Spain faces high water stress risk for data centers

A study published in Environmental Science & Technology reveals that 64% of data centers in Spain are located in areas experiencing water stress, the highest percentage in Europe. Globally, 25% of data centers are currently situated in regions where water demand exceeds availability for at least one month per year.

Researchers, led by Lorenzo Rosa of the Carnegie Institution for Science and Stanford University, warn that the situation is expected to worsen. Future climate projections suggest that 33% of the world's data centers will face water stress. In Spain, a highly attractive market for data center expansion driven by artificial intelligence, that figure is projected to reach 80%.

The research, which analyzed 9,347 data centers worldwide, highlights the growing challenge posed by the next generation of AI-driven facilities. While water deficits rarely halt operations, they intensify pressure on other water-dependent sectors and local municipalities.