Source URL: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/03/submer_liquid_cooling_funding/
Source: The Register
Title: Submer dives into $55.5M funding to cool down hot-blooded AI datacenters
Feedly Summary: Tech’s consumption of water and energy driving interest in liquid cooling
Cooling specialist Submer has scored $55.5 million in a fresh funding round to fuel expansion, touting its tech as part of a more sustainable way to operate datacenters – something sorely needed in the era of AI.…
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text discusses recent developments in datacenter cooling technologies, particularly immersion cooling systems, amid rising concerns about energy and water consumption linked to AI workloads. The funding of Submer, innovative cooling solutions, and major infrastructure developments reflect an urgent shift towards sustainable practices in datacenters.
Detailed Description:
The text highlights the growing imperative for sustainable cooling solutions in datacenters due to the increasing energy and water demands driven by AI workloads. Key points include:
* **Submer’s Funding and Technology**:
– Submer, a cooling technology specialist, secured $55.5 million to expand its operations, promoting immersion cooling as a sustainable alternative amid rising AI-driven energy demands.
* **Environmental Impact of Datacenters**:
– A report by Morgan Stanley indicated that global datacenter emissions could reach 2.5 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases by 2030, largely attributed to the generative AI boom.
– Datacenters in the UK could gain enhanced facilitation through government classification as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI), permitting expedient construction approval.
* **Infrastructure Investments**:
– Large investments in AI-focused datacenters include:
– Atlantic Hub’s project in Londonderry.
– Kao Data’s £350 million facility in Greater Manchester.
– Blackstone’s £10 billion investment into a major AI datacenter in Northumberland.
* **Rising Energy Consumption**:
– Datacenter energy consumption in the US is expected to rise from 130 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2023 to 307 TWh by 2030.
– In Ireland, datacenters consumed over 20% of the country’s electricity in 2023.
* **Water Consumption Issues**:
– Datacenters, especially in Virginia, have seen alarming rises in water usage, with some facilities’ consumption increasing by over 250% since 2019.
* **Shift to Immersion Cooling**:
– Submer argues for immersion cooling as an efficient solution to reduce reliance on conventional air-cooling, which can account for up to 20% of power consumption.
– A survey indicates that 38.3% of enterprises expect to implement some form of liquid cooling by 2026, with a smaller percentage committing to full immersion systems.
* **Innovative Cooling Solutions**:
– Unique cooling methods such as utilizing snow in Japan and colocating datacenters with sewage treatment plants in Korea illustrate innovative strategies in response to sustainability challenges.
In summary, the shift towards immersion cooling in datacenters signifies a critical movement towards sustainability, especially in light of the environmental pressures associated with the growing demand for AI resources.