Resource-hungry data centers are increasingly draining water supplies
In the rapidly growing world of technology, data centers are consuming a significant amount of resources, particularly water for cooling purposes. However, several strategies are being employed to address this issue, with tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) leading the charge.
One innovative approach is the use of water previously used by factories for cooling data centers. This strategy is being implemented by Google in its data center in Hamina, Finland, where seawater is used for cooling and returned to the sea at a temperature close to its original temperature. Similarly, Google's data centers in St. Ghislain (Belgium), Changhua County (Taiwan), and Eemshaven (Netherlands) use industrial water for cooling servers.
Google is not alone in its efforts to reduce water consumption. The company uses reclaimed or non-potable water for over 25% of its data centers and employs AI and machine learning to optimize water metering and management. Microsoft, on the other hand, has pioneered waterless cooling systems, notably implementing closed-loop, chip-level cooling that eliminates evaporative water use, saving more than 125 million liters per site annually. Since August 2024, all new Microsoft data center projects integrate zero-water cooling designs.
Amazon Web Services (AWS) is another player making strides in water conservation. The company reports being 53% of the way toward its goal of water positivity by 2030, with 90% of its data centers in the Americas using no water for cooling 90% of the year. AWS also invests in water replenishment projects and plans to expand water recycling across more than 120 US locations.
Other strategies for reducing water consumption include collecting and analyzing water usage data, reusing water through closed-loop and recycling systems, experimenting with innovative cooling technologies, replacing inefficient legacy infrastructure, and choosing site locations with favorable climates to reduce cooling needs. Utilizing alternative water sources such as treated municipal wastewater, rainwater harvesting, and surface water also helps reduce reliance on potable water.
Collaborations with water management companies like Veolia help identify local sustainable water sources, treat alternative water supplies, and optimize cooling tower efficiency, resulting in significant water savings and cost reductions. Innovative cooling technologies like immersion cooling and targeted cooling for server rows are also being explored to further reduce water demand.
The European Commission is also focusing on energy-efficient cloud computing technologies and policies for an eco-friendly cloud market. In fact, Microsoft's underwater data centers have been found to be reliable, practical, and use energy sustainably.
With increasing water shortages around the world, new innovative alternatives for cooling data centers are expected to appear in the coming years. Data centers located near a sea or river can draw water for cooling directly from these sources. The combined approaches—advanced cooling technologies, alternative water sourcing, operational optimization through AI, and sustainable infrastructure development—are leading the industry toward significantly reduced water consumption despite the growth in data center size and number.
- In the pursuit of environmental sustainability, environmental science and innovative strategies are being utilized to reduce water consumption in data centers, with tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) spearheading this effort.
- Google is employing the use of industrial water and water previously used by factories for cooling data centers, demonstrating a commitment to resource conservation in its data center operations.
- Microsoft, on the other hand, has pioneered waterless cooling systems, notably implementing closed-loop, chip-level cooling to eliminate evaporative water use, significantly reducing water consumption at their data centers.
- Finance and investment in data-and-cloud-computing technologies are crucial for implementing innovations in cooling technologies and water management strategies, as water scarcity becomes an increasingly pressing concern in the industry.
