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Co-optimization of Energy and Water Demands to Enable Rapid but Resilient Expansion of Data Centers

Data centers consume substantial amounts of electricity and can amplify water stress locally as well as in distant regions via their direct (for cooling) and indirect (for thermoelectric power generation) consumption of water. There is an opportunity to enhance energy-water resili...

Burleyson, C., Akdemir, K., Mongird, K., and Wild, T.

Unlocking Nuclear-Enabled Water Resilience: Leveraging Idaho National Laboratory Facilities and Expertise to Strengthen Integration Across Energy and Critical Water Systems

This white paper outlines strategies to enhance energy-water resilience and facilitate a resurgence of nuclear power by addressing barriers to water access for cooling. It emphasizes the development and demonstration of technologies and operational models that improve the accessib...

Jenson, W., Mosier, T., and Atkinson, T.

Enabling Energy-Water Resilience in U.S. Data Centers: Water-Aware Grid Planning and Operations with Infrastructure-Compatible Cooling

Rapid, concentrated expansion of AI data centers is reshaping electricity demand profiles, local infrastructure requirements, and regional resource constraints. These facilities are often sized from tens to hundreds of megawatts with multi-gigawatt campus clusters. They are relati...

Zhou, Z., Wu, M., Qiu, F., Muehleisen, R., Zhao, D., Yan, E., and Worek, W.

Regional Energy and Water Resilience Strategies for Critical Thermoelectric Power Generation and Data Center Technologies

This white paper discusses strategies for improving water management in thermoelectric power plants and data centers by focusing on the reclamation and management of cooling water. The primary goal is to efficiently close the water cycle by processing discharged cooling water to r...

Rigby, A., and Wilson, A.