The DSR Network AI, Energy and Climate: Data Center Water Use: Alexis Abramson, Julio Friedmann and Angela Yuan
Oct 7, 2025
In this discussion, Alexis Abramson, Dean of the Columbia Climate School; Julio Friedmann, Chief Scientist at Carbon Direct; and Angela Yuan, a Master's candidate at the University of Cambridge, explore the environmental impact of data center water use. They highlight how traditional cooling methods can consume substantial water, especially in stressed regions. The trio advocates for innovative liquid cooling technologies that require less water and emphasize the importance of community engagement. They also discuss the role of renewable energy in reducing water consumption linked to data centers.
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Episode notes
Data Centers Are Small Globally
- Globally, data center water use is tiny compared with other sectors like agriculture.
- Julio Friedmann notes agriculture uses ~12,000x more water than projected data center use by 2030.
Local Impacts Can Be Severe
- Data center impacts are highly local: siting in water-stressed basins concentrates harm.
- Angela Yuan reports over two-thirds of recent U.S. data center development is in high water-stress areas.
Air Cooling Reaches Physical Limits
- Air-based cooling struggles as compute density rises because air removes heat poorly.
- Alexis Abramson explains higher rack heat loads push the industry toward better heat-transfer methods.
