- The UK’s plans include tripling data center capacity (and likely water consumption) by 2030
- Daily average usage does not reflect peak usage during periods of stress
- Water UK sets out three considerations to prepare for increased demand
Despite the nation looking to triple its data center capacity by 2030, a key trade body has warned that UK government policy has failed to take account of rising water demand.
Currently, England’s water resource forecasts exclude e.g. data centers and gigafactories.
“Water companies therefore have a limit to how much future water they can supply,” Water UK wrote, warning that air cooling doesn’t quite cut it due to the high cost and inefficiency compared to water cooling.
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UK data center plans forget to mention water
With current estimates suggesting that the UK’s data centers consume around 6.6 million liters a day, the equivalent of 20,000 homes, tripling the capacity will ultimately mean the UK needs to find the amount of water equivalent to an additional 40,000 homes.
But ‘average’ doesn’t quite capture the reality of water use, because peak loads can rise to around 14 million liters per day in the hottest weather. Under this guidance and with current 2030 ambitions, the UK should be prepared to lose 42 million liters per day, underscoring the need for larger storage facilities.
The report also blames the government for advising water companies to plan as if businesses would need less water in the future – forgetting that data center usage is changing this model.
Water UK sets out three options for the government to consider, starting with temporarily removing the limit on how much water utilities can take from the environment, with the important caveat that they spend that time exploring and funding new sources of water extraction.
Two additional options include allowing developers to finance new water utilities and imposing stricter water efficiency standards on data center projects.
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