Microsoft unveils new data center design that aims to enable zero-water cooling

Microsoft has announced the launch of a new data center design with zero water cooling technology that can optimize AI workloads and achieve zero cooling water consumption. By adopting chip-level cooling solutions, precise temperature control can be achieved without water evaporation, aimed at protecting local watersheds and addressing water resource pressures. Microsoft said that its current fleet will still use a mix of air-cooled and water-cooled systems, but the new projects in Phoenix, Arizona and Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin will test zero water evaporation design in 2026.