Data center water and electricity use in 2030: UN report projects 945 TWh and 9.3 trillion liters of water footprint

A June 2026 UN University report projects that global data centers could consume 945 terawatt-hours of electricity in 2030, roughly three times the combined current use of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nigeria. The associated water footprint is estimated at 9.3 trillion liters, equivalent to the basic annual domestic needs of 1.3 billion people at 20 liters per day. The electricity figure comes from an IEA base case, while the water footprint includes both on-site cooling and upstream power generation. The report highlights that data center energy demand is concentrated geographically and can outpace grid and water infrastructure expansion. It also notes that low-carbon power sources like wind and solar have low operational water use, but thermal plants, hydropower, and bioenergy carry larger water footprints. The key takeaway is that regulators need separate reporting for direct water withdrawals, consumption, source type, and electricity-related footprints to assess local impacts accurately.