Liquid cooling is great. But most deployments won't need it
The average data centre workload is simply too low.
Liquid cooling in the data centre is impressive - but chances are, you don't need it. Let’s break that down.
This UnfilteredFriday, it's time for a candid conversation about how small the average data centre workload really is.
Had a great catch-up this week with a team from a data centre solutions provider - always good to stay close to what's happening on the ground.
I left with a burning question: How much cooling do you really need to future proof your data centre deployment?
The news you read
It's hard to miss news reports about the latest AI data centres, and read about the staggering amount of power they consume.
It hits us on a visceral level. So when we hear about the wonders of liquid cooling, we automatically assume that it's mandatory for all new data centre deployments.
This can't be further from the truth.
The reality in most data centres
Experts generally agree that a switch to liquid cooling should be considered when densities surpass 15-20kW per rack. And at around 40-50kW, it's mandatory.
But do you know the average density per rack today? According to Uptime Institute's annual survey of hundreds of operators globally, the average rack today is... 8kW.
That's why the latest data centres still support air-cooling:
- AirTrunk's JBH1 data centre has just 20MW of liquid cooling in its first phase (50MW) - and they cater predominantly to hyperscale customers.
- When I spoke to Empyrion Digital about its upcoming KR1 data centre in Seoul, Mark Fong shared that some floors will be air-cooled while others will support liquid cooling.
- The upcoming SMX01 data centre in Jakarta, too, will have floors catering to high-density workloads and others for traditional workloads.
I'm not saying liquid cooling isn't important. But not everyone needs it - yet.
Plan judiciously
Back to your cooling consideration: if you're retrofitting a data centre today or planning for a new deployment, what should you actually be sizing for?
I can't speak for your specific setup. But chances are, it's less than you think. And if the load is low enough, do you really need the latest and greatest in liquid cooling?
