Solar is already being installed anywhere they can. Getting a connection to the grid isn’t that easy, and often requires paying for the transmission and distribution upgrades needed - which also get implemented on a timescale to suit the grid operator, ie in no rush, whenever they’re good and ready.
Battery storage wouldn’t last long enough and would require a much larger footprint than turbine generators. However the turbines are more expensive to run than importing from the grid - they’re for security of supply, not for constant operation (although I’m sure they’d happily run them if no grid connection was available).
Point being I don’t think there is a practical option where data centres could export to the grid - they already install solar on the roof, and it isn’t that big of an area (big solar farms take up a ton of space). With wind turbines you have to worry about ice throw, so they can’t be too close. Whatever option it’s basically a separate installation with its own land acquirement and planning permission needs.
Solar is already being installed anywhere they can. Getting a connection to the grid isn’t that easy, and often requires paying for the transmission and distribution upgrades needed - which also get implemented on a timescale to suit the grid operator, ie in no rush, whenever they’re good and ready.
Battery storage wouldn’t last long enough and would require a much larger footprint than turbine generators. However the turbines are more expensive to run than importing from the grid - they’re for security of supply, not for constant operation (although I’m sure they’d happily run them if no grid connection was available).
Point being I don’t think there is a practical option where data centres could export to the grid - they already install solar on the roof, and it isn’t that big of an area (big solar farms take up a ton of space). With wind turbines you have to worry about ice throw, so they can’t be too close. Whatever option it’s basically a separate installation with its own land acquirement and planning permission needs.