Data center hubs worldwide are increasingly threatened by rising temperatures as climate change continues to accelerate.
Hotter weather puts pressure on water resources and electricity generation that help keep data centers from overheating. Competition over water can lead to conflict with local communities, while power outages can disrupt businesses. Both outcomes can strain data center operations, according to new research from risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.
“Data center operators are innovating solutions to increase resilience and offset sustainability concerns, but rising temperatures increase these challenges,” Capucine May, senior analyst at Verisk Maplecroft, said in the report.
The research comes as data centers boom to meet growing demands for artificial intelligence and cloud computing. Many are built to optimize water use and energy to withstand potential disruptions, the report said. But there could be challenges ahead as the pace of climate change quickens and as energy demand grows.
