pushing the envelope of being as cool and innovative as possible.

"...is for it to be painted dark grey and for the Imperial March to played from loudspeakers on it."

but it seems too large and extreme for that. You could sell those off a large houseboat. They don't even have a permit to dock it anywhere for that application.

I can't see Google putting all the time, research, and resources into something like this, and then forgetting to get a license or permit.

There's a store made of shipping containers in San Francisco's Hayes Valley, but the Google Cube is on a way bigger scale than that.



I don't see enough consistent wave activity or depth in San Francisco Bay to produce any kind of power. The technology's not there to produce it, anyway.

And it doesn't look stable enough to be towed out into the ocean and moored there.