'Biggest Data Center' To Be Built in Arctic (bbc.com)

A small town in the remote north of the Arctic Circle is set to be home to the world's largest data center. From a report: The firm behind the project, Kolos, says the chilled air and abundant hydropower available locally would help it keep its energy costs down. The area, however, suffers the country's highest rate of sick leave from work, which may be related to its past as a mining community. The US-Norwegian company says it has already raised "several million dollars" for the project from Norwegian private investors. However, it is still working with a US investment bank to secure the remaining necessary funds.

Comments

Re:How do they handle winter power generation?

[doconnor]

Rivers large enough to have hydro dams only freeze at the surface and continue to flow under the ice.

Re:Brilliant idea

[Ashtead]

There is no permafrost in this area. This is built on bedrock, and close to the coast.

Re: Number of issues cross my mind..

[Anonymous Coward]

> Power generation.
Plenty of hydro power here.

>Latency.
We have fiber, and experience very low latency to central europe. At home I have 500/500Mbit fiber which in speed test deliver as promised. And no datacap btw.

>Heat generation which will advance ice sheet melting. Fiber lines on permafrost.
This isn't the north pole or anything like that. No permafrost, an tempatures ranging from 30 degree celcius on good summer days to -20 on the worst days of winter.

>Skilled workers willing to live in Antartica.
No need for those, antarctica is on the oposite side of the globe.

>Oh, and Marijuana availability. Data center admins love to smoke.
Never been a problem (except around christmas, seems like the dealers enjoy some time of with their families)