Microsoft is actively addressing the climate impact of its data infrastructure and has recently launched a new zero-water cooling design. According to the company's statement, this new design will use zero water to cool the chips and servers in data centers.
In the past, a single data center required more than 125 million liters of water annually. The new system employs a "closed-loop" approach that allows water to be added during construction and continuously recycled, eliminating the need for fresh water sources.
Image source note: Image generated by AI, image licensed from Midjourney
However, data centers still require fresh water to meet basic needs for employees, such as water for restrooms and kitchens. This initiative is part of Microsoft's response to the massive demands of its data center construction. According to statistics, Microsoft had capital expenditures exceeding $50 billion in the fiscal year ending June 30, with the majority allocated to data center construction to meet the surge in demand for AI services.
To meet the rapidly rising energy and water needs, Microsoft plans to exceed its previous $50 billion expenditure in the current fiscal year. Many newly built data centers are located in arid and hot regions, such as Arizona and Texas, making it especially important to find water-saving solutions.
While Microsoft's existing data centers will continue to use older technologies, new projects in Phoenix and Wisconsin are set to implement this zero-water design starting in 2026. The launch of this design will help reduce the water consumption of data centers and promote a more sustainable development model.
Key points:
💧 Microsoft launches zero-water data center design, expected to save over 125 million liters of water annually.
🌍 The new design uses a "closed-loop" system to recycle water and reduce the demand for fresh water.
🏗️ New projects are planned to start in 2026, aiding water conservation in arid regions.
