Atoco Demonstrated Data Center Waste Heat Water Harvesting
The research-stage technology converts server heat into drinking water, addressing cooling demands and waste mandates.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Data Centers
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In September 2026, Atoco demonstrated a system in Irvine that extracts water vapor from air using data center waste heat. The company is currently testing prototypes while developing a commercial unit.
Why it matters
As data centers face increasing pressure to manage high water consumption and regulatory waste heat mandates, this technology offers a dual-utility solution. It aims to turn a thermal byproduct into a vital resource for facility operations.
A prototype unit produced 300 liters of water daily using 20 kilowatts of waste heat, requiring temperatures of at least 38 degrees Celsius to release the moisture.
The players
Atoco
A company developing water-harvesting systems that utilize metal-organic frameworks to repurpose industrial waste heat.
European Union
A political and economic union that mandates waste heat reuse for large data centers and seeks to scale regional data infrastructure.
The details
Atoco utilizes porous metal-organic frameworks — crystalline materials with internal cavities designed to trap molecules — to harvest water vapor from air at humidity levels between 10 and 20 percent. The system captures server heat to trigger the release of this stored moisture, which can then be collected. Units can be chained together to scale up production volume for larger facility requirements.
Timeline
September 2026: Atoco demonstrated the technology in Irvine.
End of 2026: Atoco aims to secure first commercial orders.
2029-2031: Target timeframe for competitive pricing against desalination.
2035: European Union target for tripling data center capacity.
The Tech Race
Atoco's hardware addresses the E.U. Energy Efficiency Directive, which mandates waste heat reuse for large-capacity facilities. The company aims to compete directly with existing desalination plants as a sustainable alternative for high-density cooling requirements.
Commercial units capable of producing 1,000 liters per day are currently in development, with first orders expected by the end of 2026. This technology may eventually offset local water demand in regions where data center cooling currently places significant stress on municipal supplies.
The takeaway
Atoco is positioning its harvesting units to transform server heat from a regulatory liability into a tangible water source. Watch for the company's progress on commercial unit production costs, which currently sit at $5 per ton compared to the $2 per ton average for traditional desalination.
Further reading
For broader trends in infrastructure efficiency, explore the Data Centers section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Trending Topics.
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Should data centers be required to recycle their waste heat and water for community use?
