I have my own server room and I was recently asked by another member on here if I could host some of his machines, but the problem as you have found is that the UK is not a good location to do this.
Although I have decent rates due to volume of 10p kwh, by the time you add the VAT and climate change levy it's up to around 13p kwh which is the equivalent to $0.20 in the USA
Once you have added on some for cooling, maintenance and profit the rates are just too high to be worth doing.
Another problem is the stinking 20% import duty + fees we have to pay when something is imported.
Because of this I am slowly selling off my old equipment and having my new stuff shipped to the USA to be hosted there. Because they have such low electric rates they can offer the full service for what I pay on just electic plus no taxes.
I wish you well if you move forward, but I don't see much of a demand here.
Although I have decent rates due to volume of 10p kwh, by the time you add the VAT and climate change levy it's up to around 13p kwh which is the equivalent to $0.20 in the USA
Once you have added on some for cooling, maintenance and profit the rates are just too high to be worth doing.
Another problem is the stinking 20% import duty + fees we have to pay when something is imported.
Because of this I am slowly selling off my old equipment and having my new stuff shipped to the USA to be hosted there. Because they have such low electric rates they can offer the full service for what I pay on just electic plus no taxes.
I wish you well if you move forward, but I don't see much of a demand here.
Tigggger you are absolutely right. If profit is your motive. US or Asia is by far the best place to host your kit. Even hosted mining is getting more reasonable.
In the UK, not only do you have the VAT, CO2 Levy, insurance, rates, high data costs, high energy costs, cooling, getting enough power to a DC or Rack (most are built to single phase 7kW per 42U) where as I can potentially handle upto 50kW per rack with custom cooling solutions. It is not the best place for profit.
All of that said, if you like having your kit in a location you can visit, soon to be 100% renewable (fingers crossed) and globally distributed to better support the currencies including GPU/CPU based, my hope is this will be of interest but at this stage, I am completely open to all comment, suggestion and criticism. My main focus is to support the UK community the best I can.
Thanks again for you comments.
Chris
