1/ In ICELAND
(an observation amidst a flurry of friends also visiting in recent weeks):
This is a land turning the REAL into the ETHEREAL.
Here is a story of fish, melting glaciers, electricity, aluminum, data centers, crypto + the future of high-powered computer simulation
(an observation amidst a flurry of friends also visiting in recent weeks):
This is a land turning the REAL into the ETHEREAL.
Here is a story of fish, melting glaciers, electricity, aluminum, data centers, crypto + the future of high-powered computer simulation
2/ In the US server farms drove up hydropower prices.
There were 30 aluminium smelters in the US, now only 5.
They didnt go to China...Iceland.
Iceland has world's highest electricity usage per person: ~50600 kWh per year
Most for heavy industry exploiting cheap electricity.
There were 30 aluminium smelters in the US, now only 5.
They didnt go to China...Iceland.
Iceland has world's highest electricity usage per person: ~50600 kWh per year
Most for heavy industry exploiting cheap electricity.
3/ One of Iceland’s biggest exports was FISH, until it became ELECTRICITY.
About 80% is HYDRO (vs 6% in US)
via rivers + dams that capture PHYSICAL melting glaciers, the rest mostly geothermal.
Iceland built 5 huge dams to capture it to turn turbines to make electrons.
About 80% is HYDRO (vs 6% in US)
via rivers + dams that capture PHYSICAL melting glaciers, the rest mostly geothermal.
Iceland built 5 huge dams to capture it to turn turbines to make electrons.
4/ The electrons are used in a form of ALCHEMY: turning bauxite into aluminum.
Iceland will make more aluminum than the US.
Alcoa + Century Aluminum closed factories in the US, opened them in Iceland because electricity is super cheap in Iceland (1/3 cheaper)
Iceland will make more aluminum than the US.
Alcoa + Century Aluminum closed factories in the US, opened them in Iceland because electricity is super cheap in Iceland (1/3 cheaper)
5/ If you took 500,000 people and all the businesesses in Colorado Springs—it would use the same amount of electricity as just one Aloca smelter in Iceland.
Now—they are also turning electrons into BITS of ethereal cryptocurrencies (now) and supercomputer simulations (future).
Now—they are also turning electrons into BITS of ethereal cryptocurrencies (now) and supercomputer simulations (future).
6/ Iceland is balancing environmental preservation w/ industrializing + going upstream into value-add aluminum products—
—and NOW server farms for crypto currency
(combo of cheap power + cool air)
Next I predict high-powered computing for simulation in healthcare + engineering.
—and NOW server farms for crypto currency
(combo of cheap power + cool air)
Next I predict high-powered computing for simulation in healthcare + engineering.
7/ All in a country of Iceland with singular stunning surreal beauty, landscapes terraformed NATURALLY by entropy of earthquakes, chaos of clashing climates, tectonic plates, volcanoes, hot springs, geysers.
and transformed again by forces of capitalism, computation, electricity
and transformed again by forces of capitalism, computation, electricity
8/ Also:
2010: Iceland tourism was around 200,000
2018: 2,500,000 + growing (!)
Why?
-Post financial crisis things got very cheap
-Volcanic eruption that disrupted Europe brought a LOT of attention
-Oh and...(not joke) Instagram + Justin Bieber fueled viral tourist interest.
2010: Iceland tourism was around 200,000
2018: 2,500,000 + growing (!)
Why?
-Post financial crisis things got very cheap
-Volcanic eruption that disrupted Europe brought a LOT of attention
-Oh and...(not joke) Instagram + Justin Bieber fueled viral tourist interest.
9/ Iceland has wind power. I was able to carefully account for and document 50% of all of Iceland’s wind assets.
There are 4.
There are 4.
10/ Iceland is also investing heavily in marshmallow farming—
—for export obviously as domestic population could not consume that many.
—for export obviously as domestic population could not consume that many.
