The data center industry is experiencing rapid growth, driven by increasing demand for internet and artificial intelligence (AI) services. According to Lotfi Gabsi, president of the Advences group, data centers have become the invisible infrastructure of AI. However, these facilities face significant challenges, including high energy consumption, heat dissipation, and water usage. Gabsi emphasizes that data centers are "gouffres en énergie" (energy pits), with each server generating heat that must be absorbed to maintain a stable temperature.
The energy consumption of data centers is substantial, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimating that they consumed around 415 TWh of electricity in 2024, accounting for nearly 1.5% of global consumption. This figure is projected to reach 945 TWh by 2030. The cooling systems required to regulate data center temperatures also contribute to their high energy usage, with some data centers using up to 7% of their total energy consumption for cooling. Furthermore, data centers require a reliable power supply, with backup generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) needed to ensure continuous operation.
Water usage is another critical issue for data centers, as they require significant amounts of water for cooling and humidification. The IEA estimates that the global data center industry used around 560 billion liters of water per year, which could increase to 1,200 billion liters by 2030. Gabsi stresses that the industry must adopt more sustainable practices to mitigate its impact on water resources. He suggests that data centers could be designed to recover and reuse heat, rather than releasing it into the environment.
Sweden offers an example of successful heat recovery, where data centers are used to heat urban areas. In Stockholm, a data center's excess heat is used to warm a large section of the city. Gabsi believes that similar approaches could be applied in Tunisia, such as using data center heat to warm greenhouses during the winter months. However, this would require careful planning and design to ensure that the heat recovery systems are efficient and effective.
Tunisia currently has a limited number of data centers, which are relatively small in size. Gabsi notes that the country's data centers face challenges related to the organization of the telecommunications market, with operators often prioritizing their own infrastructure over data center development. He recalls a 2005 attempt to establish a neutral and redundant data center infrastructure, which was met with skepticism from telecom operators. As a result, the country's data center capacity remains limited, and the industry faces challenges related to power outages and limited connectivity.
The cost of establishing a data center is significant, depending on factors such as surface area, power requirements, and cooling systems. Gabsi emphasizes that data centers must be designed specifically for their purpose, with careful consideration given to ventilation, climate control, and power supply. The cost of data center operations also increases with rising traffic and usage, as servers require more power to handle increased demand. Gabsi stresses that data centers must be designed to handle peak usage, which can be challenging and expensive.
Despite these challenges, Gabsi is confident that the data center industry will continue to grow, driven by increasing demand for internet and AI services. He emphasizes that data centers are essential for modern digital infrastructure, supporting cloud storage, automatic backups, and AI applications. However, the industry must prioritize sustainability and efficiency to mitigate its environmental impact. Gabsi concludes that the key to success lies in striking a balance between energy production, heat absorption, and water usage, while ensuring the security and reliability of data center operations.
Key points
- Data centers are crucial for internet and AI development, but face challenges related to energy consumption, heat dissipation, and water usage.
- The industry must adopt more sustainable practices to mitigate its environmental impact.
- Tunisia has a limited number of small data centers, which face challenges related to telecommunications market organization and power outages.
