In response to a prolonged drought affecting much of South America, tech giants Google and Amazon are revising their data center projects that require significant water resources.
Data centers, essential for storing vast amounts of data, consume substantial energy and water for cooling. Google’s proposed $200 million facility in Cerrillos, Chile, was initially set to use approximately seven billion liters of water annually, equating to the yearly consumption of 80,000 local residents.
Due to ongoing drought conditions, an environmental court mandated Google to amend its plans. The company has since introduced a new cooling system that relies on air technology, drastically reducing water consumption.
Similarly, in Uruguay, Google’s planned $850 million data center faced scrutiny over its projected water usage. Following a severe drought in 2023, the company opted for a less water-intensive cooling solution.
Google stated its commitment to a climate-conscious strategy aimed at minimizing environmental impact and utilizing natural resources more responsibly. Chile’s government aims to attract substantial investments in data centers, with plans to increase the number from 22 to 50.