Heat waves and drought imperil data center operations, report says

More than half of data centers worldwide are in areas facing extreme heat or drought, making them vulnerable to periodic shutdowns from power outages or water restrictions, according to a new report.

Data centers require enormous amounts of electricity and water for operations and cooling. But the analysis — released early Thursday by First Street climate modelers — found that 54 percent of all data centers are located in areas facing “chronic stress conditions such as extreme heat or water scarcity.”

“In other words,” the analysis said, “scale is being built where operating conditions are hardest, not where they’re easiest.”

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