The escalating droughts across South America are prompting tech giants like Google and Amazon to rethink their data center strategies in the region. As these data centers proliferate globally to manage the massive influx of data from billions of connected devices, their environmental impact, particularly water usage, is coming under intense scrutiny.
Traditionally, cooling systems account for about 40% of a data center’s infrastructure. Eduardo Vera, coordinator of the Center for Mathematical Modeling at the University of Chile, explains, \"There are billions of transistors in a circuit in high-frequency processors. That generates a lot of heat.\" This heat necessitates substantial cooling, leading to significant water consumption.
Google's ambitious plans to establish two new data centers in Chile and Uruguay have highlighted the critical issue of water usage. The initial proposal for the $200 million Cerrillos center in Santiago projected an annual consumption of seven billion liters of water—equivalent to what 80,000 local residents use each year.
However, Chile's prolonged drought has led to local opposition, culminating in an environmental court order in January for Google to reduce its water usage. In response, Google unveiled a new cooling model for Cerrillos that relies on air cooling technology, drastically minimizing water consumption. Tania Rodriguez from the Community Socio-Environmental Movement for Water and Territory praised the change, stating, \"They fought us … but finally they changed the cooling system and we set a precedent.\"
Similarly, in Uruguay, a record drought in 2023 forced Google to revise its plans for an $850 million data center near Montevideo. Initially estimated to use 2.7 billion liters of water annually, the company opted for more sustainable air cooling solutions to protect the country’s drinking water supply.
Chile aims to attract substantial investments in its data center industry, leveraging its stability and robust internet connectivity. President Gabriel Boric announced plans in June to increase the number of data centers from 22 to 50. Science and Technology Minister Aisen Etcheverry assured that new centers would have “practically zero” water consumption.
Amazon Web Services is also taking steps towards sustainability, with plans to make all its data centers water-positive by 2030, meaning they will conserve or return more water than they use. However, existing centers like Quilicura will continue their traditional cooling methods, drawing water from the ground.
Local environmental activists, like Rodrigo Vallejos, emphasize the challenges of retrofitting existing data centers: \"Because data centers operate 24/7, it's very difficult for them to change their cooling system once they are already built.\"
As climate consciousness grows, the tech industry’s efforts to minimize environmental impact are becoming increasingly crucial. These initiatives not only address immediate water scarcity issues but also set a precedent for sustainable practices in the rapidly expanding data center sector.
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Tech giants rethink data centers in drought-stricken Latin America
cgtn.com
