Data centres in Asia must rethink cooling for a more responsible future

THE Asia-Pacific region is rapidly emerging as a global leader in data centre expansion, driven by the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing and digital transformation initiatives. The region’s prominence in data centre growth can be attributed to its rapid digitalisation, expanding Internet user base and supportive government policies.

In fact, according to IDC, the installed data centre power capacity in Asia-Pacific is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 14.2 per cent, reaching 94.4 gigawatts by 2028. This surge underscores the region’s pivotal role in the digital economy.

However, this rapid growth presents significant challenges, particularly concerning environmental responsibility. Data centres are substantial consumers of energy, and their expansion amplifies concerns about power consumption and carbon emissions. The increasing demand for high-performance computing necessitates that data centres scale efficiently while implementing strategies to mitigate their environmental impact.