Could new technology actually create water at massive Millard County data center?
Creekstone Energy is developing a massive data center in Millard County, Utah, testing a new technology with the University of Utah to capture water from natural gas combustion. This innovation aims to create thousands of acre-feet of water annually in an arid region, but residents remain concerned about the project's overall impact on local water resources. The technology is currently in the research and testing phase.
Creekstone Energy is developing a massive 10-gigawatt data center campus in Millard County, Utah, just outside Delta. The project, which includes its own energy resources like natural gas, solar, and geothermal, is exploring a novel approach to water use, a critical concern in Utah's arid climate.
CEO Ray Conley announced that Creekstone is collaborating with the University of Utah to study technology that could capture water produced during the natural-gas combustion process. This method, likened to water from a car's tailpipe, could condense water from hot exhaust gases, potentially creating an estimated 4,000 acre-feet of water per year from two gigawatts of natural gas-generated electricity. The captured water's ultimate use, including for agriculture or industrial purposes, will depend on its chemical composition and purity.
While the technology holds significant potential, Conley emphasized that it is unproven and undergoing independent assessment by the University of Utah, with results expected to be published regardless of outcome. Delta resident Mack Barnhardt expressed concerns shared by others in the community regarding the data center's impact on local water resources, agriculture, and the aquifer. Despite his support for AI, Barnhardt underscored the importance of environmental protection.
Construction for the data center's gas infrastructure and roads is already underway, with the first computers anticipated to come online by the end of next year. However, the proposed water-capture technology remains in the research and testing stages, aiming to determine its feasibility and safe applications.