Bluefield 2, Thirsty for Data - But at what cost?
AI is growing fast—but so is its water and energy footprint. Data centers and semiconductor manufacturing consume millions of liters of water daily, often in water-stressed regions. While water-free cooling reduces consumption, it increases energy use, risking decarbonization goals. Excessive water use, on the other hand, can strain local resources. With data demand skyrocketing, data centers' energy and water use will only continue to grow. The need for a clear and proactive water strategy has never been more urgent.
This presentation dives into the intersection of data centers, water consumption, energy, and sustainable water strategies—exploring how we can balance digital growth with responsible water stewardship.
Speakers
As a climate adaptive water manager and urban development planner, I specialize in integrated water resource management, environmental governance, water stewardship, and urban water crisis response. My interdisciplinary background, spanning both professional practice and academic research, has equipped me to address complex water management challenges. I have successfully led and contributed to a range of infrastructural, technical assistance, and research projects across Europe, South America, and Africa. My work is driven by a commitment to managing water resources in ways that are sustainable, efficient, and equitable, ensuring that innovative solutions are not only technically robust but also socially inclusive and environmentally sound. This holistic approach is essential for creating resilient water systems capable of meeting the demands of the present while safeguarding the future.
Connecting our water technology knowledge and experiences to industrial clients is what I do and like to do every day. It contributes to my personal ambition of cocreating a better world and to the ambitions of our clients. It is my ambition to apply the broad expertise and experience of my colleagues and myself to the closing of the industrial water cycle through an integrated water approach or a ‘One Water approach’. Developing water strategies on corporate and site level will contribute to industries businesses. Making this happen in a growing number of projects, in order to reduce the dependency to water for the industry, is what drives me in my work.