The Thai cabinet has approved new environmental regulations governing noise levels and water usage for data centers, following a government review prompted by public concerns over a rapid, AI-driven construction boom.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas emphasized the administration’s priority regarding national resources.
”The use of national resources must not adversely affect the public,” Ekniti told a news conference.
The regulatory shift follows a government announcement in September instructing developers of nearly 50 data center projects currently under construction to pause their work while new standards were formulated.
Under the newly approved rules drafted by the government data center board, facility noise at site boundaries will be capped at 70 A-weighted decibels (dBA)—a sound level slightly quieter than a household vacuum cleaner, according to Yale University comparisons. Additionally, projects must limit nearby temperature increases to between one and two degrees Celsius, while cooling water is required to be fully recirculated and tested prior to discharge.
New zoning policies were also approved in principle. Facilities consuming more than 20 megawatts of energy must now be situated within designated industrial zones and will be subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny.
According to Narit Therdsteerasukdi of Thailand’s Board of Investment, the country has approved a total of 57 data center projects. Among these, 17 are currently operational, 20 hold construction permits, and 20 are in the preparation phase for investment.
Finance Minister Ekniti noted that the review also uncovered a high volume of speculative proposals. More than 110 applicants collectively requested over 30,000 megawatts of electricity, though officials estimated that only a quarter or fewer possessed genuine investment plans.
Data center projects that were officially approved prior to August 14 have been granted a one-year grace period to comply with the updated environmental guidelines.