korrents

What Brian Potter thinks about data centers

@brian-potter · 43 positions · 1 change of mind

Structural engineer and writer, author of the Construction Physics newsletter, where he takes apart how large physical things — buildings, ships, semiconductor fabs, aeroplanes — actually get made, and why the cost of making them moves the way it does.

Everything they publish, on ppll ↗

Brian Potter did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

7 dated positions, 2024 to 2025, in their own words. Our reading of what Brian Potter has said — not written or endorsed by them.

  1. Our reading · no longer heldAmerican data centres consume about 66 million gallons of water a day, a small fraction of what they withdraw.

    No longer holdsSo to wrap up, I misread the Berkeley Report and significantly underestimated US data center water consumption.

    SaidBut I didn’t read the report closely enough, and apparently this 579 million gallons a day was in fact consumptive use.

    ↗I Was Wrong About Data Center Water Consumptionconstruction-physics.com 1st of 2 in this piece

    America

    Interesting

  3. Our readingThe published estimates of data-centre water consumption rest on accounting choices that push the number as high as it will go.

    Their wordsHowever, the methods used to produce these estimates are debatable, and seem to have been chosen to give the maximum possible value for data center water consumption.

    ↗I Was Wrong About Data Center Water Consumptionconstruction-physics.com 2nd of 2 in this piece

    Interesting
  4. 9 days earlier

  5. Our readingAmerican data centres consume about 66 million gallons of water a day, a small fraction of what they withdraw.

    Their wordsTaking this into account, actual water consumed by data centers is around 66 million gallons per day.

    ↗How Does the US Use Water?construction-physics.com

    America

    Interesting
  6. 14 months earlier

  7. Our readingAvailable power, not land or capital, is what now limits how many data centres get built.

    Their wordsIn particular, operating a data center requires large amounts of electricity, and available power is fast becoming the binding constraint on data center construction.

    ↗How to Build an AI Data Centerconstruction-physics.com 1st of 5 in this piece

    energy

    Interesting

  9. Our readingData centres and the grid that feeds them run on incompatible clocks: one is a two-year project, the other a multi-decade investment.

    Their wordsUtility companies see major electrical infrastructure as a long-term investment to be built in response to sustained demand growth.

    ↗How to Build an AI Data Centerconstruction-physics.com 2nd of 5 in this piece

    energyinfrastructure

    Interesting

  11. Our readingData-centre electricity consumption will rise substantially even after allowing for every efficiency gain now in sight.

    Their wordsBut there's also reason to believe that data center power consumption will nevertheless rise substantially.

    ↗How to Build an AI Data Centerconstruction-physics.com 4th of 5 in this piece

    energy

    Interesting

  13. Our readingThe efficiency gains that kept data-centre electricity use flat for a decade are largely spent, so new demand now arrives as new power demand.

    Their wordsBut many of these gains have already been achieved: the best data centers already use just 10% of their electricity for cooling and other non-IT equipment.

    ↗How to Build an AI Data Centerconstruction-physics.com 5th of 5 in this piece

    energy

    Interesting