As Europe experiences a record-breaking heatwave, concerns are rising over the ability of major technology companies to keep artificial intelligence (AI) data centers operating under extreme weather conditions.
According to Al-Arabiya.net, the rapid expansion of large-scale data centers powering AI systems has made these facilities increasingly vulnerable to climate-related risks, including heatwaves, floods, storms, and other extreme weather events. These risks are not only threatening operational stability but also driving up construction, maintenance, and insurance costs.
Patrick McBride, head of international construction at Zurich Insurance, said extreme weather has become the leading cause of losses in data center construction projects in the United States over the past three years. He noted that such events now account for around one-third of total losses in the company’s data center portfolio, adding that climate risk has become a central factor in planning new facilities.
Industry trends show that many companies are building data centers in rural or suburban areas due to lower land costs. However, experts warn that these regions often lack historical data on extreme weather patterns, even as they host facilities worth billions of dollars.
A study by climate risk analysis firm First Street found that 79% of global data center capacity faces high exposure to risks such as floods, storms, wildfires, and heatwaves. These conditions can lead to service disruptions, downtime, and increased repair costs.
Cooling systems, which already account for about 40% of energy use in data centers, become even more energy-intensive during heatwaves. This creates additional pressure on electricity grids at a time when overall power demand is also rising due to widespread use of air conditioning.
Experts warn that the combination of rising temperatures and growing digital demand could pose long-term challenges for the stability and sustainability of global AI infrastructure.
