News in the Channel - issue #39

HYBRID COOLING FOR DATA CENTRES

cooling capability and future scalability.” Slawomir agrees. “AI deployments are expanding from pilot projects to full production scale, increasing the need for scalable and adaptable thermal solutions,” he adds. “Hybrid cooling supports this transition by accommodating rising rack densities while maintaining operational continuity and efficiency across diverse computing architectures.” Jason adds that demand is likely to grow as organisations look for practical ways to support AI without rebuilding entire facilities. “Hybrid cooling provides a scalable route, allowing operators to introduce higher-density capability alongside existing infrastructures,” he says. “It aligns with how most data centres evolve in reality. Few organisations can justify starting from scratch, so solutions that extend the life and performance of current environments will be prioritised. “However, adoption will vary by workload. Many GPUs still support air- cooled configurations, meaning not every deployment requires liquid cooling today. “At a larger scale, though, efficiency becomes the deciding factor. As AI workloads concentrate and power density rises, liquid cooling becomes more effective, particularly for sustained performance. “Hybrid models allow operators to balance this, applying liquid cooling where it delivers value, while retaining air cooling where it remains sufficient.” Adhum adds that the compute density of AI hardware isn’t plateauing. “Each generation of GPUs is drawing more power and generating more heat, and air cooling as a standalone solution becomes less viable with every product cycle,” he says. “My expectation is that hybrid cooling becomes the default specification for new data centre builds within the next two to three years and retrofit demand will keep growing as operators try to keep existing facilities relevant rather than writing them off.” n

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As AI workloads concentrate and power density rises, liquid cooling becomes more effective, particularly

build longer-term customer relationships.” Jason says resellers should also emphasise scalability. “Hybrid approaches allow infrastructures to evolve in stages, avoiding large-scale redesign while still supporting future growth. “Efficiency and cost control are equally important. By applying liquid cooling only where it is needed, organisations can manage energy use and operational spend more effectively than with a full transition. “Future-proofing is another key message. As compute density continues to rise, hybrid models provide a pathway to adapt without repeated disruption.” Discussions should also focus on flexibility, scalability and protection of existing investments, adds Slawomir. “Hybrid cooling enables higher density AI workloads without forcing immediate, largescale infrastructure overhauls,” he says. “It supports phased deployment, improves energy efficiency and provides a clear path toward future cooling strategies as AI requirements continue to evolve.” Increasing demand With AI use increasing, it is expected that hybrid cooling for data centres will continue to grow in popularity. “As AI adoption grows, more businesses will need infrastructure that can support higher-density workloads reliably and efficiently,” says Karl. “The challenge is not only powering that infrastructure, but also removing the heat it generates in a controlled and efficient way. We are already seeing this shift in customer conversations, with organisations asking more detailed questions about density,

for sustained performance.

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Contributors

Slawomir Dziedziula

vertiv.com

Rich Day

mercurypower.net