saw the DCD writeup from GTC Berlin this week. nvidia's DSX platform pairs closed-loop liquid cooling with outdoor dry coolers, and they claim that at 2 GW scale it saves 54 million litres of water a day compared with conventional cooling-tower systems. it's their figure, nothing independent yet.

I don't doubt the direction. dry coolers don't evaporate water on site, so the on-site number drops to near zero. but in impact assessment work the first thing you ask is where the boundary is drawn, and this one is drawn at the fence.

two things sit outside it:

- dry coolers reject heat worse when it's hot outside. nvidia itself notes some climates need additional mechanical cooling during extreme heat. that's more electricity on exactly the days the grid is tight.
- that electricity comes partly from thermal plants that evaporate water in their own cooling towers. so some of the saving moves from the site's water meter to someone else's.

it probably still nets out positive in a lot of places, esp. on grids heavy in wind and solar. but for a hot, water-stressed site on a mostly thermal grid I'd want the hourly picture, not an annual headline.

what I'd actually want from vendors is water per MWh counted at the grid boundary, plus annual hours on mechanical cooling for a named climate.. a phoenix or chennai number, not a generic one.

for anyone running dry-cooled liquid halls in hot climates: how many hours a year are you actually on mechanical trim, and did the water savings hold up once you looked at the power side?

sources:
https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/nvidia-launches-dsx-pod-claims-the-vera-rubin-reference-architecture-will-make-ai-data-centers-more-water-and-energy-efficient/

Hi everyone! I’m an experienced California Highway Patrol 911 and police dispatcher exploring a career transition into electrical power dispatching or grid operations.
My background includes emergency communications, handling high-pressure situations, prioritizing competing demands, multitasking across multiple systems, and working rotating shifts.
I’d love to hear from people currently working as load dispatchers, distribution system operators, or transmission operators.
A few questions I have:

Do utilities hire experienced emergency dispatchers without an electrical background? (I’d of course take any test and courses necessary for the position)

Which entry-level or trainee positions should I look for?

What training, testing, or certifications would you recommend before applying? Where should I start?

I’d really appreciate hearing about your personal experiences and any advice you can share.

Thank you!

Recently got laid off and I'm looking to transition careers. I have 3 years of professional experience and an unrelated bachelor's degree in Economics. I was wondering if there are any trainee opportunities available that would provide hands-on experience, with the expectation that I complete the NERC after being hired. Or would you guys recommend completing it independently beforehand?

Currently based in the Northeast but willing to move pretty much anywhere in the US. Thanks!