Innovative Cooling Techniques Slash Data Centre Emissions: A New Study by Microsoft and WSP
In a transformative study published in Nature, researchers from Microsoft and WSP Global have revealed that advanced cooling solutions like cold plates and immersion cooling can significantly reduce environmental impacts of data centres. The life cycle assessment led by Husam Alissa of Microsoft, and WSP’s Mukunth Natarajan and Praneet Arshi demonstrated that these methods could cut data centre emissions by 15-21%, energy consumption by 15-20%, and water usage by an impressive 31-52% when compared to traditional air cooling systems.
As demand for cloud services surges, data centres face mounting pressure to innovate. Traditional cooling methods, which account for a significant portion of energy use, are no longer sustainable. “Our assessment shows that adopting advanced liquid cooling technologies can meaningfully reduce data centre environmental impacts,” the authors asserted in their findings.
The study elaborates on two promising cooling techniques: cold plates and immersion cooling. Cold plates, which directly cool chips with a liquid coolant, enhance heat transfer significantly. On the other hand, immersion cooling submerges components in a heat-dissipating fluid, offering a more effective alternative to traditional air systems. Both methods yield notable improvements in efficiency and reliability while minimizing carbon footprints.
However, hurdles remain. Regulatory challenges surrounding coolant fluids and the complexity of implementing advanced designs require careful navigation. The study cautions that true sustainability must consider the entire life cycle of technologies employed, urging a systemic approach rather than isolated fixes.
The findings underscore an urgent need for the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector to embrace innovative cooling solutions. By aligning with renewable energy sources, emissions can potentially drop by up to 90%, reinforcing the case for a greener data centre future.
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