According to a recent AFCOM survey, 30% of data centers have initiatives in place to improve water management and usage. Another 41% are planning to, and 49% report that they are prioritizing cooling solutions that reduce or eliminate water consumption entirely.

Meanwhile, innovation continues at a fast pace to support more sustainable approaches to data center operations. One promising development is called Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH). It utilizes nano-engineered reticular (net-like) materials and low-grade waste heat from the data center to generate water. The goal is to enable sustainable data center operations without placing additional strain on existing water resources.

This technology is being brought to market by a water technology startup called Atoco. It has developed several water systems, including one that captures moisture from the surrounding air and converts it into potable water. If this can be accomplished at scale, it could provide a new source of water in dry climates, as the atmosphere contains seven times more fresh water than all rivers and lakes combined.

“Rather than relying on already stressed water sources or expensive imports, water can be generated exactly where it’s needed in a sustainable and cost-effective manner,” said Omar Yaghi, Founder and Chief Science Officer of Atoco.

For data centers, Atoco takes advantage of the low-grade waste heat that is available in abundance. Novel reticular materials engineered at the nanoscale are powered by the temperature differential between cold air and waste heat from servers and other data center equipment. According to Yaghi, the temperature differential can be as low as 7 °C (13 °F) to power water generation processes. He believes the system can operate at utility scale while off-grid, even in ultra-dry and arid environments.

If so, this approach could support more sustainable growth in regions across the US West and Southwest. In Arizona, for example, a great many new data centers are planned. However, local opposition groups campaigning against new facilities typically voice concerns over water usage, citing existing regional constraints.

The Atoco method could offer an alternative approach in such areas where water tables have been depleted, lake levels have fallen, and communities are managing expanding populations. By harnessing atmospheric water and ambient energy, this AWH technology could potentially provide a sustainable water source and enable greater water independence without increasing energy consumption.

Expect this technology to be piloted by hyperscalers in the near future. If it proves out in the real world in a large “AI factory” setting, it could ease many of the permitting challenges being experienced around the country. According to Uptime Institute, as many as 50% of announced data centers will never see the light of day. Whether due to permitting, construction difficulties, energy availability, regulatory pressure, or other factors, the ambitions of hyperscalers and data center developers are not always realized. By enabling new approaches to water sourcing, AWH could help support broader community acceptance of data centers.