Do Rising Chip Power Densities Mean the End of Conventional Cooling?
Despite power and supply constraints, the demand for high-capacity data centers is soaring. The drivers behind the increased demand include AI applications, high-performance computing, and next-gen workloads that rely on technologies such as cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT). Advances in semiconductor technology have led to more powerful GPUs and higher rack densities. Can conventional, air-based cooling systems handle modern data centers? Although air cooling is still widely used, many data center developers are turning to more efficient options. When air cooling is inadequate alone, it can become part of a smarter, hybrid strategy rather than being completely …
Refrigerant Revolution: Preparing for Low-GWP Regulations in Data Center Cooling
The way we cool data centers is about to change, again. This time, it’s not a story of power usage effectiveness (PUE) or mechanical innovation. It’s not a question of whether to deploy liquid or air cooling, or where to place your CRAC units. It’s about the coolant at the system’s core. A global regulatory shift is forcing the cooling industry to rethink its dependence on high-GWP (global warming potential) refrigerants. While these substances have powered decades of efficiency and reliability in traditional HVAC systems, they now sit in the crosshairs of environmental policy, and compliance timelines are shorter than …
Airedale by Modine Unveils Skid-Based CDU for Scalable Data Center Efficiency
Airedale by Modine release new CDU to Enhance Flexibility in Hybrid and Liquid-Cooled Data Centers. Leeds, UK, ( October 30, 2025), – Critical Cooling Specialist Airedale by ModineTM has today announced the extension of their liquid cooling coolant distribution unit (CDU), with the introduction of a modular, skid-based design for capacities of 2MW+. The high-capacity design, introduced to deliver increased flexibility to customers, will be manufactured globally at Airedale by Modine facilities across Europe, North America and Asia Pacific. The launch of the skid-based CDU expands the product range to three standard footprints, offering scalable capacities from 400kW up to …
Water Usage Effectiveness: Quantifying the Impact on Sustainability
Water usage effectiveness (WUE) is a metric introduced to the industry by The Green Grid, a global consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers. Designed to address the global concerns of water scarcity, it measures how efficiently a data center consumes water- a critical measurement for today’s sustainability-focussed landscape. Analysed in conjunction with power usage effectiveness (PUE), the two metrics form an overall picture that allows data center operators to make more impactful decisions that can form part of a meaningful sustainability strategy. Water Usage in Data Centers? The main uses of water in a data center are …
Strategies To Maximize Cooling Efficiency
Cooling accounts for a significant share of data center energy use. Even modest efficiency improvements can lead to meaningful reductions in OPEX and carbon output. While IT hardware is advancing rapidly, cooling strategies often fall behind, hampered by legacy systems, siloed decision-making, and outdated assumptions. Airedale by Modine sees cooling efficiency as a system-level discipline, beginning with thoughtful design and continuing into day-to-day operation. This approach focuses on how components interact, systems scale with demand, and control strategies evolve over time. True efficiency results from aligning infrastructure, intelligence, and intent. Assessing the Efficiency Baseline Before you can improve, you need …
Sustainable Cooling Solutions for High-Density Data Centers
The extraordinary growth of cloud services and AI applications, along with the resultant increase in data processing needs and network traffic, is driving unprecedented demand for data center capacity. According to the global consulting firm McKinsey & Co, total data center capacity could nearly triple by 2030. As data centers strive to meet the growing demand, many operators, particularly hyperscalers, are pushing toward ever-higher rack densities. But increasing rack loads is not without its challenges. As heat loads rise, traditional cooling strategies are insufficient to meet operational and environmental needs. To keep up with data processing demand without compromising sustainability …
Airedale by Modine Releases High Capacity Turbocor® Chiller for Data Center Industry
Airedale by Modine release TurboChill DCSTM to deliver improved cooling capacity in higher ambient temperatures for colocation & hyperscale data centers. Critical Cooling Specialist Airedale by ModineTM has today announced the 2MW TurboChill DCSTM, the next generation in their range of Turbocor® compressor chillers, redesigned from the ground up to meet the specific operational demands of colocation and hyperscale data centers. TurboChill DCS will be manufactured in the U.K. and the U.S. for global distribution. TurboChill DCS is the latest in Airedale’s DCS range of data center specific chillers, designed to meet the most ambitious efficiency, performance and sustainability objectives. It …
