The increasing adoption of AI is projected to drive a substantial rise in global data centre power demand, potentially increasing by 50% by 2027 and up to 165% by the end of the decade.
This surge necessitates the integration of liquid cooling with traditional air-cooling methods to support next-generation AI and high-performance computing.
Liquid cooling is now recognised as a highly effective solution for cooling high power density (HPD) AI computing servers, which require significantly more energy due to their intensive processing capabilities.
Jonathan Chiu, president of Schneider Electric Hong Kong, highlighted the transformative approach to infrastructure optimisation through advanced liquid cooling technologies.
Equinix, Dell Technologies, and Schneider Electric have collaborated to deploy liquid cooling technology at Equinix's HK1 data centre, addressing the growing demand for AI infrastructure in space-constrained Hong Kong.
The pilot program at Equinix HK1 utilises a 50kW in-rack direct-to-chip liquid cooling system, demonstrating how Equinix data centres in Hong Kong are positioned to meet the evolving demands of AI and machine learning (ML) workloads.
According to the Uptime Institute's 2024 Cooling Systems Survey, 22% of data centre operators are currently using direct liquid cooling (DLC), with 61% considering it for future deployment. This aligns with the industry’s shift towards higher-density IT racks, where liquid cooling becomes essential as power densities rise above traditional limits.
Key facts about the program include:
- Deployment of Dell's advanced liquid-cooled servers and Schneider Electric's in-rack liquid cooling CDU system.
- Liquid cooling's superior heat conduction, exceeding air by over 3,000 times, which allows for increased data centre densities.
- The liquid cooling unit delivers up to 150kW of cooling capacity per rack, 30 times greater than conventional air-cooled systems.
- CLP Power Hong Kong conducted an energy audit and recommended liquid cooling to enhance energy efficiency.
- Liquid cooling can achieve a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.2 or lower, compared to 1.4–1.5 for traditional computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units, potentially saving over 2,000MWh annually per data centre if fully implemented.
- Schneider Electric's in-rack, direct-to-chip liquid cooling CDU system enables Equinix HK1 to adapt existing infrastructure to the thermal demands of AI computing.
- Dell PowerEdge servers play a crucial role in the liquid cooling systems, delivering fast, powerful, and energy-efficient computing solutions.
"As digital transformation keeps pushing industries forward, Equinix is focused on finding new, sustainable ways to support businesses in Hong Kong and beyond," Joanne Hon, managing director, Equinix Hong Kong
"We’re constantly discovering smarter, more sustainable methods to optimize our existing resources as we continue striving towards our goal of achieving net zero targets."
The deployment of liquid cooling at Equinix HK1 represents an important advancement in supporting the energy-intensive demands of AI infrastructure, promoting sustainability and efficiency in data centre operations.
