Gradiant to Build Water Treatment Facility for Planned Data Center in Didcot, UK
April 8, 2026
Water treatment specialist Gradiant has been selected to design and deliver a comprehensive water treatment facility for a major planned hyperscale data center in Didcot, South Oxfordshire, UK. The project, located on the site of the former Didcot A coal power station, underscores the critical challenge of securing sustainable water resources for the rapidly expanding AI and cloud infrastructure sector.
The contract award reflects the growing pressure on data center operators to minimize environmental impact while ensuring operational reliability. Gradiant's system will integrate water treatment, recycling, and zero liquid discharge technologies, aiming to significantly reduce freshwater consumption for the site's cooling operations. The company will assume responsibility for the entire water performance lifecycle, moving beyond treating water as a standalone utility to creating an integrated, circular system.
Philipp Sausele, Managing Director of Gradiant Europe, stated, “This project reflects how we combine deep regional expertise with Gradiant’s global technology platform to deliver critical infrastructure with confidence.” He emphasized the balance of understanding local regulatory and environmental landscapes while deploying proven global solutions.
The Didcot site has a notable industrial history. The former combined coal and oil plant, which opened in 1970 and was capable of generating 1,440MW at its peak, was demolished between 2014 and 2020. Originally owned by German power producer RWE, the land was reportedly sold to Amazon in a deal valued at $265 million in December of last year. While Amazon Web Services (AWS) was linked to the site as early as 2021, and recent planning documents list the applicant as "Amazon Data Services," the company has not formally confirmed its development plans.
Commenting on the industry-wide implications, Gradiant CEO Prakash Govindan said, “AI is driving one of the largest infrastructure buildouts in history, and water is quickly becoming the limiting factor. At Gradiant, we are building the water backbone for the next generation of industry.” The project is positioned as a strategic partnership with leading infrastructure players to deliver resilient and sustainable solutions where reliability is paramount.
Source: datacenterdynamics
Gradiant Secures Contract for Water Treatment at Major UK Hyperscale Data Center Site
