Europe told to cool its datacenter boom before water and power run short

Europe needs a policy framework that links water efficiency and energy efficiency to sustain growth in datacenter capacity for AI and cloud computing. Datacenters are treated as strategic infrastructure whose development affects energy security, water resilience, industrial policy, urban planning, and technological sovereignty. EU server farm IT load is about 10 GW today and is projected to reach 35 GW by 2030, with electricity consumption rising from about 3% to 7–9% by the end of the decade. Cooling systems connect energy use and water demand, with cooling infrastructure accounting for about 38% of electricity consumption in an average facility. Large hyperscale sites can require 11,356 to 18,927 cubic meters of water per day, potentially serving up to 155,000 households. Rapid growth increases pressure on energy systems, water resources, and local infrastructure, and poor siting or inefficiency can trigger public opposition.

"Europe needs a policy framework that integrates water and energy efficiency if it wants to keep growing datacenter capacity to support its AI and cloud computing ambitions. This is the argument in a report, "Scale and Secure: Powering Europe's Digital Sovereignty," which asserts that progress will depend not so much on access to the right silicon as on water and energy constraints."

"According to the report, the EU-wide server farm IT load is about 10 GW today, and is expected to rise to 35 GW by 2030 - just four years away. These facilities account for about 3 percent of all electricity consumption now, but this is projected to hit 7-9 percent by the end of the decade."

"Water and energy are intertwined in cooling systems. Grundfos claims that cooling infrastructure accounts for a substantial share of a datacenter's resource use, representing about 38 percent of total electricity consumption in an average facility, while water demand in large hyperscale facilities can reach 11,356 to 18,927 cubic meters per day - enough for up to 155,000 EU households."

"Rapid growth in bit barns is placing increased pressure on energy systems, water resources and local infrastructure, the report notes. Without careful coordination, inefficient or poorly sited facilities risk exacerbating these problems and triggering public opposition."

Read at theregister