The Dense, High-Power Future Of Data Centers

Global power demand from data centers will increase 50% by 2027 and by as much as 165% by 2030, according to Goldman Sachs Research. This means that rack densities will need to increase, and as a result, facilities will require optimized power distribution and advanced cooling technologies to meet the growing capacity.

“The whole data center market is getting more power- and cooling-intensive in a much smaller package,” said Stuart Kay, business development director at Airedale by Modine, a global data center cooling equipment supplier. “Ten years ago, a 10-kilowatt rack was considered a heavily loaded cabinet. A year ago, we were seeing 100 kW to 150 kW racks, and today that number is pushing towards 600 kW and likely beyond.”

Kay said that while there are still many unknowns about the future of data centers, it seems clear that the industry is moving toward smaller, denser facilities with greater computing power. 

What does this densification of data centers mean for the industry? Where will facilities need to be built, what designs will they need to incorporate, and what type of cooling will be required to keep them running? Kay walked Bisnow through the new reality that mission-critical facilities are facing as demand and densities rise. 

Site Selection

As data center racks double in weight and electrical distribution systems grow larger, there is going to be a greater burden placed on floor and roof loads, Kay said. Not only will this increase building costs, but it will also lead to fewer multistory data centers. Site location will become increasingly important, with engineers working hard to accommodate zoning regulations and noise ordinances. 

“Densification will save building space, making it easier to build data centers in urban locations,” Kay said. “Building at the edge helps to reduce latency and likely gives better access to power.” 

Design And Modification

Once data center developers choose a site, be it for new construction or a retrofit, they will need to design their facilities to plan for high compute capacity. Kay said the solution may be modular construction because it allows for greater flexibility. 

“It’s a changing landscape, and we don’t know where densities are going to end up,” he said. “With modular construction, it allows for faster build-outs. You'll get predictable performance because you're generally building and testing these modules off-site, plus it’s a more affordable overall solution, since you’re not investing in a larger facility on Day 1 but rather leaving room for expansion.”

Cooling Needs

Kay said that traditionally, data centers have used air cooling, since it has been the most cost-effective way to remove heat. While that has worked for the past 25 years or so, now that densities have increased dramatically, air cooling will no longer cut it. Now, facilities will need to move more toward liquid cooling with single-phase direct-to-chip as the forerunner from a technology perspective. The future will probably require a two-phase solution to meet ever-growing chip power requirements, which will most likely be full liquid immersion.

“Direct-to-chip is probably going to remove around 80% of the thermal load direct to liquid, with 20% going to a separate air or hybrid cooling infrastructure,” he said.

Technology

As data center capacity increases, building management systems will need to evolve to meet their needs. The key, Kay said, will be a platform that ties everything together into one system, controlling and providing data on cooling, pressure, power usage and more. Airedale has been at the forefront of data center BMS solutions for years, Kay said, and now the company is testing an artificial intelligence solution that not only measures all these variables but is predictive in how it operates and identifies potential problems, rather than being reactive. 

“With the computing power we’re working with now, it doesn’t make sense to rely on a reactive solution anymore,” Kay said. “Modern data center infrastructure management systems will have to be proactive.” 

Sustainability

One of the benefits of smaller, denser data centers is that they will require fewer building materials and therefore reduce their impact on the environment, Kay said. Many of these facilities are also exploring renewable energy sources, on-site micro power grids and power purchase agreements to improve their energy efficiency. 

Additionally, as more data centers move to the edge or urban areas, owners will be looking into heat reuse technology, which allows them to capture and repurpose the excess heat generated by facilities instead of releasing it back into the atmosphere. 

“No matter what the future of data centers holds, Airedale by Modine has the solutions dense, high-capacity facilities will need to operate successfully,” Kay said. 

This article was produced in collaboration between Airedale by Modine and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.