• Education
    • Higher Education
    • Scholarships & Grants
    • Online Learning
    • School Reforms
    • Research & Innovation
  • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Food & Drink
    • Fashion & Beauty
    • Home & Living
    • Relationships & Family
  • Technology & Startups
    • Software & Apps
    • Startup Success Stories
    • Startups & Innovations
    • Tech Regulations
    • Venture Capital
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cybersecurity
    • Emerging Technologies
    • Gadgets & Devices
    • Industry Analysis
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
Today Headline
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • World News
    • Us & Canada
    • Europe
    • Asia
    • Africa
    • Middle East
  • Politics
    • Elections
    • Political Parties
    • Government Policies
    • International Relations
    • Legislative News
  • Business & Finance
    • Market Trends
    • Stock Market
    • Entrepreneurship
    • Corporate News
    • Economic Policies
  • Science & Environment
    • Space Exploration
    • Climate Change
    • Wildlife & Conservation
    • Environmental Policies
    • Medical Research
  • Health
    • Public Health
    • Mental Health
    • Medical Breakthroughs
    • Fitness & Nutrition
    • Pandemic Updates
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Tennis
    • Olympics
    • Motorsport
  • Entertainment
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV & Streaming
    • Celebrity News
    • Awards & Festivals
  • Crime & Justice
    • Court Cases
    • Cybercrime
    • Policing
    • Criminal Investigations
    • Legal Reforms
No Result
View All Result
Today Headline
No Result
View All Result
Home Politics

Concern the UK’s AI ambitions could lead to water shortages

February 7, 2025
in Politics
Reading Time: 7 mins read
A A
0
Concern the UK's AI ambitions could lead to water shortages
12
SHARES
25
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


Brian Wheeler

Senior political reporter

Reuters

Keir Starmer is pinning his growth hopes on cutting edge tools powered by AI

Sir Keir Starmer’s plan to make the UK a “world leader” in Artificial Intelligence (AI) could put already stretched supplies of drinking water under strain, industry sources have told the BBC.

The giant data centres needed to power AI can require large quantities of water to prevent them from overheating.

The tech industry says it is developing more efficient cooling systems that use less water.

But the department for science, innovation and technology said in a statement it recognised the plants “face sustainability challenges”.

The government has committed to the construction of multiple data centres around the country in an effort to kick start economic growth.

Ministers insist the notoriously power-hungry server farms will be given priority access to the electricity grid.

Questions have been raised about the impact this might have on the government’s plans for clean energy production by 2030.

But less attention has been given to the impact data centres could have on the supply of fresh, drinkable water to homes and businesses.

Parts of the UK, in the south especially, are already under threat of water shortages because of climate change and population growth.

The government is backing plans for nine new reservoirs to ease the risk of rationing and hosepipe bans during droughts.

But some of these are in areas where new data centres are set to be built.

The first of the government’s “AI growth zones” will be in Culham, Oxfordshire, at the UK Atomic Energy Authority’s campus – seven miles from the site of a planned new reservoir at Abingdon.

The 4.5 sq mile (7 sq km) reservoir will supply customers in the Thames Valley, London and Hampshire. It is not known how much water the massive new data centres now planned nearby could take from it.

The BBC understands Thames Water has been talking to the government about the challenge of water demand in relation to data centres and how it can be mitigated.

In a new report, the Royal Academy of Engineering calls on the government to ensure tech companies accurately report how much energy and water their data centres are using.

It also calls for environmental sustainability requirements for all data centres, including reducing the use of drinking water, moving to zero use for cooling.

Without such action, warns one of the report’s authors, Prof Tom Rodden, “we face a real risk that our development, deployment and use of AI could do irreparable damage to the environment”.

Getty Images

Data centres – like this Google facility in Hertfordshire – are being built across the country

The tech industry tends to be cagey about water consumption. Most UK data centres contacted for this article did not respond to our inquiries.

Data centres use fresh, mains water, rather than surface water, so that the pipes, pumps and heat exchangers used to cool racks of servers do not get clogged up with contaminants.

The amount used can vary considerably depending on a number of factors including the surrounding environment; sites in colder, wetter parts of the world tend to require less.

Dr Venkatesh Uddameri, a Texas-based expert in water resources management, says a typical data centre can use between 11 million and 19 million litres of water per day, roughly the same as a town of 30,000 to 50,000 people.

