CEO AND FOUNDER , SOBEN
“ WE ENVISION A
FUTURE WHERE DATA CENTRES ARE NOT ONLY BUILDINGS FOR INFORMATION BUT ALSO A DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM OPTIMISED FOR AI- DRIVEN PROCESSES AND ANALYSIS . which forces us to move away from more traditional air-cooling solutions .
E D I T O R ' S Q U E S T I O N
SCOTT SMYTH ,
CEO AND FOUNDER , SOBEN
There ’ s no doubt that AI will have a profound influence on data centre design . As we navigate speeding technological advances , we envision a future where data centres are not only buildings for information but also a dynamic ecosystem optimised for AIdriven processes and analysis .
Amongst the most significant design impacts is the emergence of high-density racks and liquid cooling technologies . These stand at the forefront of innovation
“ WE ENVISION A
FUTURE WHERE DATA CENTRES ARE NOT ONLY BUILDINGS FOR INFORMATION BUT ALSO A DYNAMIC ECOSYSTEM OPTIMISED FOR AI- DRIVEN PROCESSES AND ANALYSIS . which forces us to move away from more traditional air-cooling solutions .
Liquid cooling is a good solution to this challenge , offering high-level thermal conductivity and energy efficiency compared to air-cooled systems . The question is whether this can be implemented fast enough to cater for the rapid growth of AI , and in what form . I ’ m excited to see which solution the market will embrace . Are we moving towards immersive cooling , direct-to-chip , or will we perhaps settle for an intermediate solution such as rear-door air cooling ?
Let ’ s not forget that increased power density in white space areas presents a technical challenge for electrical design . There are opportunities for streamlining and eliminating electrical equipment previously focused on a more traditional density of 25kW and below . However , this is not without its risks , so it should be at the top of the agenda for every MEP designer around the globe .
All these only touch on what is happening inside the data centre . The elephant in the room is how AI data centres will fit into the current energy ecosystem . Power surges , but especially power drops , associated with AI require a completely new approach to power purchase agreements with grid providers . So , AI developers need to bring their own power , or at least be championing the discussion on how to redefine the ecosystem .
We ’ re at a pivotal moment in history . AI will be disruptive to our whole industry . Designers , developers , operators , builders and consultants must be dynamic , and ready to think on their feet . but come with tremendous challenges . In an AI environment , high-density racks over 100kW are no longer an exception ,
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