In the ever-evolving world of technology, data centres play a crucial role in powering the digital landscape. However, these hubs of computing power come with a significant challenge: keeping them cool. As the demand for data centres continues to soar, driven in part by the growth of AI technologies, the need for innovative cooling solutions has become paramount.
Liquid cooling has emerged as a game-changer in this field. Companies like Iceotope are pioneering techniques that use fluid to shower or bathe the components, effectively whisking away the heat generated by the relentless processing. This approach not only enables “overclocking” – running the servers at extremely high speeds – but also significantly reduces the energy and water consumption associated with traditional air-cooling methods.
Jonathan Ballon, the chief executive of Iceotope, explains that their technology can cut cooling-related energy demands by up to 80%. This is a significant achievement, especially as data centres face increasing scrutiny over their environmental impact. More than 200 environmental groups in the US have recently called for a moratorium on new data centre construction, highlighting the industry’s voracious appetite for energy and water.
However, not all liquid cooling solutions are created equal. Some technologies rely on refrigerants that contain harmful PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which pose a threat to human health. Yulin Wang, a former senior technology analyst at IDTechEx, warns of the potential safety issues associated with these chemicals, as well as the greenhouse gas emissions produced by some two-phase cooling systems.
In response, some companies are shifting towards PFAS-free refrigerants, while others are exploring even more innovative approaches. Microsoft, for instance, famously sank a tube-like container full of servers into the sea off Orkney, Scotland, to leverage the cold seawater for air-based cooling. Although the project was ultimately shuttered, it provided valuable insights into the potential of hands-off, reliable data centre operations.
As the demand for AI technologies, including generative AI and large language models, continues to grow, the pressure on data centres to become more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly will only intensify. Sasha Luccioni, the AI and climate lead at Hugging Face, a machine learning company, emphasises the need for greater transparency from AI firms regarding the energy consumption of their products.
The race is on to find the best cooling solutions for data centres, with companies like Iceotope and researchers like Renkun Chen at the University of California San Diego exploring novel technologies. From microfluidics to pore-filled membrane-based cooling, the industry is constantly innovating to keep the tech at the heart of our digital world chilled and running at peak performance.
