DESIGN & BUILD
WHAT ABOUT THE AI CHALLENGE?
Nick Ewing, Managing Director at EfficiencyIT, shares how data centre companies can incorporate AI and other disruptive technologies into their design:
“ AI workloads significantly impact data centre design. GPU-powered servers require more power and far more precise cooling than traditional servers, necessitating high-power distribution to racks and advanced cooling solutions like direct-to-chip or precision immersion liquid cooling. The entire data centre environment needs to be optimised and designed to support these high-density systems effectively and that requires operators to build net-new facilities or invest significantly in modernisation.
“ AI workloads are already being associated with an increase in energy consumption and carbon emissions, with some organisations reporting up to a 50 % rise in energy usage. To address these challenges, data centres should be designed using digital twins and computational fluid dynamics( CFD) software, allowing for modelling under different conditions to optimise energy efficiency.
“ Additionally, carefully considering cooling architectures the power provision and type of backup power systems is essential to minimise environmental impact. Assessing the feasibility of upgrading versus building anew is also crucial, ensuring sustainability and energy efficiency without incurring excessive costs.
“ Organisations should design data centres based on the specific application requirement, determining the type of AI workload, necessary GPU power and cooling infrastructure. Future-proofing is essential to accommodate technological advancements like transitioning to next-generation GPUs.“ By carefully planning and considering both current and future needs, organisations can build data centres that are efficient, scalable, environmentally responsible and primed for the next generation of AI technologies.”
EfficiencyIT was awarded a UK Royal Warrant of Appointment for delivering sustainable IT infrastructure solutions to the Royal Household in May 2025. where the material is used in data centre construction instead of steel. But these ideas are still in the early stage and can prove to be complex in data centre construction currently – especially in the UK currently, as Peter explains, as a limited manufacturing base for timber leaves the country exposed to international supply and price concerns.
He explains:“ Ultimately, this isn’ t about abandoning steel, it’ s about using it more intelligently and supporting the decarbonisation of its production. In parallel, we need to develop a more resilient, diversified material supply chain. The right material, in the right place, with the right spec is what will drive sustainable progress in the sector.”
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