- It is cheaper by approx 43% to power a data centre with a largely renewable microgrid vs a nuclear SMR. Renewables can meet the majority of the constant demands of a large data centre - but gas is still required as a stopgap source of power today, with batteries supporting.
- It is cheaper by almost a third (31.7%) to power a data centre with 95% renewables (in line with the CP30 target) vs a nuclear SMR.
- Renewable microgrids could be deployed in around half the time of nuclear SMRs (~5 years vs 10 years) and with much greater certainty.
- Our model outputs a microgrid that meets consistent yearly data centre demand without needing the grid. To further minimise risk to data centre operators, no/low-utilisation grid ties can provide additional microgrid reliability.
Use hydrogen instead, and you can go to 100% green energy.