Introduction
recently,"Data center"You've probably been hearing this phrase more often lately. However, there are hidden social issues behind it.
The "review" of a massive data center project in Akishima City, Tokyo, is not merely a change in business plans, but a classic example of the need to balance water resources and industrial development.
This article explains why the developer's plan changed due to public opinion, the impact of the shift from water-cooled to air-cooled systems, and how this issue should be viewed. We aim to provide readers with useful information for considering environmental risks and business strategies.
The real reason the data center plan was changed due to residents' opposition was "water."
A massive data center construction project in Akishima City, Tokyo, which was originally a secret project with no public knowledge, suddenly became a major social issue.
① Project overview and scale
- place:The site is a former golf course located near JR Akishima Station (approximately 59 hectares, roughly equivalent to 2.8 Tokyo Domes).
- Construction details:The development includes a total of eight of the largest data centers in Japan and three logistics facilities.
- Business operator:Nippon GP (a major water supply equipment company headquartered in central Japan)
② Why was the plan changed?: Concerns about groundwater use.
The initial construction plan was expected to employ a "water-cooling" system. This technology is necessary to handle the heat generated by the artificial intelligence (AI) servers, but its mechanism has raised serious concerns among residents.
Unique characteristics of Akishima City:
- The only region in Tokyo that is supplied entirely with deep groundwater for its tap water.
- “Because the city has precious water resources that have supported the lives of its citizens as a "city of water," residents have become increasingly concerned that the development of the data center will pollute and deplete the well water, leading to a growing opposition movement.
③ The circumstances under which the plan was forced to be changed due to public opinion during the environmental assessment.
During the environmental impact assessment process conducted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 232 concerns were raised regarding all groundwater uses during the public viewing phase of the survey plan. With numerous complaints about issues such as "land subsidence" and "depletion of groundwater sources," the Tokyo Governor requested the developer to "consider appropriate environmental protection measures."
Final changes:
- Do not pump groundwater.
- Withdrawal from use of existing well
- The cooling method has been changed to air cooling (from water cooling to air cooling).
Specific impacts and challenges of switching to an air-cooling system
Although the plan was altered due to opposition from residents, there are actually other important technical and economic challenges. Here, we will explain the impact of changing from water cooling to air cooling.
Point 1: Increase in electricity consumption
According to IDC Japan, a research firm specializing in the data center industry, the following technical challenges exist:
- Water cooling method:This system uses water to cool the heat generated, so it requires relatively little manual labor (electricity). However, securing cooling water is a challenge.
- Air cooling method:Because air conditioning systems need to operate 24 hours a day, heat dissipation and power consumption increase.
Of particular importance are AI servers equipped with GPUs. Instead of cooling the entire room as in conventional server rooms, a technology is needed that targets and cools the area around the heat-generating semiconductor chips. Some predict that switching to air cooling will triple operating costs.
Point 2: Risk of increased greenhouse gas emissions
Tokyo Metropolitan Government ordinances impose an obligation on large-scale businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As electricity consumption increases, the balance with environmental regulations becomes more complex.
Point 3: New challenges for waste heat treatment and emergency generators
Air-cooling systems require the operation of air conditioning equipment, which raises issues such as the impact of heat discharge on the surrounding area and the need for emergency power supply (emergency generators). These are new social problems that did not occur with conventional water-cooling systems.
How should we address the challenges of "water and data centers"?
The case in Akishima City is not merely an isolated incident, but illustrates important social challenges brought about by the era of generative AI. Here, we will summarize the following points as supplementary information.
① Lessons to be learned from precedents in the United States
The water problem in data centers actually became apparent first in the US, particularly in the water generation sector. The social issue is that "data centers are concentrated in areas with water scarcity, potentially threatening resources for daily life." While this is still often seen as someone else's problem in Japan, the challenges seen in the US could potentially be replicated domestically in the future.
② Forecast of nationwide investment in data center construction
According to research by IDC Japan and others, Japan's data center construction investment is expected to reach approximately 1 trillion yen in 2028. This represents an increase of about three times compared to 2023. It is important to recognize that "the same problems as Akishima" are highly likely to occur in various parts of the country in the future.
③ A grace period until the "regulatory gap" is filled.
According to legal experts, "there are currently no national-level laws that directly regulate DC construction itself." The reason this particular DC project was included in the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's environmental assessment is because it met requirements such as land division and parking facility development. When this "gap" will be filled will impact the company's business strategy.
Summary
The expansion of data centers is not merely a technological innovation, but a challenge that questions the harmony between the environment and society. The case of Akishima City offers the following insights:
- ① The essence of business risk managementThis suggests that ignoring residents' opinions and local characteristics (such as dependence on groundwater) could lead to the plan's failure.
- ② Strategic approach to technology selectionTechnical decisions regarding water cooling, air cooling, etc., need to be evaluated from both the perspective of electricity costs and environmental regulations.
- ③ Building symbiotic relationships with the local communityBusinesses that cannot protect the resources (water) of the region where their facilities are located cannot be trusted in the long term.
While international competitiveness in the age of generative AI is important, balancing this with the living environment of residents requires an approach that "determines acceptable limits based on scientific knowledge and manages them appropriately." Even when national and local governments consider strengthening regulations, they need to find the optimal solution that maintains a balance so as not to diminish industrial competitiveness.
Suggestions for our readers:
When developing a business plan, it is crucial not to ignore elements such as "environmental assessment" and "the opinions of local residents," but to identify and address them early on. If you focus solely on technological innovation and overlook social issues, you may be forced to revise your plan later, as in the case of Akishima.
A perspective on the future:
As data centers rapidly expand, it is highly likely that similar problems will arise in various parts of the country in the future. It is important to consider all factors (water resources, environmental regulations, and regional characteristics) in the early stages of a project and to explore models that allow for "development in cooperation with local residents."
lastly:
Technological innovation opens up the future for humanity, but maintaining harmony with the underlying "natural environment" and "social relationships" is key to sustainable growth. By applying the lessons learned from Akishima City's case, we should be able to create a better society.
