Using computers as “information batteries”

I was reading Brian Sutherland's LIMITS 2022 paper, “Strategies for Degrowth Computing”, and came upon this really interesting idea:

> Another conception of degrowth computing is, perhaps, “information batteries” where networked server installations that are starting to obsolesce are used as a peak-shaving energy strategy. This means for example, as solar energy approaches its peak on a sunny day and starts to overload the electrical grid, large numbers of computers are brought online to render the excess energy into useful information products. Unlike energy, information can be stored easily! As Switzer and Raghavan point out, generated energy above demand is effectively surplus and carbon-free, so high efficiency in a computing platform is not a significant consideration: less efficient computers, such as from old data centres, can be utilized for research computation work to ensure their investment in embodied energy provides an additional return, before the hardware is retired and recycled. Aside from the information products generated, this infrastructure performs the useful secondary function of safeguarding the electrical grid.

I suggest reading the whole article, it's quite interesting. It also contains a nice case study of a solar-powered personal computer.

Sotiris 2022-08-02

“Strategies for Degrowth Computing” PDF