The rise of artificial intelligence and the growing demand for online services have skyrocketed the need for data centers globally. These digital giants, which process the world's information, are expanding at a dizzying pace, creating new needs for energy and, above all, water. But at what cost? Are we building a future where water becomes a scarce commodity, a victim of technology's insatiable appetite?
Server cooling is a crucial process, and energy efficiency is measured not only in electricity but also in water consumption. While traditional air conditioning has been the predominant method, liquid cooling, using water, is gaining ground. The proximity of water to electronic components allows for more efficient cooling, reducing energy consumption. This shift in cooling inevitably leads us to a new point of conflict.
The answer to this seemingly simple problem might be surprising: the lack of water in many places. Tests have been conducted with seawater cooling, but it has been proven that high salinity accelerates equipment corrosion. This has led to the installation of these data centers in arid and desert regions, precisely the areas with the least availability of water resources. The paradox is glaring: data centers that require large amounts of water are installed in places where water is a precious and scarce commodity.
Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, the three companies that dominate the data center industry, present themselves as champions of sustainable development. They all promise to achieve water neutrality by 2030. But are these more than just nice words, or just "greenwashing"? The silence regarding their concrete plans and the lack of details about their strategy to achieve this goal leads me to doubt the sincerity of their intentions. How do these companies intend to consume such massive amounts of water without causing a crisis in already vulnerable regions?
The data we have access to clearly tells us that water demand is skyrocketing. New data centers, according to plans, will represent a considerable 78% increase in combined demand. For example, areas such as northern Spain (Aragon) face the prospect of seeing the construction of new data centers that will require more electricity than the entire region consumes. This same scenario is repeated in other desert and arid areas of the planet.
The website https://www.source-material.org/ sheds more light on this issue, and exposes how large corporations are positioning themselves to control water resources, precisely in the driest places in the world. The attached photo shows the strategic location of these data centers,
and the following photo shows the disturbing projected growth of the centers to be created.
This is no small issue. Water, like air, is an essential resource for life, and the survival of local communities must be a priority. The ethical implications are obvious. While companies focus on maximizing their profits, who cares about the impact on the environment and the communities that depend on water?
Ultimately, it's a question of priorities. Do we prioritize the exponential growth of technology, even if it means depleting resources vital to human life, or do we value the survival and well-being of people? The answer, I believe, is clear. Human life is infinitely more important than data.
As long as concrete plans aren't presented, with a detailed strategy, a completion date, and a clear justification, and even clearer oversight, for achieving water-saving policies, I don't believe it. It's simply "greenwashing" to create a good image and further their own interests.
Meanwhile, the thirst for the future is ever closer. And in the race for digitalization, we cannot forget the most basic need of all: water. We need responsible solutions, and we must demand them.
Water is not a commodity. It is the basis of life.
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