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Re:Google Funding Construction of Seven U.S. Nuclear Reactors by pfdietz on Tuesday October 15, 2024 @07:41AM (#41847484)
We should see some increase in electricity consumption due to displacement of direct uses of fossil fuels. For example, use of heat pumps in place of natural gas furnaces, electric cars in place of IC engine vehicles. Add to that the ever popular AI and general data center consumption motivating this announcement (but I wonder how much of that is going to move to places with cheaper electricity.)
Re:Google Funding Construction of Seven U.S. Nuclear Reactors by golli on Wednesday October 16, 2024 @11:34AM (#41860295)
Yes, these and other innovations will defivinitely increase our overall electricity consumption, but i imagine that it will be a gradual shift as it is aleady happening, since vehicles and heating has long life cycles. It also helps that energy wise these technologies are more efficient, so that offsets some of the increase.

Probably hard to judge right now where AI is heading and if the pace of increased energy consumption remains this high. But i agree that they'll probably end up moving closer to sources of cheap electricity.

Re:Google Funding Construction of Seven U.S. Nuclear Reactors by pfdietz on Wednesday October 16, 2024 @02:14PM (#41861998)
The efficiency would decrease primary energy use, if the electricity were being produced from thermal sources, but the amount of electrical energy used would increase.