The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased the demand for data processing capabilities and capacity, leading to the expansion of data centres globally. As these facilities operate continuously, their energy-intensive equipment are raising concerns about sustainability.
New cooling technologies and innovative approaches are emerging to address the environmental challenges posed by these critical infrastructures, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
GlobalData’s latest Strategic Intelligence report, “Deep Dive into The Environmental Impact of Data Centres”, reveals that water is the most common cooling method, and its use has increased during the current AI boom. However, new cooling technologies are being developed.
Martina Raveni, analyst in the strategic team at GlobalData, comments: “The high temperature of data centres is a critical issue at the moment. If equipment overheats, malfunctions and breakdowns can occur, with repercussions for the many sectors that rely on those data centers. As demand for AI applications increases, managing these temperatures will become increasingly important.”
Big tech companies training large language models (LLMs) are increasing their water consumption for cooling purposes. However, water cooling is not ideal in the long-term due to water scarcity in certain areas and because it is ultimately a finite resource.
To reduce water consumption, new cooling technologies are being developed, including immersion cooling using dielectric fluids and ceramic components for circuit boards and semiconductors. Future cooling methods such as underwater data centres and data centres in space are also being explored.
Raveni concludes: “There will likely be increased deployment of data centres in cold climates. Expectations include greater adoption of sustainable design and advanced cooling technologies like immersion cooling, driven by data centres’ energy efficiency demands and regulatory pressures.
“The future of data centres hinges on our ability to innovate and adapt to the pressing environmental challenges they pose. As we embrace advanced cooling technologies and sustainable practices, it is crucial to balance the growing demand for data processing with our responsibility to protect finite resources.
“The transition to more efficient and eco-friendly solutions will not only enhance operational resilience but also pave the way for a more sustainable digital infrastructure.”