Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2025/02/20/diggers_exoscale_liquid_cooling/
Source: The Register
Title: Euro cloud biz trials ‘server blades in a cold box’ system
Feedly Summary: Hot air or a 50% energy saving? Exoscale datacenter runs proof-of-concept to test veracity of Digger’s claims
A1 Digital is testing liquid cooling tech for power-intensive AI servers that is claimed to save 50 percent of the energy previously required for cooling, doing away entirely with the need for air conditioning.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
**Summary:** A1 Digital is testing a groundbreaking liquid cooling technology at its Vienna datacenter, which claims to reduce cooling energy consumption by 50%, eliminating the need for traditional air conditioning. This innovation not only promotes sustainability but also directly addresses the challenges of rising energy costs and increasing server density.
**Detailed Description:**
The text highlights a significant advancement in cooling technology for data centers, which is becoming increasingly important due to rising energy costs and concerns about sustainability in the tech industry. This liquid cooling system developed by Diggers represents a fourth-generation design that is both energy-efficient and simplifies maintenance compared to previous methods.
– **Direct Liquid Cooling (DLC):** The pilot project involves the use of a direct liquid cooling system that efficiently manages heat from server blades.
– **Energy Efficiency:** The new technology purportedly halves cooling energy requirements and achieves a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of about 1.05, far surpassing the industry average of approximately 1.56.
– **Sustainability Compliance:** Diggers and Exoscale are responding to EU regulations such as the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) as they adapt to stricter sustainability requirements.
– **Innovative Design:** The system is designed as a sealed “cold box,” allowing for liquid cooling with minimal air exchange, reducing complexity and potential maintenance challenges associated with traditional cooling methods.
– **Material Considerations:** Cold plates are constructed from aluminum to mitigate corrosion, marking an improvement over previous designs that utilized mineral oil, improving safety and maintenance conditions.
– **Scalability and Future Implications:** Initial testing involves limited capacity, but successful outcomes could lead to broader implementations across different facilities, enhancing Exoscale’s offerings as a cloud service provider.
Overall, the insights provided in this text are invaluable for professionals engaged in infrastructure security and cloud computing, particularly those focused on enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability in data center operations. Understanding such advancements can help organizations align with compliance requirements while adopting technologies that optimize operational performance.