This 12 months was all about energy as considerations about whether or not overtaxed energy grids can sustain with the tech evolution mounted for the information middle trade, the utility sector, and regulatory policymakers. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, nonetheless. From these challenges additionally got here hopeful collaboration efforts and improvements in cooling, rack design, and renewable vitality.
DCN’s high 10 information middle energy and cooling tales of 2024 convey consultants collectively in dialog about essential findings in vitality utilization, methods to leverage AI in efforts to make information middle operations extra sustainable, strategies for constructing extra environment friendly cooling methods, and the way information facilities and utility corporations should come collectively to handle these urgent vitality considerations. Under we record our high information middle energy and cooling tales of the 12 months.
1. Welcome to the Period of the Nuclear-Powered Knowledge Middle
With a simultaneous surge in demand for information facilities able to supporting AI workloads and a worldwide vitality disaster, the tech evolution has change into unsustainable in its present state, DCN contributor Invoice Kleyman writes. This has some turning to nuclear vitality as an ample and clear choice for powering the information middle sector. This text highlights a few of the methods wherein nuclear energy may present an answer to the information middle trade’s rising vitality disaster. Learn extra.
2. Energy Is Key to Unlocking AI Knowledge Middle Progress
The one factor governing AI’s potential is the necessity for energy, trade skilled Ali Fenn mentioned at this 12 months’s Knowledge Middle World. Subsequently, with the intention to capitalize on the AI growth, corporations should discover dependable energy sources in locations the place new information facilities will be constructed at comparatively contained prices. As of now, the present energy grid mannequin will be unable to handle AI build-out. On this article, DCN contributor Drew Robb highlights a few of Fenn’s ideas on the way forward for AI-optimized information facilities. Learn extra.
3. Is Rear Rack Cooling Proper For Your Knowledge Middle Operations?
Rear rack cooling presents extra energy-efficient cooling at decrease prices than liquid cooling methods – however it additionally poses some particular challenges. For one, extra air exchangers are wanted than a conventional CRAC system, which takes up extra information middle house, and – maybe most significantly – it doesn’t provide backups if an exchanger fails. Should you’re seeking to make the change from conventional CRAC methods to rear rack cooling, this text may also help you make the knowledgeable choice. Learn extra.
4. The Twin Affect of AI on Knowledge Middle Energy and Sustainability
Most frequently AI is mentioned as probably the most vital risk to sustainability, however at this 12 months’s Knowledge Middle World, keynote speaker Ali Fenn spoke about how AI might be a optimistic agent for change in the case of decreasing carbon emissions and enhancing vitality utilization and cooling operations. This text expands on AI’s potential to rework information middle vitality consumption. Learn extra.
5. How Knowledge Facilities Work with Utilities to Enhance Energy Availability
The facility grid is a posh machine, and previously few years it’s solely change into extra sophisticated because the utilities universe undergoes substantial adjustments caused by AI, excessive climate, electrification, and regulatory pressures. The info middle trade, with its immense want for energy, has put large strain on the utility trade lately, however now information middle builders and grid operators are starting to collaborate. Author Drew Robb explains why this strategic partnership is required now greater than ever. Learn extra.
6. DOE Report Exposes Important Affect of AI on Knowledge Middle Energy Consumption
In July, the Division of Power revealed a report detailing exorbitant energy calls for from information facilities, with a specific concentrate on these supporting AI workloads. The DOE collaborated with trade stakeholders to current a set of suggestions concerning methods the information middle trade can shift from vitality consumption to grid administration. On this article you’ll discover the DOE’s suggestions outlined and defined, in addition to a concentrate on some key points that weren’t addressed within the report. Learn extra.
7. Knowledge Middle Rack Density Has Doubled. And It is Nonetheless Not Sufficient
In a future the place each information middle is an AI information middle, rack density might want to develop significantly with the intention to meet elevated capability necessities. Rack density has already doubled since 2008, however it’s not sufficient to assist the high-density structure AI requires. DCN contributor Invoice Kleyman appears to be like at how liquid cooling and rear-door warmth exchangers may improve capability and assist the trade maintain tempo with the calls for of AI workloads. Learn extra.
8. How Utilities and Hyperscalers Are Working to Deal with ‘Excessive’ Knowledge Middle Energy Calls for
Each utilities and hyperscalers are urgently making an attempt to develop vitality capability by infrastructure upgrades, renewables, and bettering vitality effectivity with the intention to meet the vitality calls for of AI workloads. This text expands on the collaborative efforts being made by information middle corporations and utilities in addition to the challenges posed by regulatory restrictions that make upgrading an already overtaxed energy grid all of the tougher. Learn extra.
9. Hovering AI Energy Demand Poses Unanswered Questions for Knowledge Facilities: Webinar Protection
Author Henry Chapman stories on a DCN webinar centered on the challenges AI infrastructures and functions current to energy distribution. Central to this dialogue are considerations round limitations to the heating and provide chain, an urgency for sustainable cooling options and revolutionary designs for brand new information facilities, and the function of regulation to the way forward for energy grid infrastructure and vitality distribution. Learn extra.
10. Hydrogen-Powered Knowledge Facilities: A Sustainable Resolution?
Hydrogen-powered information facilities might be the clear vitality supply the information middle trade has been dreaming of. However is widespread adoption doubtless anytime quickly? Hydrogen fuel-cells provide a gradual vitality supply that isn’t local weather dependent, produces only a few emissions, and is comparatively cheap. On this article, DCN contributor Christopher Tozzi expands on how hydrogen gas cells produce vitality, how this vitality might be harnessed, and the challenges and options it may convey to the information middle trade. Learn extra.
