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

Thursday August 2, 2012 10:28 am PDT by Eric Slivka
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.
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.

[ 89 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

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MultiMediaWill
92 months ago
Watch Samsung have one of these in 6 months.
Rating: 31 Votes
Avatar
its93rc
92 months ago
I thought my info was literally in a cloud. ;( Dreams ruined
Rating: 28 Votes
Avatar
Boatboy24
92 months ago

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...:rolleyes:
Rating: 26 Votes
Avatar
thekris1234
92 months ago
That image of the solar panels.

DO YOU LOVE US NOW GREENPEACE.
Rating: 18 Votes
Avatar
Liquorpuki
92 months ago

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?
Rating: 12 Votes
Avatar
Mad-B-One
92 months ago

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.
Rating: 10 Votes
Avatar
Neuro
92 months ago

Watch Samsung have one of these in 6 months.


Indeed, it'll probably be more powerful and look nicer too.
Rating: 9 Votes
Avatar
azentropy
92 months ago

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.
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
soupcxan
92 months ago
Solar panels,

made in China,

by forced labor / child labor,

using toxic chemicals,

placed on a clearcut forest.

How exactly is this "green"?
Rating: 8 Votes
Avatar
tomfrompv
92 months ago
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.
Rating: 7 Votes

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