CLOUD & COLOCATION
“ SUSTAINABILITY GOALS REMAIN ACHIEVABLE THROUGH THE RELENTLESS PURSUIT OF EFFICIENCY IN EQUIPMENT, SYSTEMS AND DESIGN, AND WITH DEVELOPMENTS IN LIQUID COOLING AND AI-POWERED ENERGY OPTIMISATION”
Marc Garner Global President, Cloud & Service Providers Schneider Electric
Reference designs, prefabrication and modular builds with fully integrated liquid cooling capabilities allow owners and operators to reliably meet demand at scale. Digital design tools and digital twins give further scope for effective design, simulation and operation.
All of these efforts can also significantly reduce reliance on water in the heat extraction and exhaust process. More efficient extraction through direct liquid cooling can reduce the need for open cooling systems that lose water to the atmosphere. Closed loop systems can use heat exchangers and other devices that do not rely on water evaporation processes.
In addition, a liquid medium that draws away heat presents far greater scope for heat recovery, further adding to efficiency and sustainability goals.
This is an important development that addresses another impact of the proliferation of such facilities and their scale, namely their impact on their locale and environment.
Q. HOW IS ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS SHAPING THE PERCEPTION OF DATA CENTRES?
» Much has been made of the energy and water consumption of data centres, which can lead to negative public perception. Initiatives such as heat reuse for the likes of district heating schemes, leisure activities and for agri- and aquaculture purposes go a long way towards addressing negative perceptions. Other efforts such as encouraging biodiversity through pollinator-friendly campus management, habitat management and green spaces demonstrate an awareness of the environment and reduce the perception of negative impact.
This will become an increasingly important issue as visibility grows as facilities proliferate and scale increases. Active participation in environmental, social and governance( ESG) initiatives, local community support and education programmes further encourage the understanding of data centres and digital
74 August 2026