Is ‘data, power and water’ the new utilities trilemma?

By Astrid French, Head of Middle East, Aspectus Group

The World Utilities Congress in Abu Dhabi last week was an important reminder of just how fast the energy and utilities landscape is evolving, and how vital it is for communications to keep pace. 

Now, before you all let out a collective ‘no surprises there’ groan for what I’m about to say next – yes, AI was a dominant theme. But, stick with me!  

What stood out was how this tech, which is usually discussed in the context of productivity, innovation or ethics is now creating entirely new pressures on infrastructure – ones that simply have not been planned for.  

Data, data, everywhere 

At the heart of it is data. AI demands it, generates it, and depends on it. And data needs somewhere to live à data centers. 

You’ll likely have seen the growing scale of these in the press.  And the Middle East is proving to be a data centre powerhouse. Just recently, it was announced Abu Dhabi will host the world’s largest AI data centre, in partnership with OpenAI, Stargate UAE.  

Data centers are foundational to future progress across nearly every  sector. But, they also introduce a new kind of energy and resource demand that few decarbonization plans anticipated a decade ago. 

The unseen power burden 

Data centers require constant, uninterrupted power – and a lot of it. And that’s only going in one direction with the rise of AI. In fact, the IEA has predicted AI will double data center electricity demand by 2030.  

The always on nature of data centers – they don’t sleep or rest, is forcing discussions on trade-offs between data and power in terms of which we reduce. And if neither, a rethink on energy sourcing to accommodate the growing need for both. Do we lean into solar, nuclear, hydropower or something else entirely? 

But power is only one part of the story. Water is the other. 

The pressure point for water 

Data centers need water, and a lot of it, primarily for cooling. In a region like the GCC, where… 

• Desalination already provides 42% of UAE drinking water (and up to 86% in Oman) 

• Water demand in the GCC is projected to double by 2050 

• And non-revenue water losses can reach 35% in some cities 

…the system is already under strain. Adding data centers into the equation intensifies the challenge. 

But there’s opportunity here too. The concept of circularity, such as using waste heat from data centers to power desalination, holds major promise. But it requires coordinated planning, investment, and new levels of innovation.  

So, what does all this mean for comms? 

As communicators in this space, we need to help tell the full story. Not just about the challenges, but the ingenuity, the innovation, and the urgency that will shape its future. Utilities must define their role in the AI era, or risk having it defined for them. 

At Aspectus, we see it as our job to make those stories resonate, whether that’s with policymakers, investors, customers, talent or society at large.  

World Utilities Congress showed us that the stakes are rising. And if we’re going to tackle complex new trilemmas, the standard of how the sector tells its story must rise too.  

Key takeaways

What infrastructure challenges is AI creating? 

AI drives massive data centre growth, which in turn demands significant power and water, straining existing utilities. 

Why are data centres impacting water and power resources? 

They require constant power and large volumes of water for cooling, stressing systems not designed for this level of demand. 

How can utilities and communicators respond? 

By adopting circular solutions and crafting compelling narratives that highlight innovation and urgency to stakeholders, customers and the public.