How Data Centres Are Devouring Our Planet While Farms Fight to Survive
As society becomes more digitally interconnected, data centres have emerged as the engine room of the modern world. From streaming entertainment to supporting cloud computing and artificial intelligence, these facilities are crucial for the digital economy. However, this progress has come at a substantial environmental cost. Data centres consume enormous amounts of electricity and water and are rapidly taking over land that could otherwise support food systems or biodiversity.
While farmers work to cultivate the land responsibly and sustainably, digital infrastructure continues to expand with minimal public scrutiny. The environmental impact of data centres deserves closer examination, particularly in terms of their energy consumption, water use, and growing land footprint.
Globally, data centres consumed around 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2022, which equates to roughly 2 percent of the world’s total electricity use. According to the International Energy Agency, this demand is expected to double by 2026 due to the growing reliance on AI and data-driven services. In the United Kingdom, data centres already account for 12 percent of commercial electricity usage.
One prominent example is Microsoft’s data centre in Park Royal, West London. Its operation has placed a considerable strain on the local power grid, halting other developments, including housing and renewable energy projects. This trend raises questions about how resources are being allocated and whether the digital economy is being allowed to grow without limits.
Most people associate digital services with electricity, yet water plays an equally vital role in data centre operations. These facilities use large quantities of water to cool servers and maintain optimal temperatures. In many cases, the water demand from these facilities competes with local supplies, especially in regions already facing water scarcity.
In Oxfordshire, a new AI growth zone is being proposed near a planned reservoir by Thames Water. Environmental experts and local campaigners have raised concerns that this development could worsen water shortages in the region. Data centres require substantial volumes of water, either directly for cooling systems or indirectly through energy production and chip manufacturing.
Recent studies have revealed that generative AI systems consume more water than previously estimated. Researchers from the University of California, Riverside found that ChatGPT can use two litres of water for every 10 to 50 queries, once the entire supply chain is considered. This includes the water used in data centre cooling, power generation, and even the semiconductor fabrication process.
Although energy and water concerns are increasingly acknowledged, the issue of land use remains significantly underreported. The rapid expansion of data centres across the United Kingdom and globally has direct and long-lasting implications for how land is managed and what it produces.
Data centres require large physical footprints. In addition to server halls, they include generators, cooling towers, substations, security fencing, and office infrastructure. These developments often replace agricultural or undeveloped land, particularly in suburban and peri-urban areas.
In West London, where data infrastructure has expanded significantly, land that could be used for housing, renewable energy projects, or food production is instead being allocated to data facilities. The energy demand of these centres has overwhelmed local grids, stalling other important developments. These facilities are also typically fenced off, hardened, and impermeable, reducing the land's ecological value.
In contrast, agricultural land can be used in multiple ways. For example, a 70,000-hectare land bank used for regenerative farming may support 2,500 cows, 1,200 sheep, rotational crops, and seasonal vegetables. This requires only around 1,300 built structures and approximately 120,000 square metres of operational space. The land continues to function ecologically, storing carbon, promoting biodiversity, and producing food for local communities.
The opportunity cost of allocating land to data infrastructure is immense. Once land is converted to a high-security digital facility, it is rarely returned to natural or agricultural use. The shift is often permanent, resulting in a loss of biodiversity and diminished land resilience.
Data centres also place additional pressure on public infrastructure. As they consume increasing shares of electricity and water supply, they make it more difficult for farms and rural communities to access the resources they need. Some farmers and renewable energy developers have reported being unable to connect to the electricity grid due to the prioritisation of data infrastructure.
In essence, land that could be used to support food security, green energy, or community housing is being redirected to support private digital operations. This shift represents a significant imbalance in land use policy.
Another often overlooked consequence of data centre sprawl is the heat they emit into local environments. These facilities intensify the urban heat island effect by replacing natural land with concrete and steel, increasing local temperatures and reducing the area’s ability to absorb and store rainwater. This has negative consequences for both local residents and surrounding ecosystems.
The operation of data centres also poses health risks. Cooling towers, which are often part of these facilities, can harbour Legionella bacteria if not properly maintained. This bacteria is the cause of Legionnaires’ disease, a serious form of pneumonia. To combat this, water in cooling systems is treated with chlorine and bromine, chemicals that may pollute water systems or contribute to acid rain if released into the atmosphere.
Recognising the environmental impact of their operations, some data centre operators are investing in more sustainable technologies. However, these improvements often lag behind the scale and speed of expansion.
Cooling Technologies: Air-based cooling systems and liquid immersion cooling are becoming more popular. These alternatives are more energy efficient, though they still require considerable water or specialised fluids.
Water Recycling: Some companies have implemented closed-loop systems that reuse water within the facility. Hydro-X Engineering, for instance, has developed a system that recycles bleed water from cooling towers for reuse, reducing overall consumption.
Renewable Energy Integration: Switching to renewable electricity tariffs, as Node4 has done, helps reduce carbon emissions but does not address the other environmental impacts such as land and water use.
Green Infrastructure: There are calls for data centres to integrate features like solar panels, green roofs, and better land-use planning. However, these remain the exception rather than the rule.
To address the growing imbalance between digital expansion and environmental sustainability, governments should consider the following actions:
Environmental Assessments: Make environmental impact assessments mandatory for all large-scale data centre developments, including cumulative impacts on land, water, and energy systems.
Land Use Planning: Ensure that land allocations consider long-term ecological and agricultural value, rather than short-term economic gain. Prioritise dual-use strategies where digital and sustainable land uses coexist.
Resource Caps: Place limits on energy and water use per facility, encouraging efficiency and innovation.
Incentives for Sustainable Design: Offer financial or planning benefits for facilities that adopt green infrastructure, use recycled water, or integrate renewable energy systems.
Data centres are a vital part of the digital economy, but their rapid expansion comes at a high cost to the environment. Their energy and water consumption are significant, but their impact on land use is equally concerning. As fertile soil is covered in concrete and farmland is replaced with server halls, we risk sacrificing the physical foundations of life for the conveniences of the digital world.
A more sustainable future is possible. With careful planning, regulation, and investment in greener alternatives, the UK can balance its digital ambitions with its environmental responsibilities. The time to act is now, before the damage becomes irreversible.
Further Reading and Resources:
International Energy Agency. (2023). Electricity 2023: Analysis and forecast to 2025.
The Times. (2024). ‘Thirsty’ ChatGPT uses four times more water than previously thought.
The Guardian. (2024). AI drive brings Microsoft’s ‘green moonshot’ down to earth in west London.
Computer Weekly. (2025). Why water usage is the datacentre industry's dirty little secret.
