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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.

Water Energy Planning Strategies to meet Emerging Load from Data Centers

This white paper discusses the urgent need for innovative management of energy and water resources in the context of rapidly growing data centers, particularly as U.S. electricity demand is projected to increase by 35 to 40% by 2040 due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI)....

Bhowmik, P., Cafferty, K., Klise, K., and Jackson, N.

A Probabilistic Framework for Uncovering Water-Energy Infrastructure Dependencies and Assessing Systemic Consequences

The coupling of water and energy systems is critical for ensuring resilient infrastructure, particularly as water plays an essential role in the safe and reliable operation of energy sources. The dependency on water becomes increasingly complex when energy systems are integrated w...

Yigitoglu, A., Muhlheim, M., Smith, A., Ramuhalli, P., and Berres, A.

Integrated Water-Energy-Economics Framework for Public Water System Resilience

This paper highlights key energy-for-water challenges in U.S. public water systems (PWS): aging infrastructure, cost recovery gaps, hydrologic vulnerabilities, and high-demand users like data centers--which concentrate near population centers and existing PWS. It underscores the n...

Siddik, M., Ahmad, N., Guaita, S., and Chinthavali, S.

Synergistic Pathways for Water Security in Emerging Sectors: Data Centers and Modern Nuclear Facilities

Stand-alone data centers, nuclear-powered data centers, and novel nuclear facilities such as fusion plant and small modular reactors are water intensive sectors poised to rapidly expand, presenting a significant challenge to the water-for-energy nexus. The potential for large-scal...

Catalano, A., Duan, Z., Quimby, C., Wang, T., Chini, C., Premathilake, L., and Pope, J.

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.

Water Availability for Cooling Systems: Assessing Demands, Constraints, and Alternative Sources for Thermoelectric Plants and Data Centers

This white paper focuses on enhancing the intersection of energy and water resilience by advancing water reuse and reclamation technologies, particularly for thermoelectric power plants and data centers. The primary goal is to efficiently manage cooling water to meet growing deman...

Pacheco, C., Cafferty, K., Reese, S., Atkinson, T., Mosier, T., and Tidwell, V.

Energy Needs for Water Supply Expansion in Urban Areas

Rising urban water demand requires new water supply provisioning in cities. Understanding and quantifying the energy-intensity of new water supply options can help planners identify pathways for water supply expansion with manageable energy requirements. There is opportunity for ...

Deines, J., Catalano, A., Sinnott, V., Yoon, J., Sun, N., and Duan, Z.

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.

Meeting Energy and Water Demands: Collocated Geothermal Solutions

This white paper focuses on strategies to optimize site and project-scale geothermal operations, including Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS), and hydrothermal systems, to address growing energy demands and dual challenges of water conservation an...

DiRaddo, S., Goecker, A., Villante, M., Wild, T., and Rebich, R.

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