New research from Maplecroft has confirmed the common suspicion – data centers are tied closely to global warming, with their high energy and natural resource demand compounding effects, while simultaneously being at risk of climate change. More than half of the world’s top 100 data center hubs are already at high or very high risk from rising temperature, with cooling demands set to increase significantly, ultimately leading to higher energy and water usage. … In the short and medium terms, Maplecroft believes shutdowns due to overheating, such as the ones seen across the UK and US in 2022, could become more frequent. The report also explains how increased water demands could spark social and political conflict in certain communities, with more than half (52%) of data center hubs expected to be in high and very high water stress areas by 2030.

Other data center water use news:

• Data Center Dynamics: Climate threats to data centers set to surge – report
• Arizona Daily Star (Tucson): Opinion: Project Blue muddies message on Tucson’s reclaimed water
• Santa Fe New Mexican: Similar to Los Alamos in 1940s, Los Lunas getting transformed by tech