Innovative Cooling Solutions Could Slash Data Centre Emissions
A recent study by researchers from Microsoft and WSP Global, published in Nature, reveals that advanced cooling methods, including cold plates and immersion cooling, can significantly reduce data centre emissions and resource consumption. Led by Husam Alissa (Microsoft) and WSP’s Mukunth Natarajan and Praneet Arshi, the life cycle assessment highlights that these advanced techniques can decrease emissions by 15-21%, energy use by 15-20%, and water consumption by a staggering 31-52% when compared to traditional air cooling systems.
Data centres, responsible for a substantial part of global energy consumption, need innovative cooling solutions that mitigate their environmental impact as they face a pressing deadline to cut emissions by 42% by 2030. The research underscores the importance of cooling in maintaining hardware reliability, likening the heat generated by densely packed electronics to a crowded kitchen where overheating can quickly lead to failure.
Two key methods stand out: cold plates and immersion cooling. Cold plates utilize microchannel technology to efficiently transport heat away from components, akin to an ice pack cooling fever, while immersion cooling involves submerging components in oil that absorbs heat, promoting reliable performance without the noise from traditional cooling methods.
As companies like Microsoft and Alibaba begin to adopt these systems, challenges remain in regulatory approvals and potential ecological impacts of coolant fluids. The life cycle assessment suggests that while these new technologies show promise, prioritizing renewable energy sources is essential for maximizing their environmental benefits.
Overall, as the ICT industry seeks to align with global sustainability goals, this study indicates that reinventing cooling strategies could play a vital role in shaping a greener, more sustainable future for data centres.
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