[DigitalToday reporter Jae-won Choi] The Thai government has introduced its first environmental management standards limiting noise, heat discharge and water use to respond to a rapid rise in AI data centres. The move aims to cut the burden on power and water resources and reduce environmental damage to surrounding areas while continuing to attract AI infrastructure investment.

On Nov. 12 (local time), IT media outlet TechRadar reported that Thailand's cabinet approved a new regulatory framework on Nov. 10 to manage the environmental impact of data centres. The key is to set standards on noise, heat and water use and introduce management systems by facility size.

Under the new standards, noise from data centres' emergency generators is limited to 70 A-weighted decibels (dBA) or less at site boundaries. That is similar to the operating noise of a typical hair dryer. The perceived reduction in noise for residents may vary depending on where measurements are taken, operating conditions and how authorities enforce the rules.

The rules also set limits on heat discharge. Operators must keep the rise in outside temperatures to within 1 to 2 degrees Celsius. Operators must install equipment to circulate and reuse cooling water and conduct water-quality tests before discharging wastewater outside.

Site restrictions are also being tightened. The Thai government has divided data centres into seven grades based on power use. Large facilities with power demand of 20 megawatts (MW) or more must be located in industrial estates and will be subject to additional environmental management obligations.

Existing operators will be given a transition period, while new operators will be required to meet environmental and safety standards to proceed with projects. The government also plans to build a one-stop service integrating licensing procedures to block speculative securing of power and duplicate applications.

The tighter rules come as AI infrastructure investment surges. Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) said applications for investment promotion totalled $50.3 billion from January to September this year. AI-related projects accounted for about 70 percent. It said the figure reflects application amounts, not investment actually executed.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas (에크니티 니티탄프라팟) said data centre investment should not have a negative impact on national resources and residents' lives.