Researchers in the U.S. have proposed using underground aquifers as giant natural thermal batteries to cool energy-hungry data centers, offering an unconventional way to tackle their growing environmental footprint.

The study was conducted by scientists at the Illinois State Geological Survey, part of the Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. It proposes that aquifer thermal energy storage (ATES) systems could reduce the electricity needed to cool AI data centers.

ATES systems use subsurface groundwater to store seasonal thermal energy and function like a massive natural thermal battery. They extract and inject water via well doublets to provide energy-efficient, low-carbon heating.