His widely quoted calculations are based on arid, or semi arid, climates and do not take into account recent efficiency improvements or developments in AI.

Microsoft’s global water use soared by 34% while it was developing its initial AI tools, and a data centre cluster in Iowa used 6% of the district’s water supply in one month during the training of OpenAI’s GPT-4.

Local resistance to data centres is growing around the world, particularly in areas where water is scarce.

In Chile, Google stopped building a data centre following concerns about its water use, and it redesigned the cooling system at another in Uruguay following local protests.

Getty Images

Racks of computer servers can generate a lot of heat

In the UK, Thames Water has warned data centres they could face restrictions on use during heatwaves.

In 2022, the company said it would review data centres’ water use as it prepared to introduce a hosepipe ban during a summer draught.

But Foxglove, a group of campaigning lawyers, found evidence from Thames Water’s strategy documents the following year that the firm still did not appear to know how much water its existing data centre customers were using.

Thames Water declined to comment. It signposted its recent five-year plan, which has been approved by the government.

This states that it has no legal obligation to service businesses, and can choose to restrict or refuse water to commercial customers; but this was written before the government designated data centres as Critical National Infrastructure, meaning they will face fewer planning restrictions.

Thames Water filed an objection to a planning application for a new data centre in a cluster in Slough, near Reading, in 2021.

But other proposals in the area have since succeeded: for example in August 2024 the firm Yondr announced that it would be building its third data centre campus there.

Foxglove CEO Martha Dark said: “The government must urgently explain how its plans for new data centres will not threaten our long-term supplies of drinking water.”

Getty Images

The site of a planned new Meta data centre in Spain has raised concerns

A government spokesperson said: “We recognise that data centres face sustainability challenges such as energy demands and water use – that’s why AI Growth Zones are designed to attract investment in areas where existing energy and water infrastructure is already in place.”

In addition, recent changes made by the water regulator Ofwat would “unlock £104bn of spending by water companies” in the next five years.

The data centre industry argues that modern sites are already more efficient. Alternative cooling methods which do not require much water, such as free air cooling and dry cooling, are evolving.

Closed-loop cooling, which involves reusing water, will be deployed in Microsoft’s new data centres in Phoenix and Wisconsin.

Aaron Binckley, vice president of sustainability at Digital Realty, acknowledged criticism around data centres’ water usage but claimed that the sector was making “significant strides”.

His company, which has 300 data centres worldwide, is trialling a new AI tool which analyses operational data and identifies water-saving measures. He says it is predicted to conserve nearly 4m litres of water per year.

Clearly, that is currently an expectation rather than a reality, but Mr Binckley says it proves that “AI can drive sustainability as well as technological progress”.

In 2024 the Environment Agency wrote in a blog that by 2050, England alone would need an extra five billion litres of water every day – it says this is the equivalent of two million wheelie bins-full – just to serve the population.

But the regulator now needs more data in order to factor in new data centres’ future needs.

For the time being, it is urging data centres to forecast and plan their water consumption – and to explore their own sources of water, such as water reuse.

“Meeting the increased water demand is not just for the water industry to solve,” says a source.



Source link

Previous Post

Recent Developments in Indonesia-France Security Ties – The Diplomat

Next Post

EV maker Scout Motors wants to sell directly to buyers but can’t do it in its home state

Related Posts

Defense Secretary Hegseth issues deadline for transgender troops to self-separate from military

Defense Secretary Hegseth issues deadline for transgender troops to self-separate from military

May 9, 2025
2

Trump fires three Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission

May 9, 2025
7
Next Post
EV maker Scout Motors wants to sell directly to buyers but can't do it in its home state

EV maker Scout Motors wants to sell directly to buyers but can't do it in its home state

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

Family calls for change after B.C. nurse dies by suicide after attacks on the job

April 2, 2025
Pioneering 3D printing project shares successes

Product reduces TPH levels to non-hazardous status

November 27, 2024

Hospital Mergers Fail to Deliver Better Care or Lower Costs, Study Finds todayheadline

December 31, 2024

Police ID man who died after Corso Italia fight

December 23, 2024
Harris tells supporters 'never give up' and urges peaceful transfer of power

