How much heat does an AI data centre produce, and where are they located?
Summary
Large AI data centres built by companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft use a lot of electricity and water to run powerful computers. A study found these centres raise the temperature of the nearby land by about 2°C, sometimes up to 9°C, creating a "data heat island" effect similar to how cities become warmer than rural areas.Key Facts
- AI data centres run 24/7 with powerful chips that use much more energy than normal web servers.
- In 2024, data centres used about 415 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity, around 1.5% of the world's supply.
- Energy use by data centres is growing about 15% annually and could reach 945 TWh by 2030.
- Hyperscale data centres have at least 5,000 servers, use 100-300 megawatts continuously, enough to power hundreds of thousands of homes.
- These centres produce a lot of heat, requiring advanced cooling systems that consume billions of litres of water yearly.
- Over 11,600 data centres exist worldwide as of June 2026, with the US having the most at over 4,300.
- Europe, China, India, and Southeast Asia also have many data centres, with rapid growth in Southeast Asia.
- The temperature near AI data centres rises about 2°C on average after opening, affecting areas up to 10 km away.
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