As AI data centres guzzle energy, can we harness their wasted heat?

There are more than 12,500 data centres around the world and more are coming online every day, straining global energy infrastructure and resources. Beyond consuming hundreds of billions of litres of water, these systems not only place a massive demand on the global electrical grid, but are likely to be contributing to global warming on a massive scale as well. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has reported that, in 2024, data centres used 485 terawatt hours of electricity, the equivalent of 1.5 percent of the world’s total energy supply – or the total electricity generation of Germany.

And this figure will double to 3 percent by 2030, with an exponentially growing proportion driven by AI development. This comes as nations are seeking energy independence and need to drastically cut their CO2 emissions. The proliferation of data centres is causing widespread anger.

In the Netherlands, police arrested protesters against the construction of a new Microsoft data centre close to Amsterdam on Friday.