A new report from Grundfos warns that the boom in data centers in Europe could strain water supplies and electricity grids unless regulators incorporate water and energy efficiency into the design, reporting and incentives for new facilities.
According to the report, the IT load across the EU is around 10 GW today and is expected to grow to 35 GW by 2030 – just four years later. These installations currently account for around 3% of total electricity consumption, but this is forecast to reach 7-9% by the end of the decade.
Water and energy are intertwined in cooling systems. Grundfos claims that cooling infrastructure represents a significant share of a data center’s resource use, accounting for around 38% of the total electricity consumption in an average facility, while water demand in large, super-scale facilities can reach 11.356 to 18.927 cubic meters per day – enough for up to 155.000 EU households.
The rapid development of bit barns It is putting increased pressure on energy systems, water resources and local infrastructure, the report says.
Without careful coordination, inefficient or poorly located facilities risk exacerbating these problems and provoking public backlash.
Grundfos advises regulators to incorporate water and cooling efficiency into design requirements in planning approvals for new installations and any large-scale expansions, to encourage the adoption of efficient cooling technologies.
It also supports investment incentives from governments, such as tax credits, green financing mechanisms and grant programs for technologies that have been proven to reduce energy and water consumption. Integration between server rooms and district heating networks is another aspect worth considering, the report adds.
Although the press releases will range from very select to rare, I said I'd pass...because sometimes the editors hide.
