Artificial Intelligence: Water
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what estimate her Department has made of the cumulative power and water demand arising from announced and pipeline AI Growth Zones and hyperscale data centre developments through to 2035.
Answered by Kanishka Narayan
The expansion of AI infrastructure is critical to the UK's long-term economic growth, resilience, and global competitiveness. We are working closely with industry, the National Energy System Operator, DESNZ, Ofgem, DEFRA, and the Environment Agency to improve our understanding of the impacts of future demand.
AI Growth Zone applicants are required to detail their water plans and provide confirmation of feasibility from the relevant water supplier. Data Centre Developers progressing through the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIP) regime must assess impacts on water resources as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment and supporting documentation, and national planning policy embeds consideration of sustainable water use and resource efficiency in decision making.
Through the AI Energy Council, co-chaired by the Secretaries of State for DSIT and DESNZ, we are also exploring how to meet the future energy demands of AI and data centres in a way that is resilient, sustainable, and scalable.
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