Aerial Photos of Recent Work at Apple's North Carolina Data Center

MacRumors · Aug 2, 2012, 12:28 PM

Several weeks ago, we noted that Apple was already undertaking a minor expansion of its massive data center in Maiden, North Carolina, having received permits for a roughly 20,000 square-foot "tactical data center" located adjacent to the existing 500,000 square-foot facility.

Wired has now obtained aerial photos of the site taken earlier this week, showing not only the new tactical data center but also ongoing installation of solar panels at the 100-acre solar farm across the street from the data center and what appears to be the 4.8-megawatt fuel cell facility behind the data center.

Quote:

Nobody knows exactly what an Apple tactical data center is supposed to be, but according to Rackspace Chief Technology Officer John Engates, who has spent his fair share of time in windowless buildings racked with servers, it may be a neutral spot where Apple partners can come and plug their gear into Apple's grid without getting any exposure to the fantastic secrets housed in the larger 500,000-square-foot facility.

Apple's new tactical data center with cooling units feeding building and backup generators along road

Solar panels installed at Apple's 100-acre solar farm across Startown Road from data center

Foundations likely to be for fuel cell facility adjacent to data center

Apple's North Carolina data center is just one of a series of planned major data centers designed to support the company's iCloud services and other offerings. The company already operates a smaller data center in Newark, California near its corporate headquarters in Cupertino and has revealed plans for major new data centers in Oregon and Nevada.

Article Link: Aerial Photos of Recent Work at Apple's North Carolina Data Center

MultiMediaWill · Aug 2, 2012, 12:29 PM

Watch Samsung have one of these in 6 months.

applesith · Aug 2, 2012, 12:30 PM

So many MBs in there!

thekris1234 · Aug 2, 2012, 12:31 PM

That image of the solar panels.

DO YOU LOVE US NOW GREENPEACE.

mixel · Aug 2, 2012, 12:33 PM

Woah. That's a lot of solar panels!

its93rc · Aug 2, 2012, 12:35 PM

I thought my info was literally in a cloud. ;( Dreams ruined

Ca$hflow · Aug 2, 2012, 12:36 PM

We live in exciting times. I'm happy in seeing more and more of renewable resources popping up in industry.

Boatboy24 · Aug 2, 2012, 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekris1234

That image of the solar panels.

DO YOU LOVE US NOW GREENPEACE.

No, they're pissed about all the trees that were taken down to build the solar farm...

azentropy · 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thekris1234

That image of the solar panels.

DO YOU LOVE US NOW GREENPEACE.

Nope. They will now complain about the number of trees Apple removed in order to put in the solar panels.

ArcaneDevice · Aug 2, 2012, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MultiMediaWill

Watch Samsung have one of these in 6 months.

If its in NC too then I'm all for it. You can add HTC, LG, Sony or whoever else wants to build high-tech facilities that try to use alternative power in these parts.

Mac21ND · Aug 2, 2012, 12:41 PM

This is front page news?

newyorksole · Aug 2, 2012, 12:41 PM

How does the consumer benefit from these massive data centers? Better iCloud/iMessage efficiency?

Neuro · Aug 2, 2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MultiMediaWill

Watch Samsung have one of these in 6 months.

Indeed, it'll probably be more powerful and look nicer too.

soupcxan · Aug 2, 2012, 12:45 PM

Solar panels,

made in China,

by forced labor / child labor,

using toxic chemicals,

placed on a clearcut forest.

How exactly is this "green"?

Liquorpuki · Aug 2, 2012, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupcxan

Solar panels,

made in China,

by forced labor / child labor,

using toxic chemicals,

placed on a clearcut forest.

How exactly is this "green"?

what's the alternative?

Chlloret · Aug 2, 2012, 12:50 PM

Tactical Data center? What? No, those are Siris new living quarters........

rgarjr · Aug 2, 2012, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by its93rc

I thought my info was literally in a cloud. ;( Dreams ruined

maybe they will built another DC hovering up in the clouds.

writingdevil · Aug 2, 2012, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuro

Indeed, it'll probably be more powerful and look nicer too.

That's an odd comment. How exactly would a solar farm "look nicer"? Have Martha Stewart put lacy little curtains on the cells? Also interested in how you or Samsung would make the effort more "powerful". The design used there is pretty cutting edge, unless you and Samsung have a secret up your or M. Stewart's skirt.

s4bones · Aug 2, 2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neuro

Indeed, it'll probably be more powerful and look nicer too.

lol! FAIL!

you mean, it will be made and look cheaper and will crash daily!

that would be more accurate!!

