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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\nEurope’s ongoing heatwave is adding to concerns around AI data centres. Researchers have warned that rising temperatures could become a larger long-term challenge than local opposition for companies including Microsoft, Meta, Amazon and other technology companies expanding their infrastructure. According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), climate-related disruption could increase the cost of operating data centres by $81 billion by 2035 and $168 billion by 2065, highlighting how extreme weather is becoming a growing operational risk.The warning comes as record temperatures increase cooling requirements for data centres that already consume large amounts of electricity and water. The issue has also intensified scrutiny of new facilities, with local communities raising concerns over water use, electricity demand and environmental impact as heatwaves become more frequent. <\/p>\n Data centres produce a lot of heat during operation and need extensive cooling systems to maintain servers within safe temperature limits. The cooling demand further increases during heatwaves, resulting in increased energy consumption and operating costs.According to the World Economic Forum, climate change could significantly increase the cost of running data centres over the coming decades as operators face more frequent heatwaves, droughts and other extreme weather events. The organisation has called for improved resilience measures to prepare facilities for climate-related disruptions.Amazon’s data centres reportedly used around 2.5 billion gallons of water in a single year, illustrating the scale of water required to cool large computing facilities.<\/p>\n Heatwaves have also renewed concerns among residents living near major data centre hubs.In Slough, England, one person told The Guardian that the heat felt like having something “pinching your body and burning your skin.”<\/span> While there is no scientific consensus that data centres are solely responsible for higher local temperatures, early research has suggested they may contribute to a “data heat island effect.”<\/span>A study, which has not yet been peer reviewed, estimated that data centres can increase surrounding temperatures by approximately 3.6\u00b0F, potentially adding to heat stress during periods of extreme weather.<\/p>\n Alongside climate concerns, opposition to new data centres has continued in several regions.In Utah, hundreds of people protested a proposed AI data centre in Box Elder County, citing concerns over water consumption after Governor Spencer Cox declared a state of emergency because of “extreme drought conditions” in May 2026.According to Data Center Watch, protests contributed to blocking around $130 billion worth of proposed data centre projects during the first quarter of 2026.The growing opposition has also resulted in policy changes. New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a statewide moratorium on new hyperscale data centres consuming 50 megawatts or more while the state develops regulations covering environmental impacts and community protections.The developments come as technology companies continue to invest in AI infrastructure, with increasing attention to how climate-related risks, alongside public opposition, could influence future data centre expansion.<\/div>\nHow heatwaves are increasing operational challenges for data centres<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Local concerns grow alongside rising temperatures<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
Protests and political action continue<\/b><\/h2>\n<\/p>\n