Intelligent Data Centres Issue 66 | Page 27

I N F O G R A P H I C

OMDIA RESEARCH PREDICTS DATA CENTRE COOLING MARKET TO REACH US $ 16.87 BILLION IN 2028

Integration of AI-optimised cooling systems , strategic vendor partnerships and a continued push for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions are shaping the industry ’ s evolution .

The data centre thermal management market has surged to a staggering US $ 7.67 billion , outpacing previous forecasts according to new research from Omdia .

This research pitches such ‘ unprecedented ’ growth is poised to continue with a robust CAGR of 18.4 % until 2028 . Such growth , the research says , will largely be fuelled by AI-driven demands and innovations in high-density infrastructure marking a pivotal moment for the industry .
As AI computing becomes ubiquitous , the demand for liquid cooling has surged dramatically . Key trends include the rapid adoption of Rear Door Heat Exchangers ( RDHx ) combined with 1-P Direct-to-Chip cooling , achieving an impressive 65 % year-over-year growth , frequently integrating heat reuse applications . This period also sees a strategic blend of air and liquid cooling technologies , creating a balanced and efficient thermal management .
“ In 2023 , the global data centre cooling market experienced increased consolidation , Top 5 and Top 10 concentration ratios rising by 5 % from the previous year ,” said Omdia ’ s Principal Analyst , Shen Wang . “ Omdia expanded vendor coverage in its report to include 49 companies , up from 40 , adding Chinese OEMs and direct liquid cooling component suppliers . Vertiv , Johnson Controls and Stulz retained their top three positions – Vertiv notably gained 6 % market share due to strong North American demand and cloud partnerships .”
The research revealed market growth for data centre cooling was primarily constrained by production capacity , particularly for components like Cooling Distribution Units ( CDUs ), rather than a lack of demand . Numerous supply chain players struggled to satisfy the soaring market needs , causing component shortages . However , the research suggests improvements forecasted for 2024 are expected to alleviate this issue , unlocking orders delayed from the previous year due to supply chain bottlenecks .
During the research period , liquid cooling adoption witnessed robust growth , particularly in North America and China , with new vendors entering the scene and tracked companies exhibiting significant expansion .
In this nearly US $ 1 billion market of liquid cooling , Direct-to-Chip vendor , CoolIT remain the top leader in the liquid cooling market , followed by immersion cooling leader , Sugon , and server vendor , Lenovo .
The research recognises data centre thermal management is advancing due to AI ' s growing influence and sustainability requirements .
Despite strong growth prospects , the industry faces challenges with supply chain constraints in liquid cooling and embracing sustainable practices .
Moving forward , the research says the integration of AI-optimised cooling systems , strategic vendor partnerships and a continued push for energy-efficient and environmentally friendly solutions will shape the industry ' s evolution .
Successfully addressing these challenges is seen as ensuring growth and establishing thermal management as a cornerstone of sustainable and efficient data centre operations , aligning technology with environmental stewardship .
“ Data centre cooling is projected to be a US $ 16.8 billion market by 2028 , fuelled by digitalisation , high power capacity demand and a shift towards ecofriendly infrastructure , with liquid cooling emerging as the biggest technology in the sector ,” said Wang . �
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