Harris tells supporters ‘never give up’ and urges peaceful transfer of power

0
Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend's Mother

Des Moines Man Accused Of Shooting Ex-Girlfriend’s Mother

0

Trump ‘looks forward’ to White House meeting with Biden

0
Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

Catholic voters were critical to Donald Trump’s blowout victory: ‘Harris snubbed us’

0
USPS’ new postmaster general is a FedEx board member and former Fortune 500 CEO. But union leaders say he’s the ‘last type of person’ who should be in charge

USPS’ new postmaster general is a FedEx board member and former Fortune 500 CEO. But union leaders say he’s the ‘last type of person’ who should be in charge todayheadline

May 9, 2025

Brazil's Suzano mulls M&A opportunities totaling $3 billion, CEO says todayheadline

May 9, 2025

Here’s What It Really Takes to Lead a Bootstrapped Business todayheadline

May 9, 2025
Was a famous supernova an alien invader from another galaxy?

Was a famous supernova an alien invader from another galaxy? todayheadline

May 9, 2025

Recent News

USPS’ new postmaster general is a FedEx board member and former Fortune 500 CEO. But union leaders say he’s the ‘last type of person’ who should be in charge

USPS’ new postmaster general is a FedEx board member and former Fortune 500 CEO. But union leaders say he’s the ‘last type of person’ who should be in charge todayheadline

May 9, 2025
3

Brazil's Suzano mulls M&A opportunities totaling $3 billion, CEO says todayheadline

May 9, 2025
4

Here’s What It Really Takes to Lead a Bootstrapped Business todayheadline

May 9, 2025
3
Was a famous supernova an alien invader from another galaxy?

Was a famous supernova an alien invader from another galaxy? todayheadline

May 9, 2025
3

TodayHeadline is a dynamic news website dedicated to delivering up-to-date and comprehensive news coverage from around the globe.

Follow Us

Browse by Category

  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Basketball
  • Business & Finance
  • Climate Change
  • Crime & Justice
  • Economic Policies
  • Elections
  • Entertainment
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environmental Policies
  • Europe
  • Football
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Health
  • Medical Research
  • Mental Health
  • Middle East
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Politics
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Science & Environment
  • Software & Apps
  • Space Exploration
  • Sports
  • Stock Market
  • Technology & Startups
  • Tennis
  • Travel
  • Uncategorized
  • Us & Canada
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • World News

Recent News

USPS’ new postmaster general is a FedEx board member and former Fortune 500 CEO. But union leaders say he’s the ‘last type of person’ who should be in charge

USPS’ new postmaster general is a FedEx board member and former Fortune 500 CEO. But union leaders say he’s the ‘last type of person’ who should be in charge todayheadline

May 9, 2025

Brazil's Suzano mulls M&A opportunities totaling $3 billion, CEO says todayheadline

May 9, 2025
  • Education
  • Lifestyle
  • Technology & Startups
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy

© 2024 Todayheadline.co

Welcome Back!

OR

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Business & Finance
  • Corporate News
  • Economic Policies
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Market Trends
  • Crime & Justice
  • Court Cases
  • Criminal Investigations
  • Cybercrime
  • Legal Reforms
  • Policing
  • Education
  • Higher Education
  • Online Learning
  • Entertainment
  • Awards & Festivals
  • Celebrity News
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Health
  • Fitness & Nutrition
  • Medical Breakthroughs
  • Mental Health
  • Pandemic Updates
  • Lifestyle
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Food & Drink
  • Home & Living
  • Politics
  • Elections
  • Government Policies
  • International Relations
  • Legislative News
  • Political Parties
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Middle East
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cybersecurity
  • Emerging Technologies
  • Gadgets & Devices
  • Industry Analysis
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Motorsport
  • Olympics
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policies
  • Medical Research
  • Science & Environment
  • Space Exploration
  • Wildlife & Conservation
  • Sports
  • Tennis
  • Technology & Startups
  • Software & Apps
  • Startup Success Stories
  • Startups & Innovations
  • Tech Regulations
  • Venture Capital
  • Uncategorized
  • World News
  • Us & Canada
  • Public Health
  • Relationships & Family
  • Travel
  • Research & Innovation
  • Scholarships & Grants
  • School Reforms
  • Stock Market
  • TV & Streaming
  • Advertise with Us
  • Privacy & Policy
  • About us
  • Contact

© 2024 Todayheadline.co