UK data centres expand as AI boom raises concerns over water and power use

The UK government has announced plans to triple the number of data centres to meet growing demand for artificial intelligence. But as large parts of the country face unprecedented heat and drought, questions are being raised about how much water and electricity these facilities consume. Data centres generate significant heat and require cooling, with some facilities relying on large amounts of water. In England, the industry is more regulated, with many facilities using closed-loop systems that consume less water while still requiring substantial electricity. As AI drives rapid expansion, the search is on for more sustainable solutions. At a data centre in London’s Docklands, Digital Realty is using river water to cool its systems before returning it, as the industry looks for ways to reduce its environmental impact. But data centres are expanding faster than renewable resources can be delivered, while rising temperatures and drought add to the challenge. Al Jazeera's Jonah Hull reports from London. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X : https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #UKDataCentres #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #UKDrought #WaterCrisis #DataCentres #AIExpansion #ClimateChange #UKHeatwave #UnitedKingdom #AlJazeeraEnglish