Canelones

Google · Canelones, Canelones, Uruguay

Water — consumed, not returned

Taken from the basin274M gal/yr

Evaporated on site5.59M gal

Making the power268M gal

Basin stressMedium-High

Where the water comes from: Closed loop — negligible draw
Cooling: Air cooling — switched from the original water-cooled design
Basis: Modelled from cooling design — WUE 0.05 L/kWh

Air — what the stacks emit

Nitrogen oxides12.7t/yr

Sulphur dioxide4.23t/yr

Fine particulates1.69t PM2.5

Health damages$1.14M/yr

Where it burns: Uruguay — UTE
Generation mix: Hydro 44 · Wind 33 · Biomass 15
CO₂e: 39.8 kt/yr — climate, not air quality

Who wanted it

Who asked for it: Google — self-build
Who approved it: Uruguay's Ministry of Environment approved the revised air-cooled design after the original permit drew mass protest during the 2023 drought
What it serves: Google Cloud region for the Southern Cone
IT capacity: 60 MW running of 120 MW announced

During the 2023 drought Montevideo's tap water was blended with brackish estuary water while the original design proposed millions of litres a day for cooling. Public pressure forced a redesign — one of the few outright wins for opponents.

water-stressed basinorganised local opposition

Where it is

-34.6800°, -56.1400°

Google Maps Satellite See it on the map

Water and air figures are modelled from disclosed capacity, not measured — site-level error is roughly ±40%. Diesel backup generators are not counted, so on-site figures are floors. Full method.