Overview
- The Öko-Institut study for Greenpeace, published Friday, estimates German data centres used about 13 billion litres of water for cooling in 2025 and that use could rise to as much as 27 billion litres per year by 2030.
- Researchers found many official submissions implausible and after cleaning the national register only 139 data sets were usable, showing large gaps in reporting and public disclosure.
- Industry forecasts show electricity demand rising from roughly 23 billion kWh in 2026 to an estimated 35–38 billion kWh by 2030, increasing pressure on power grids and local infrastructure.
- Cooling choices matter: a single 100 MW data centre could use between 200 million and 930 million litres of water a year depending on cooling technology, while fully closed-loop or dry compression systems can largely eliminate direct water loss.
- The report has sharpened political and community demands for mandatory water-impact assessments, binding cooling standards and bans in water‑stressed areas, even as some industry groups push for looser disclosure rules and operators face growing local protests.