----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupcxan

Solar panels,

made in China,

by forced labor / child labor,

using toxic chemicals,

placed on a clearcut forest.

How exactly is this "green"?

you sure about that?

there are quite a few companies in the US that make solar panels...

thekris1234 · Aug 2, 2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by azentropy

Nope. They will now complain about the number of trees Apple removed in order to put in the solar panels.

How about, for every tree Apple removed here, another one is planted right outside Greenpeace HQ. I'm sure once they're in a forest they'd soon get pissed with nature.

stridemat · Aug 2, 2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chlloret

Tactical Data center? What? No, those are Siris new living quarters........

O I thought you said SkyNet

nozebleed · Aug 2, 2012, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boatboy24

No, they're pissed about all the trees that were taken down to build the solar farm...

Quote:

Originally Posted by azentropy

Nope. They will now complain about the number of trees Apple removed in order to put in the solar panels.

hivemind

on another note:
i have many friends in the industry and a couple that work here....but im sworn to secrecy

tomfrompv · Aug 2, 2012, 01:09 PM

Does anyone know the details here? Mostly, are taxpayers funding part or all of the solar arrays? Sorry to be so cynical, but given the state of our deficit and recent history of our govt, it would be awful if cash-flush Apple was one more pig at the public trough.

Yep, I'm new to the comments but a long time reader. I was also a fanatic long before it was cool. First Mac was a Lisa, if that tells you anything.

BTW, clouds and solar arrays don't mix.

FESW · Aug 2, 2012, 01:13 PM

Very Jurassic Park.

Mad-B-One · Aug 2, 2012, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupcxan

Solar panels,

made in China,

by forced labor / child labor,

using toxic chemicals,

placed on a clearcut forest.

How exactly is this "green"?

Sources or I call you trolling.

Aug 2, 2012, 12:29 PM	#2
MultiMediaWill macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Illinois	Watch Samsung have one of these in 6 months. __________________ Click here for the iPhone 5 iOS 6.0 Jailbreak! MacBook Pro 15" 2011 , 2.2 GHz Quad i7, 750GB HDD, 8GB RAM, Anti-Glare iPhone 5 32gb iPad 3 16gb
	31

Aug 2, 2012, 12:31 PM	#4
thekris1234 macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2011	That image of the solar panels. DO YOU LOVE US NOW GREENPEACE.
	18

Aug 2, 2012, 12:35 PM	#6
its93rc macrumors member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Texas	I thought my info was literally in a cloud. ;( Dreams ruined __________________ Macbook Air 13.3' and iPhone 4S
	28

Aug 2, 2012, 12:36 PM	#7
Ca$hflow macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: London, ON	We live in exciting times. I'm happy in seeing more and more of renewable resources popping up in industry. __________________ 15" Unibody MacBook Pro, 3.06 GHz, 8GB RAM, 750GB HD; 20" iMac, 2.0 GHz, 2GB RAM, 250GB HD, iPad 2 64GB 3G, 64GB 3rd Gen iPod
	7

Aug 2, 2012, 12:41 PM	#12
newyorksole macrumors 68000 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: LongIsland/NYC	How does the consumer benefit from these massive data centers? Better iCloud/iMessage efficiency? __________________ iPhone 4S. iMac 21.5" Mid-2010.
	0

Aug 2, 2012, 12:30 PM	#3
applesith macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jun 2007	So many MBs in there!
	2

Aug 2, 2012, 12:33 PM	#5
mixel macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Leeds, UK	Woah. That's a lot of solar panels!
	3

Aug 2, 2012, 12:41 PM	#11
Mac21ND macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jun 2007	This is front page news?
	3

Aug 2, 2012, 12:45 PM	#14
soupcxan macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2010	Solar panels, made in China, by forced labor / child labor, using toxic chemicals, placed on a clearcut forest. How exactly is this "green"?
	8

Aug 2, 2012, 12:50 PM	#16
Chlloret macrumors regular Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Barcelona, Spain	Tactical Data center? What? No, those are Siris new living quarters........
	4

Aug 2, 2012, 01:09 PM	#23
tomfrompv macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2012	Does anyone know the details here? Mostly, are taxpayers funding part or all of the solar arrays? Sorry to be so cynical, but given the state of our deficit and recent history of our govt, it would be awful if cash-flush Apple was one more pig at the public trough. Yep, I'm new to the comments but a long time reader. I was also a fanatic long before it was cool. First Mac was a Lisa, if that tells you anything. BTW, clouds and solar arrays don't mix.
	7

Aug 2, 2012, 01:13 PM	#24
FESW macrumors newbie Join Date: Aug 2012	Very Jurassic Park.
	1

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