Researcher explains data centers' water and power demands
A Virginia Tech researcher is studying the complex water and electricity demands of data centers expanding across Virginia, particularly in Central Virginia. The research indicates that while data centers use a small percentage of the total U.S. water supply, their concentrated electricity demand poses significant challenges for utilities and infrastructure. The researcher emphasizes the need for greater transparency from developers to build trust and improve regulation.
Virginia Tech researcher Eric Sjostedt is leading a team studying the impact of data centers, particularly their water and electricity demands, as they rapidly expand in Virginia, moving beyond the established Northern Virginia hub into Central Virginia. Sjostedt notes that data centers, which support cloud infrastructure, AI, and large language models, use water primarily for cooling, accounting for a small percentage (2.2% in 2020) of total U.S. public water supply, often less than irrigated lawns in some counties.
The primary concern highlighted by Sjostedt's team is the concentrated electricity demand of data centers, which can strain power utilities and infrastructure. He explained the challenge of building new infrastructure quickly due to material backlogs. Sjostedt also discussed the complex tradeoff between water and energy use, noting that reducing one often increases the demand for the other. He concluded by stressing the importance of increased transparency from data center developers to foster trust and enable more effective regulation and placement of these facilities.