The UK is on the cusp of a significant expansion in data centers, driven by the growing demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing. However, this boom comes with substantial environmental costs. The country currently has 477 data centers, with around 100 more planned, spurred on by massive investments from US tech giants, including £6.3 billion poured into construction and funding from foreign firms.
These data centers are crucial for AI development and usage, but they consume enormous amounts of energy and water. A medium-sized data center uses approximately 110 million gallons of water per year for cooling, while large centers can consume up to 5 million gallons per day. This has raised concerns about water scarcity, particularly in areas where data centers are being built. The UK government has published advice on addressing the national water shortfall and drought, which includes taking shorter showers, not watering grass, and deleting old emails.
The impact on local environments could be devastating, with some residents near data centers in the US losing access to clean drinking water due to disrupted local wells. Energy bills have also risen for some consumers due to extreme usage from the centers. The UK's construction timeline for data centers has been described as "aggressive," with concerns about the strain on the national grid and the need for renewable energy sources.
To mitigate these issues, industry leaders are exploring innovative solutions, such as using waste heat from data centers to warm nearby homes, as seen in Microsoft's West London facility. The UK government has designated data centers as critical national infrastructure and has set up an AI Energy Council to coordinate supply with demand. However, experts warn that the boom could strain energy resources and conflict with the UK's net zero carbon emissions target by 2050.¹ ² ³
The government has announced £104 billion of investment in water infrastructure to help meet future needs. Sustainability challenges, including water usage and energy consumption, are being addressed through measures like dry-cooling methods. Nevertheless, the rapid expansion of data centers raises questions about the balance between technological progress and environmental responsibility.
