Data Center Power Use to Double by 2030, Water Needs Raise Concerns

The International Energy Agency warns that electricity consumption by data centres in the United States will double by 2030 as artificial‑intelligence workloads and digitalisation expand. Current reliance on fossil‑fuel generation and limited grid capacity create a risk of higher emissions unless renewable sources and AI‑driven grid optimisation are deployed.

Data centres also place heavy demands on water for cooling. A 15 MW median‑size centre can use as much water as three hospitals, and Meta’s facility in Talavera de la Reina, Spain, is projected to consume 500,000 m³ annually – roughly 8 % of the city’s water use. Authorities in Spain and the EU are tightening reporting rules on energy and water efficiency, and water scarcity in regions such as Asturias is prompting scrutiny of new installations.

Both reports highlight that the rapid growth of digital infrastructure will strain energy and water resources unless coordinated investments in clean power, efficient cooling and regulatory oversight are pursued.