Editorial: Japan's data center boom must not create a new pollution problem

Japan's digital society is experiencing rapid infrastructure development with a surge in data centers processing vast amounts of information. These large-scale centers have expanded about four times over the past seven years, primarily in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Kinki region near demand centers. The concentration is aimed at minimizing communication delays, but this often leads to construction in proximity to train stations and residential areas, causing opposition from local residents.

The environmental concerns stem from the cooling systems, storage batteries, emergency generators, and fuel tanks installed in data centers to handle power outages. This has led to increased noise, waste heat, fire risks, and other issues prompting opposition movements, as seen in Inzai, Chiba Prefecture, and Seika, Kyoto Prefecture.

The legal status of data centers is ambiguous, and their use is listed as office facilities in building confirmation applications, which misrepresents the true nature of these facilities that house various equipment. This lack of clarity, combined with insufficient information disclosure by operators due to security concerns, fuels residents' anxieties.

Industry groups are beginning to address the issue by establishing guidelines for operators to engage with local residents during site selection and fully disclose information. Meanwhile, overseas regulations are advancing; in Ireland, data centers account for 20% of total power consumption, and New York temporarily suspended large-scale data center construction using significant amounts of cooling water and electricity.

The Japanese government aims to select data center cluster locations in various regions and expedite development. To alleviate residents' concerns, it must swiftly establish a system that gains local understanding and support.