Datacentres Raise Local Temperatures by 2C in Slough, Research Suggests
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 26
Datacentres Raise Local Temperatures by 2C in Slough, Research Suggests
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 26
Summary
Cambridge-led research suggests datacentres can lift nearby temperatures by an average 2C, with spikes of up to 9C, adding to concerns in Slough, home to Europe’s largest datacentre park.
Cooling systems that protect sensitive electronics and AI chips expel waste heat, and the study—based on decades of satellite data—found the 2C effect held even after accounting for urbanisation and climate change.
Slough’s scale may intensify that effect: the town hosts an estimated 30 to 40 large facilities, widely reported to total roughly 1 gigawatt, far above the sub-100 megawatt sites that dominate past data.
Weather readings this week showed the station nearest the tech park reaching 36.7C, while other stations in and around Slough were several degrees cooler at times, though residents remain split over how much datacentres versus concrete and climate change are to blame.
The findings add pressure as more facilities are planned in Slough and the UK government explores using datacentre waste heat to warm thousands of homes.
Can we harness the immense waste heat from datacentres to warm our homes before they bake our cities?
As AI's power demands grow, are our cities developing 'data deserts' with unbearable heat islands?
Slough’s Data Heat Island: The Environmental and Social Impact of Data Centers on Urban Temperatures
Overview
Urban heat islands occur when cities replace natural vegetation with materials like asphalt and concrete, which trap and release more heat. Now, a new challenge is emerging: data heat islands. As data centers expel large amounts of heat, they can make urban areas even hotter. Slough, with its many data centers, is especially at risk. The concentrated heat from these facilities adds to the existing urban heat island effect, raising concerns about environmental impacts and community well-being. This highlights the need for better planning and innovative solutions to manage the growing heat from digital infrastructure.