Data centre designs must evolve to meet business needs according to research commissioned by Lenovo, which found that 45% of IT leaders in EMEA admit their current infrastructure does not support energy or carbon-reduction goals.
► AI and energy pressures pull in opposite directions
► Lenovo research calls for faster evolution in DC designs
At the same time, 99% of IT and C-level decision makers in the region say data sovereignty will be important to how data is collected, stored, and processed in the years ahead. While AI continues to accelerate data usage, organisations are struggling to deliver more power in a sustainable way.
Lenovo’s Data Center of the Future study, run in partnership with Opinium, also found that 92% of IT decision-makers want their partners to reduce energy use and carbon footprint. Yet only 46% say their current data centre design supports sustainability goals. According to Lenovo, traditional cooling systems are struggling to balance efficiency, cost, and carbon reduction.
Nine out of ten believe AI will significantly increase data usage in the next decade, and 62% expect AI and automation to have the greatest impact on IT strategy. Despite this, 41% say they are not ready to integrate AI efficiently.
Lenovo has been working with specialist engineering firm AKT II and architects Mamou-Mani to consider how data centres might look in 30 years. The designs, all of which would make use of liquid cooling technology, include:
- The Floating Cloud – a concept that sees the DC suspended in the air using solar power.
- The Data Village – a waterside, modular, stackable or pod system designed for cities
- The Data Centre Bunker – places the DC underground to make expansion and heat management easier
With it’s Neptune liquid cooling system, Lenovo claims 98% of system heat can be removed at source. It also reduces energy consumption and reliance on traditional air-based cooling.
