GSA Data Center 01 is operated by SET-listed Gulf Development in Samut Prakan. (Photo: Gulf Development Plc)
Entrepreneurs are warning the rapid expansion of data centre investment could deepen water scarcity, even as they acknowledge its potential to drive business growth, according to the latest poll conducted by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI).Of the 160 FTI executives surveyed, 68.8% cited insufficient water supply as their top concern amid the rapid rise in data centres, said Montri Mahaplerkpong, deputy chairman of the FTI.
Data centres are known as resource-hungry facilities that consume vast amounts of electricity and water.
Servers inside data centres run non-stop to process and store data, leading to massive energy demand and heat generation. Cooling systems are critical because if servers overheat, they fail.
"We fear rising water demand could spark competition between industries and communities for limited supplies in the future," said Mr Montri.
