Rising AI demands push Asia Pacific data centres to adapt, says Vertiv
As extra firms in Asia Pacific undertake synthetic intelligence to enhance their operations, the stress on data centres is rising quick. Traditional services, constructed for earlier generations of computing, are struggling to sustain with the heavy power use and cooling demands of recent AI programs. By 2030, GPU-driven workloads might push rack energy densities towards 1 MW, making incremental upgrades now not sufficient. Instead, operators are actually turning towards purpose-built “AI manufacturing unit” data centres which can be designed from the bottom up.
AI News spoke with Paul Churchill, Vice President of Vertiv Asia, to higher perceive how the area is making ready for this shift and what sorts of infrastructure adjustments lie forward.
Explosive market progress is setting the tempo
The AI data-centre market is projected to surge from $236 billion in 2025 to almost $934 billion by 2030. This progress is pushed by fast adoption of AI in industries like finance, healthcare, and manufacturing. These sectors depend on high-performance computing environments powered by dense GPU clusters, which require way more power and cooling capability than conventional servers.
In Asia Pacific, this demand is amplified by authorities investments in digitalisation, the growth of 5G, and the rollout of cloud-native and generative AI purposes. All of that is pushing compute wants increased at a tempo the area has by no means seen earlier than.
Churchill defined that assembly this demand requires extra than simply bigger services. It requires smarter infrastructure methods which can be scalable and sustainable. “Infrastructure leaders should transfer past piecemeal upgrades. A future-ready technique entails adopting AI-optimised infrastructure that mixes high-capacity energy programs, superior thermal administration, and built-in, scalable designs,” he stated.
Cooling and energy challenges are rising
As rack densities improve from 40 kW to 130 kW, and probably up to 250 kW by 2030, cooling and energy supply have gotten necessary points. Traditional air cooling strategies are now not sufficient for these circumstances.
To handle this, Vertiv is growing hybrid cooling programs that blend direct-to-chip liquid cooling with air-based options. Systems can regulate to altering workloads, cut back power use, and keep reliability. “Our coolant distribution models allow direct-to-chip liquid cooling whereas making certain reliability and serviceability in high-density environments,” Churchill stated.
Power supply can also be changing into extra complicated. AI workloads fluctuate quickly, so infrastructure wants to react in actual time. Vertiv is evolving its rack energy distribution models and busway programs to deal with increased voltages and enhance load balancing. Intelligent monitoring helps operators handle masses extra effectively, cut back wasted capability, and prolong uptime – a key consideration in components of Southeast Asia the place energy grids are much less steady.
Data centres are being redesigned for AI
The rise of liquid-cooled GPU pods and 1 MW racks, like these deliberate by AMD and hyperscalers akin to Microsoft, Google, and Meta, indicators a deeper architectural shift. Instead of retrofitting older services, new data centres are being designed particularly to assist AI.
“The way forward for data-centre structure is hybrid, and these infrastructures require services to be constructed round liquid circulate,” Churchill stated. This contains new flooring layouts, superior coolant distribution, and extra subtle energy programs.
The next-generation services will combine cooling, energy, and monitoring from the chip degree to the grid. For Asia Pacific, the place hyperscale campuses are increasing quickly, this sort of built-in design is crucial to sustain with efficiency expectations and sustainability targets.
From incremental upgrades to AI manufacturing unit data centres
By 2030, Asia Pacific is predicted to overtake the US in data centre capability, reaching nearly 24 GW of commissioned energy. To deal with this progress, enterprises are transferring away from advert hoc upgrades towards full-stack AI manufacturing unit data centres.
Churchill stated this transition ought to occur in phases. The first step is built-in planning, bringing collectively energy, cooling, and IT administration reasonably than treating them as separate programs. The method simplifies deployment and offers a robust base for scaling.
The second step is to undertake modular and prefabricated programs. These permit firms to add capability in phases with out main disruptions. “Companies can deploy factory-tested modules alongside present infrastructure, steadily migrating workloads to AI-ready capability with out disruptive overhauls,” he stated.
Finally, sustainability should be constructed into each stage. This contains utilizing lithium-ion power storage, grid-interactive UPS programs, and higher-voltage distribution to enhance effectivity and resilience.
DC energy positive factors new relevance for AI data centres
Vertiv just lately launched PowerDirect Rack, a DC energy shelf designed for AI and high-performance computing. Switching to DC energy can lower power losses by decreasing the variety of conversion steps between the grid and the server. It additionally aligns with renewable power and battery storage programs, which have gotten extra frequent in Asia Pacific.
This is particularly helpful in energy-constrained markets like Vietnam and the Philippines. In these areas, versatile energy options are important to maintain services working easily. As Churchill famous, DC energy is “not simply an effectivity play – it’s a technique for enabling sustainable scalability.”
Sustainability is changing into a central precedence
With AI driving up power use, data-centre operators are going through stricter rules and rising grid constraints. This is especially true in Southeast Asia, the place energy reliability and tariffs fluctuate extensively.
Vertiv is working with operators to combine various power sources like lithium-ion batteries, hybrid energy programs, and microgrids. These can cut back dependence on the grid and enhance resilience. There can also be rising curiosity in solar-backed UPS programs and superior power storage applied sciences, which assist steadiness masses and handle prices.
Cooling effectivity is one other main focus. Hybrid liquid cooling programs can cut back each power and water use in contrast to older strategies. “Our focus is on delivering infrastructure that meets efficiency demands whereas aligning with ESG targets,” Churchill stated. “We’re collaborating with our companions to be certain that AI-driven progress within the area stays accountable, sustainable, and aligned with long-term digital and environmental targets.”
Modular options assist fast growth
Many rising economies in Asia Pacific face challenges like restricted land, unstable energy provide, and shortages of expert labour. In these settings, modular and prefabricated data-centre programs provide a sensible answer.
Prefabricated modules can lower deployment occasions by up to 50%, whereas enhancing power effectivity and scalability. They permit operators to increase steadily, including capability as wanted with out heavy upfront funding. The flexibility is particularly useful for AI workloads, which might develop shortly and unpredictably.
By combining compact design with energy-efficient operation, modular programs give operators a approach to construct AI-ready capability sooner and with much less danger – a vital benefit because the area’s digital economies develop.
Preparing for a demanding future
The AI surge is reshaping how data centres are constructed and operated in Asia Pacific. As workloads intensify and sustainability pressures mount, firms can now not depend on outdated infrastructure. The transfer towards AI manufacturing unit data centres, powered by superior cooling, DC energy, and modular programs, displays a shift in how the area is making ready for the following period of computing.
(Photo by İsmail Enes Ayhan)
Want to study extra about AI and large data from business leaders? Check out AI & Big Data Expo happening in Amsterdam, California, and London. The complete occasion is a part of TechEx and co-located with different main expertise occasions. Click here for extra info.
AI News is powered by TechForge Media. Explore different upcoming enterprise expertise occasions and webinars here.
The put up Rising AI demands push Asia Pacific data centres to adapt, says Vertiv appeared first on AI News.
