Data center placement influences electricity demand and cooling requirements, which are documented factors in energy system planning.
An analysis by Rest of World found that a majority of the world’s operational data centers are located in climates outside the industry’s recommended temperature range.
The analysis combined climate records from the Copernicus Climate Data Store with facility location data from Data Center Map, covering 8,808 operational data centers worldwide as of October 2025.
Industry standards recommend average operating temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. Nearly 7,000 data centers were located outside that range, with most situated in regions cooler than recommended. About 600 data centers, representing less than 10% of the total, were located in areas with average annual temperatures above 27°C. In 21 countries, including Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, all operational data centers were located in regions exceeding the recommended temperature range.
The findings draw attention to the operational strain associated with cooling data centers in hotter climates.
Notes: This post was drafted with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed, edited, and published by humans. Read next: Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Resolve to stop punching the clock: Why you might be able to change when and how long you work
An analysis by Rest of World found that a majority of the world’s operational data centers are located in climates outside the industry’s recommended temperature range.
The analysis combined climate records from the Copernicus Climate Data Store with facility location data from Data Center Map, covering 8,808 operational data centers worldwide as of October 2025.
Industry standards recommend average operating temperatures between 18°C and 27°C. Nearly 7,000 data centers were located outside that range, with most situated in regions cooler than recommended. About 600 data centers, representing less than 10% of the total, were located in areas with average annual temperatures above 27°C. In 21 countries, including Nigeria, Singapore, Thailand, and the United Arab Emirates, all operational data centers were located in regions exceeding the recommended temperature range.
The findings draw attention to the operational strain associated with cooling data centers in hotter climates.
Notes: This post was drafted with the assistance of AI tools and reviewed, edited, and published by humans. Read next: Image: DIW-Aigen
Read next: Resolve to stop punching the clock: Why you might be able to change when and how long you work