Microsoft Unveils Zero-Water Data Centers to Reduce AI Climate Impact

Microsoft’s existing data centers will continue to use a mix of older technologies.

By Dina Bass, Bloomberg | Updated: 10 December 2024 14:18 IST

Photo Credit: Reuters

Many of latest facilities are going up in hot, dry areas like Arizona and Texas

Highlights

Data centers will still require fresh water for worker facilities
Microsoft’s existing data centers will still use a mix of older tech
New projects in Phoenix, Wisconsin to use zero-water designs

Microsoft, trying to mitigate the climate impact of its data center building boom, is starting to roll out a new design that uses zero water to cool the facilities' chips and servers.

Launched in August, the new design will eliminate the more than 125 million liters of water each data center typically uses per year, the company said in a statement. The new system use a “closed loop” to recycle water; liquid is added during construction and continually circulated — obviating the need for fresh supplies.

Data centers will still require fresh water for worker facilities like bathrooms and kitchens.

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Microsoft spent more than $50 billion (roughly Rs. 4,24,322 crore) on capital expenditures in the fiscal year ended June 30, the vast majority related to data center construction fueled by demand for artificial intelligence services. It plans to top that figure in the current year, requiring rapidly rising amounts of energy to run the networks and water to cool equipment.

Many of latest facilities are going up in hot, dry areas like Arizona and Texas, making it even more critical to find ways to conserve water.

Microsoft's existing data centers will continue to use a mix of older technologies, but new projects in Phoenix and Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, will begin using the zero-water designs in 2026.