South Korea's AI Data Centers Face High Flood Risk, Report Warns

Globally, 2,595 data centers are planned, but a significant portion faces climate change threats. A new analysis by Cross Dependency Initiative (XDI), an Australian climate analytics firm, reveals that 6% of these facilities, totaling 154, are at high risk from climate hazards like extreme heat and flooding by 2026.

South Korea stands out in this analysis, ranking eighth among countries with a high proportion of high-risk data centers. Out of 27 planned facilities in the country, 22% are categorized as high-risk. Even with robust climate preparedness measures, 7% of South Korea's planned data centers remain at high risk. The primary climate threat identified for these facilities is surface water flooding, caused by heavy rainfall overwhelming drainage systems and urban infrastructure.

Within South Korea, Seoul is particularly vulnerable. The report places the capital city fourth globally for the proportion of high-risk data centers. When considering lower levels of climate preparedness, three out of seven planned data centers in Seoul (43%) are deemed high-risk, with surface water flooding cited as the main concern. Gyeonggi Province ranks 22nd, with 22% of its nine planned data centers facing high risk, mainly from river flooding.

The report also projects an increase in climate risks for data centers under a high-emissions scenario. South Korea could see a 135% rise in damage risk by 2100 compared to 2026. While the risk of data center shutdowns due to extreme heat is currently low, it is expected to grow rapidly. Extreme heat can impact cooling systems and other essential infrastructure, disrupting data center operations even if it doesn't directly damage the facilities themselves.

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Extreme heat is becoming an increasingly critical challenge for digital infrastructure operations. Risks associated with heatwaves are rapidly increasing even in markets not traditionally recognized as heatwave risk areas for data center operations.