Revolutionizing Data Center Efficiency
European cloud provider OVHcloud has unveiled a groundbreaking cooling architecture that promises to transform data center sustainability. The company’s new Smart Datacenter design integrates advanced industrial engineering with artificial intelligence to dramatically reduce both power and water consumption. According to OVHcloud, this innovative approach can slash water usage by up to 30 percent while cutting cooling electricity consumption by an impressive 50 percent.
Integrated Cooling Architecture
The fifth-generation OVHcloud server rack, developed over the past two years, features a completely redesigned layout where server clusters connect in series for cooling purposes while maintaining parallel organization for maintenance accessibility. This dual-configuration approach represents a significant departure from traditional data center designs and enables more efficient thermal management.
Miroslaw Klaba, OVHcloud R&D director, emphasized the significance of this development: “We are delighted to unveil a new generation of evaporative cooling solutions, including Smart Racks. With our one integrated cooling loop design, we are paving the way for Smart Datacenters that leverage our most advanced technologies as well as artificial intelligence to tackle what was once an impossible equation.”
Direct-to-Chip Cooling Innovation
The system employs OVHcloud-designed direct-to-chip waterblocks that cool critical hardware components including CPUs and GPUs. Heat dissipation occurs through a closed-loop water circuit that extends across the entire data center facility. This integrated approach represents a major advancement in data center cooling technology and thermal management.
The new cooling distribution units (CDUs) are 50 percent smaller than previous generations and positioned outside the racks. Each CDU can cool multiple rack rows while featuring more than 30 sensors that monitor pressure, speed, and water temperature. These sensors enable real-time cooling adjustments based on server workloads, creating a responsive and adaptive thermal management system.
Space and Energy Optimization
The external Smart Dry Cooler component demonstrates remarkable efficiency improvements, occupying half the space and utilizing half the number of fans compared to previous generations. This design optimization contributes significantly to the overall 50 percent reduction in cooling power consumption. These industrial innovations in energy efficiency come at a crucial time as the technology sector faces increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint.
Global Deployment Strategy
OVHcloud is currently deploying the new Smart Racks at its Roubaix data center in France, where a room containing nearly 60 racks and 2,000 servers is being equipped with the advanced cooling system. The company plans to roll out this technology across its global network of data centers, which includes more than 40 core facilities in operation and under construction across France, Canada, the United States, Australia, Germany, Poland, Singapore, India, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
The timing of this innovation is particularly relevant given current market trends toward sustainable infrastructure development. As companies worldwide seek to balance technological advancement with environmental responsibility, OVHcloud’s approach offers a compelling model for the industry.
Broader Industry Implications
This cooling breakthrough arrives amid significant technology transitions across the computing landscape. The data center industry has been grappling with increasing power densities and cooling challenges, particularly as artificial intelligence and high-performance computing workloads demand more from infrastructure.
The environmental impact of data centers has become a critical concern, with water usage drawing particular scrutiny in drought-prone regions. OVHcloud’s water reduction achievement addresses this concern directly, potentially influencing how other major players approach their energy infrastructure and sustainability initiatives.
As the industry watches OVHcloud’s deployment, these developments could signal a new era in data center design. The integration of AI with physical cooling systems represents a sophisticated approach to managing the complex thermal dynamics of modern computing environments, similar to how other sectors are implementing strategic technological adjustments to optimize their operations.
Future Outlook
OVHcloud’s Smart Datacenter initiative demonstrates how targeted engineering and AI integration can produce substantial environmental benefits without compromising performance. As data centers continue to consume an increasing share of global electricity, such innovations will be crucial for sustainable digital growth. The success of this rollout could establish new industry standards for energy-efficient data center operations worldwide.
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