Rystad Energy Projects Data Center Water Use to Nearly Triple by 2030
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Rystad Energy projects global data center water consumption could rise to 644 billion liters per year by 2030 without water-saving measures, up from 222 billion liters in 2025. Active mitigation could reduce demand to 388 billion liters, depending on cooling technology and climate. The forecast highlights the water footprint of AI-driven data center expansion.
Key Facts
- Rystad Energy estimates global data center water consumption could reach 644 billion liters per year by 2030 without water-saving measures.
- Data centers consumed 222 billion liters of water directly for cooling in 2025.
- Aggressive water-saving measures could reduce 2030 consumption to 388 billion liters.
- Dry cooling can save about 2.15 liters of water per kWh of IT load but requires an additional 0.30–0.74 kWh of electricity.
- In the US, indirect water consumption by data centers can be more than twice direct consumption.
Water Consumption Projections
Rystad Energy's risked central case projects direct cooling-water consumption to nearly triple from 222 billion liters in 2025 to just under 644 billion liters by 2030. A moderate case with more water-efficient pathways could bring consumption to 543 billion liters, while an aggressive water-saving scenario could reduce it to 388 billion liters. These figures capture only direct cooling-water consumption and exclude the water footprint embedded in electricity supply.
Cooling Technology Impact
Water use varies significantly depending on cooling technology and location, with AI servers generating substantially more heat. Rack-level liquid cooling can reduce the heat burden on facility-level systems and enable greater use of dry cooling, potentially limiting water use. Dry cooling can save around 2.15 liters of water per kWh of IT load but requires an additional 0.30–0.74 kWh of electricity. The effectiveness of dry cooling is highly dependent on climate, with greater savings in colder locations.
Indirect Water Footprint
Water-use effectiveness (WUE) accounts for water consumed to generate the electricity used by a data center. The indirect water footprint can be material relative to direct consumption, varying with the water intensity of the electricity supply. In the US, indirect water consumption by data centers can be more than twice direct consumption.
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Rystad Energy Projects Data Center Water Use to Nearly Triple by 2030
