The discussion focused on the evolution of data center workloads, particularly hyperscale utilization rates, which historically were as low as 20-30%.
Mark Bjornsgaard noted the operational challenges of providing continuous heat from data centers 15 years ago.
The emergence of AI and power-hungry GPUs has improved heat reuse, providing a consistent heat source.
Joshua Feinberg highlighted Microsoft's early market share growth and innovative solutions, such as submerging data centers in the sea to cool them.
Despite some skepticism about green reporting accuracy, both acknowledged the ongoing experiments with direct air capture by tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and Meta.
This video is excerpted from the podcast Ep. #40 Mark Bjornsgaard, Founder and CEO of Deep Green Technologies | Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast.
Action Items
- Explore opportunities to leverage the heat generated by AI GPUs in data centers.
- Assess the green reporting and energy usage claims made by hyperscale providers to ensure transparency.
Outline
Data Center Utilization Rates and AI GPU Impact
- Mark Bjornsgaard discusses the historically low utilization rates of hyperscale data centers, often as low as 20-30%, making it challenging to provide continuous heat from these centers.
- He highlights the operational and technical issues faced 15 years ago in maintaining consistent heat from data centers.
- The emergence of AI and the power-hungry, heat-generative GPUs has changed the landscape, as these GPUs are kept on all the time, providing a consistent heat source.
- Joshua Feinberg notes Microsoft's foresight in anticipating these issues, mentioning Azure's growth and channel partners' challenges in transitioning from premise-based to SaaS and cloud services.
Microsoft's Innovative Solutions and Experiments
- Mark Bjornsgaard humorously mentions Microsoft's experiments with dumping data centers in the sea to keep them cool, questioning the warmth of the waters.
- He acknowledges Microsoft's efforts to champion innovative solutions despite not all successful experiments.
- Joshua Feinberg adds that Microsoft, Google, and Meta are experimenting with direct air capture from data centers.
- Mark Bjornsgaard credits these companies for leading the charge in green reporting and energy use, despite some questions about the accuracy of their green reporting.
Resources
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