Wind turbine powers Illinois data center

Data centers suck a lot of juice, but in the case of one facility, the operator found a way to meet its power needs through wind. Starting in October, a small Illinois ISP began using a 40-meter (131 feet) wind turbine to power its servers and other electrical equipment.

During windy conditions, the turbine provides 500 kilowatts of power, more than twice what the company needs. The Illinois data center is the first of its kind to rely completely on wind energy, though it does switch over to utility power on windless days. At a cost of $1.25 million, it will take 10 to 14 years for the company to recoup its costs.

In areas where the price of power is very high, alternative energy has become a popular way to save money. Though the up-front costs are very high, it’s a viable solution in the long-run.