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AI workloads are reshaping the physical design of data centres, with next-generation chipsets creating unprecedented heat loads. Traditional air-cooling systems are reaching their limits, pushing the industry to adopt more efficient, scalable, and sustainable approaches to thermal management. In Saudi Arabia, where climate challenges compound energy demands, cooling innovation will be a critical factor in ensuring reliable, AI-ready operations.
Liquid Cooling in Action: Precision for High-Density Loads
As AI clusters drive power densities beyond what air cooling can support, liquid-based systems are quickly gaining traction.
- Direct-to-chip cooling: Cold plates deliver targeted heat removal from GPUs and CPUs, reducing overall energy consumption.
- Immersion cooling: Servers are submerged in thermally conductive fluids, offering up to 90% heat capture efficiency.
- Liquid-to-air exchangers: Hybrid solutions that bridge existing air systems with liquid-cooled racks for scalable retrofits.
In the Kingdom, early pilots of immersion cooling are showing strong potential, particularly for AI-focused hyperscale campuses.
Hybrid and Adaptive Cooling Systems
The future isn’t only liquid, it’s hybrid. AI-ready data centres are integrating multiple cooling techniques to balance performance, cost, and sustainability.
- Hybrid cooling plants: Combining chilled water with adiabatic air systems for seasonal flexibility.
- Liquid + air containment: High-density racks cooled by liquid, with surrounding air still managed via hot/cold aisle containment.
- Modular deployment: Prefabricated cooling pods allow operators to scale cooling capacity in line with IT demand.
This modular, mixed approach is especially attractive for Saudi giga-projects, where rapid deployment is critical.
AI-Driven Cooling Optimisation
Ironically, AI is also part of the solution. Intelligent cooling platforms leverage real-time data and predictive analytics to reduce energy waste and optimise operations.
- Digital twins: Virtual replicas simulate heat flow, helping engineers test and tune designs before deployment.
- Smart sensors & controls: Automated adjustments reduce overcooling, cutting PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness).
- Dynamic optimisation: Algorithms shift workloads to racks or zones where cooling is most efficient.
These systems enable reductions of up to 30% in cooling-related energy consumption, which is vital for operators under pressure to meet both demand and sustainability targets.
Toward Sustainable Cooling
Cooling accounts for 30–40% of a data centre’s total energy use, making efficiency essential for both cost and ESG compliance. In KSA, innovation is aligning with sustainability ambitions:
Join the Cooling Conversation at DCTC KSA 2025
Shape the future of data centre cooling at Data Centre Technology ConFex KSA 2025.
Taking place on 21–22 October 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Riyadh RDC Hotel, the event unites regulators, hyperscalers, operators, and innovators driving the Kingdom’s digital transformation.
Co-located with the 5th Construction Technology ConFex KSA , this is the ONLY platform where sustainable cooling, energy efficiency, and next-gen infrastructure solutions for Saudi Arabia’s data centre economy come together all under one roof.