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Space Sees Data Center Heat Surge
23 Dec
Summary
- Thermal satellite imagery offers a rare view of data center activity.
- AI and crypto mining drive massive global electricity demand.
- A Texas Bitcoin mine uses power equivalent to 300,000 homes.
High-resolution thermal imagery captured from orbit is now offering an unprecedented look at the heat generated by energy-intensive facilities. This development comes as burgeoning demand for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency mining significantly increases global electricity consumption, placing considerable strain on power grids worldwide. The rapid expansion of data centers is a key factor driving this trend.
Recently, a thermal satellite operator released an image of a Bitcoin mining data center campus in Rockdale, Texas. This facility, described as the largest in the U.S., reportedly consumes about 700 megawatts, a figure comparable to the electricity usage of approximately 300,000 homes. The site has faced criticism regarding its substantial electricity consumption and carbon footprint.
The International Energy Agency estimates that data centers consumed around 415 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2024, representing about 1.5% of global power consumption. With a projected global investment exceeding $7 trillion by 2030, the demand for data center infrastructure, particularly for AI and cloud computing, is set to surge dramatically.
