Amazon is part of a coalition focused on artificial intelligence (AI) data centers using water as efficiently as possible amid growing concerns about the environmental footprint of computationally intensive server farms.
The online retailer is working with the Water Environment Federation, the University of Pennsylvania Water Center, and key utilities from the global organization to find ways to make AI data centers use water in a more sustainable way.
The group said it is working as a centre of outstanding excellence and is trying to combine the knowledge of participants working in academia, fisheries, utility sectors and technology so that AI growth does not sacrifice global water supply.
“Maximizing efficiency, eliminating unnecessary water use and investing in community-oriented solutions can collectively ensure that technological advancements and environmental management need to move forward together,” the group said in a statement.
The work also relates to using AI to address issues of water shortages and anxiety, and the group hopes to encourage other companies and research organizations to be involved in the work as well.
“Water operators around the world face unprecedented challenges from climate change and aging infrastructure, while working to serve communities that rely on reliable and affordable water services,” said Howard Carter, president of the Water Environment Federation.
“The Water-Ai-Ai Nexus Center of Excellence will accelerate innovation by bringing together water and AI experts to develop solutions that benefit both sectors and the communities that serve them.”
To mark the group's launch, the Water Ai Nexus Center of Excellence has released a roadmap for Data Cent Leoperators, detailing how to minimize water use without risking their ability to innovate.
The group also aims to establish standards and best practices for water use that can be shared across the data processing industry, and is committed to compiling case studies and research as part of this knowledge sharing work.
Data center water usage habits are a topic that has been subject to increased scrutiny from regulators, industrial groups and environmental lobbyists over the past decade or so.
While many data centers can rely on free air cooling to continue cooling their servers, liquid cooling technology has also become more popular in recent years.
Beau Schilz, Water Principal at Amazon Web Services, Amazon.com's Cloud Arm, said the coalition's work will not only help Amazon achieve its sustainability goals, but will also help other companies as they work collectively transforming water management around the world.
“We believe responsible innovation means both addressing our water footprint and using technology to solve the world's water challenges,” he said. “Amazon is striving to reduce water use, including logistics bureaus such as fulfillment centres and logistics sites such as head offices and grocery stores.
“We are committed to bringing more water back into the community than we use across our data centers by 2030. Being a founding leader at the Excellence Center is not just about that goal, but others will support Amazon,” Sills said.
