India, Aug. 28 -- Global data centre water consumption could nearly triple from 222 billion litres in 2025 to 644 billion litres a year by 2030 without significant efficiency gains, as rapid capacity expansion driven largely by artificial intelligence (AI) increases demand for cooling, according to Rystad Energy.

The energy research firm estimates that active water saving measures could reduce annual direct cooling water consumption to 543 billion litres under a moderate scenario and 388 billion litres under an aggressive water saving pathway by 2030.

"Forecasting the water impact of data centres is far from straightforward, with consumption varying significantly depending on cooling technology, climate and whether we measure water with...