823: The Battle for AI Power: Data Centers vs. The Electric Grid

Forget what you thought you knew about data centers.

Ryan Abbott of Clayco (a major datacenter design/build firm) joins Nico to explain how today’s hyperscale data centers are flipping traditional construction and energy planning on their heads. With AI workloads multiplying and compute demand skyrocketing, the real constraint isn't land—it’s power. And not just any power. Reliable, sustainable, redundant power systems that can handle 24/7 cooling, computing, and connectivity.

In this conversation, you’ll learn how data centers are being redesigned for the AI age—everything from chilled water loops to rooftop geometry to satellite data transmission all have an impact on the efficiency of what could be the most important structures to be built in a generation.

Expect to learn:

🔹 Why data center siting now revolves around power, not land

🔹 What “heat rejection” really means and why roofs matter more than you think

🔹 Why water use and air-cooled chillers are becoming make-or-break issues

🔹 What next-gen data center design teaches us about renewable integration

🔹 The reason Arizona—not Alberta—may be the new hub for AI compute

This one is for the builders, the planners, and the visionaries driving clean energy forward. Listen in and learn why the future of computing is all about collaboration—with the grid.

If you want to connect with today's guest, you’ll find links to his contact info in the show notes on the blog at https://mysuncast.com/suncast-episodes/.

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