xAI is set to construct what will be the world’s largest ceramic membrane bioreactor (MBR), repurposing 49.2 MLD (13.0 MGD) of municipal wastewater to cool its supercomputing data center in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The project will feature CERAFILTEC’s most advanced ceramic membrane technology and is on a fast-track schedule to be completed in 2025.
The vast scale of the MBR project reflects a rising demand for innovative ceramic solutions in critical wastewater treatment applications, particularly for data center cooling. xAI—an artificial intelligence firm founded by Elon Musk, who has stated this will be "the most powerful AI training cluster in the world"—selected CERAFILTEC because of its technological expertise, cutting-edge ceramic membrane solution, and ability to meet an accelerated timeline. Designed to deliver superior reliability and efficiency, CERAFILTEC’s technology overcomes typical issues such as fiber breakages and the need for intricate cleaning protocols. In an industry where data centers are rapidly expanding, effective and sustainable water management is essential to maintaining high performance.
The vast scale of the MBR project reflects a rising demand for innovative ceramic solutions in critical wastewater treatment applications, particularly for data center cooling
The initiative also highlights xAI’s commitment to sustainable water practices by using municipal wastewater for cooling. This approach not only conserves valuable drinking water but also protects the Memphis Sands Aquifer for the local community’s benefit. With the capacity to process more wastewater than required for cooling its operations, the facility will supply surplus treated water to local industries, thereby reducing the aquifer’s overall impact and setting a precedent for environmentally friendly practices in the tech sector. Moreover, CERAFILTEC’s durable and reusable solution supports a circular economy by eliminating plastic waste associated with conventional polymeric membranes, significantly reducing environmental harm.
“CERAFILTEC’s robust ceramic membrane technology meets our demanding requirements for ultra-reliable and efficient water treatment to support our state-of-the-art supercomputer,” said Mark Carroll, xAI’s wastewater engineer who is leading the design and construction of the recycling plant. “This partnership enables us to set new benchmarks in both technology and water efficiency, ensuring vital cooling water supply for our high-performance computing systems with no impact on local potable water supplies.”
“Our DNAs are very aligned, and together we are shaping the future of both AI and water treatment,” said Dr. Torsten Wintergerste. Dr. Wintergerste, who recently joined CERAFILTEC as CEO, comes from the Swiss technology company Sulzer, where he served as President of the Chemtech division.
CERAFILTEC is a privately owned company, Dr. Juergen Hambrecht, Chairman of CERAFILTEC and former CEO and Chairman of BASF, added: “Our collaboration with xAI showcases the transformative potential of ceramic membranes in water and wastewater treatment, offering unparalleled reliability and efficiency. This project establishes a new industry benchmark and reinforces CERAFILTEC’s role as a global leader in innovative water solutions.”
