Inside Armenia's Firebird AI Data Center: Cooling Systems and Energy Demand

The newly opened Firebird AI facility, which frequently processes queries for the popular AI platform Perplexity, has sparked public concern in Armenia regarding its environmental impact. Specifically, discussions have centered on potential water usage in the cooling systems and the impending strain on the national energy grid.

Superprocessors and Cooling Solutions

The facility currently operates 6144 NVIDIA Blackwell graphics processing units (GPUs), which have a lifespan of 6 to 8 years. Because these processors generate massive amounts of heat, Infrastructure Director Hakob Hakobyan explains that the center utilizes two closed cooling systems. At maximum capacity, these systems circulate approximately 250 tons of liquid. Additionally, the setup leverages low outside air temperatures using advanced heat exchangers.

"You can see all the pipes circulating the solution to and from the data center; after the heat exchange takes place, it returns to the chillers," Hakobyan told Factor TV.

Factory co-founder Alexander Yesayan noted that Hrazdan was specifically chosen for its favorable climate. Even during the summer, the air temperature does not exceed 36,5 degrees, meaning no external water is required for the cooling process.

"All the rumors claiming that our factory will consume local water resources are simply fictitious," Yesayan assured the outlet.

Energy Demand and Future Investments

Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan recently observed that the development of such data centers would create additional demand for electricity in the country. According to Yesayan's data, Armenia currently has an annual electricity surplus of over 100 megawatts. The first phase of the factory requires 18 megawatts, but the planned second phase will demand 280 megawatts. This massive expansion will consume the entire national surplus and necessitate new energy sources.

To address this impending energy challenge, the company is considering several strategies:

• Accumulating solar energy using battery storage (BESS systems) for evening consumption.
• Ensuring maximum operation of existing thermal power plants, even if it means purchasing electricity at higher rates.

The center occupies an area of over 200 thousand square meters. Approximately 500 million dollars have already been invested in the first phase, and the budget for the second phase is expected to exceed the promised 4 billion dollars. Under an agreement signed with the Armenian government, the computing power of 180 processors will be made available to state agencies, local universities, and tech startups.

Avoiding Environmental Risks

Globally, data centers frequently face public protests due to their massive resource consumption. Addressing these risks, Yesayan emphasized that the team thoroughly studied international practices to mitigate local environmental impacts.

"The primary issue is usually related to water usage, and the secondary issue is noise. We have completely eliminated both of these factors," the co-founder concluded in his interview with Factor TV.