Hyperscale Data Centers & The Heat Management Problem

Hyperscale data centers are contending with an unprecedented surge in heat output driven by powerful AI chips and dense workloads. According to a recent International Energy Agency (IEA) report, data centers’ total electricity consumption could reach more than 1,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2026 — more than double the 460 terawatt-hours (TWh) of consumption that was tracked in 2022. 

As these workloads grow, so does the need to manage the associated heat. Success for AI factories and data centers hinges on heat rejection, dissipation, and reuse. The right innovative cooling solutions can even turn heat from a costly byproduct into a financial and environmental asset.

Three Paths For Hyperscale Data Center Heat Management

Cooling energy-intensive chips like the NVIDIA Grace Blackwell is just the beginning for hyperscale data center companies. The most effective cooling solutions will also optimize every watt used in the data center to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and ensure consistent, reliable performance. Hyperscalers can utilize a few strategic technologies to manage today’s relentless data center heat load:

1. Data Center Heat Dissipation
   

   These solutions use cooling mechanisms like fans or liquid cooling within the server rack to actively draw heat away from its components. The heat is dispersed safely within the facility to prevent hotspots, which can undermine performance. Dissipation systems provide the initial cooling that occurs at the micro-level within individual servers and racks. 

2. Data Center Heat Rejection
   

   This category includes cooling systems that move excess heat away from high-density chips to prevent damage and reduce cooling requirements. The heat is ultimately transferred from the cooling system to the outside environment. Rejection systems operate at the macro-level, where the entire data center cooling system is considered.

3. Data Center Heat Reuse
   

   Reuse technology captures data center waste heat and repurposes it for other uses, such as heating nearby buildings or powering facility processes. Heat reuse reduces the overall energy footprint of the data center, aligning with sustainability efforts and lowering operational costs by turning waste into a valuable resource. Repurposing waste heat can both reduce energy consumption (a financial boon) and contribute to corporate sustainability goals.

Reimagine Heat Rejection & Reuse With HyperCool®

Hyperscale data centers have turned to HyperCool^® from ZutaCore^® for a cutting-edge approach to heat management with direct-to-chip, waterless liquid cooling. Designed to handle even the most intense heat loads, the HyperCool Heat Rejection Units (HRUs) are engineered for ultimate flexibility and reliability in demanding environments. 

Here’s how it works:

• Direct-to-Chip Cooling: By placing cooling technology directly onto the chip, HyperCool tackles data center heat generation at the source, efficiently and safely moving large amounts of heat off the chip with virtually no limit to heat dissipation. Our heat transfer fluid is waterless and eliminates the risk of costly water damage to sensitive systems in the event of a leak.
• Configurable Heat Rejection Units (HRUs): HyperCool offers both air- and water-based HRUs, which provide options to fit any data center setup. These units are designed to adapt to in-rack, rear-door, or end-of-row configurations, offering flexibility in how heat is managed and ultimately reused.
• Water-Based HRUs: The water-based HyperCool HRU integrates seamlessly with your facility’s existing infrastructure, allowing data centers to reuse water for heating purposes. By running water through the data center, HyperCool captures heat and can then transfer it outward — with water exiting the facility at a stable temperature of around 21°C (70°F). This setup reduces the need for energy-intensive traditional heating systems and provides a sustainable option to share heat with nearby offices, homes, or industrial facilities.
• Air-Based HRUs: Air-based HRUs offer data centers a high-efficiency alternative for managing and reusing waste heat. By capturing and redirecting the hot air generated by servers, data centers can repurpose this heat to maintain a stable ambient temperature, potentially eliminating the need for conventional HVAC systems in certain areas. This approach cuts down on overall energy usage, enhancing both operational efficiency and sustainability efforts.
• 100% Heat Reuse: By reusing up to 100% of waste heat with HyperCool, facilities can realize an impactful efficiency boost. Heat reuse reduces energy consumption and helps facilities embrace a “heat-neutral” design — fast becoming the new standard in sustainable data center management.

Future-Proof Your Hyperscale Data Center with ZutaCore

Hyperscale data center operators can balance the demands of heat management with green initiatives using the robust, flexible, and sustainable HyperCool system from ZutaCore. Efficient heat dissipation, innovative heat reuse, and flexible deployment options ensure reliable data center operation while also providing a pathway to energy-efficient, environmentally responsible growth.

To learn more about how ZutaCore is transforming heat management in hyperscale data centers, explore our recent applications in the field or watch our technology in action.