From Tokens to Burgers – A Water Footprint Face-Off

Summary of the Conference Call on Datacenter Water Usage Industry Overview - The discussion centers around the water consumption of datacenters, specifically comparing the water footprint of Elon Musk's Colossus 2 datacenter with that of an average In-N-Out burger restaurant [5][7][32]. Key Points and Arguments 1. Datacenter Water Usage Scrutiny: Datacenter water usage is increasingly criticized, with some projects being paused or canceled due to concerns over water consumption. However, the debate is considered overstated as key variables like cooling architecture, power source, and local water scarcity are often overlooked [5][6]. 2. Lack of Standardization: There is no standard for water accounting in datacenters, complicating comparisons. Different metrics can lead to misleading conclusions about water consumption [6][5]. 3. Colossus 2 Water Footprint: - Colossus 2 is projected to consume approximately 1 million gallons of water per day, but detailed calculations reveal an annual water footprint of 346 million gallons (1,310 million liters) or about 0.9 million gallons per day [21][32]. - The water footprint includes direct usage for cooling and indirect usage from chip manufacturing, with a significant portion coming from cooling processes [21][10]. - The cooling system employs both dry and adiabatic cooling methods, which impacts water consumption rates [15][11]. 4. In-N-Out Water Footprint: - An average In-N-Out store has an estimated annual water footprint of 147 million gallons, primarily from the beef used in their burgers [30][32]. - The water footprint of a Double-Double burger is calculated to be 245 gallons (927 liters), with beef accounting for 95% of this footprint [29][26]. 5. Comparative Analysis: The water footprint of Colossus 2 is approximately 2.5 times that of an average In-N-Out store, suggesting that the water consumption debate may be misdirected [32][33]. 6. Economic Value of Datacenters: The economic value of the output from datacenters, measured in tokens, is highlighted as a critical factor in the water consumption debate. The analysis suggests that a single burger's water footprint could equate to using the datacenter's services for 668 years [35][34]. Additional Important Insights - Water Recycling Initiatives: Colossus 2 is planning to build a water recycling plant to utilize municipal wastewater, potentially making it a net-zero water datacenter [37]. - Contextualizing Water Usage: The discussion emphasizes the need to contextualize water usage debates, comparing it to everyday consumption in the food industry, particularly in beef production [38][5]. This summary encapsulates the critical aspects of the conference call, focusing on the water consumption of datacenters versus the food industry, particularly burgers, while highlighting the need for a nuanced understanding of water usage metrics.