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Zero-water evaporation system will virtually eliminate water usage across Microsoft-owned data centersThis will save tens of billions of liters of water over the lifetime of Microsoft’s parc of data centersThe key to delivering this solution was implementing chip level cooling solutions at scale
Microsoft has unveiled a groundbreaking design for its data centers that effectively removes the reliance on water evaporation for cooling processes. This initiative directly addresses the critical issue of water consumption in areas experiencing severe shortages and prolonged drought conditions.
Launched in August 2024, this innovative cooling system is tailored to optimize artificial intelligence (AI) workloads while significantly conserving water. It is a key component of Microsoft’s Datacenter Community Pledge, which emphasizes the company’s commitment to supporting local communities and mitigating environmental impacts.
The new system employs chip-level liquid cooling technology, enabling precise temperature regulation without necessitating water evaporation. Although water is still needed for ancillary functions such as bathrooms and kitchens, the core cooling mechanism operates independently of fresh water supplies.
Pilot sites will be live next year
This cooling technology operates on a closed-loop system, continuously circulating water between servers and chillers without the need for frequent replenishment. Closed-loop liquid cooling has been utilized for years by overclocking enthusiasts to maintain stable temperatures during demanding computing tasks, making it an ideal solution for contemporary data centers facing increasing AI workload demands.
Microsoft assesses water efficiency in data centers through a metric known as Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE), which evaluates water consumption in relation to energy usage. By transitioning to closed-loop liquid cooling, the company anticipates saving upwards of 125 million liters of water annually for each data center.
“Since the early 2000s, we’ve focused on minimizing water use and have achieved an 80% improvement in our WUE since the inception of our first-generation data centers,” stated Steve Solomon, Vice President of Datacenter Infrastructure Engineering at Microsoft.
“With escalating water challenges, we recognize the need for continued progress. Our next-generation data centers are projected to bring our WUE close to zero for each facility implementing zero-water evaporation. As we expand our operations, this transition will further enhance Microsoft’s overall water efficiency.”
New facilities in Phoenix, Arizona, and Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin, are set to serve as pilot locations for this innovative technology by 2026. All forthcoming Microsoft data centers will integrate this cooling method, with the inaugural sites expected to be operational by 2027.
While the elimination of evaporative cooling may lead to a rise in power usage effectiveness (PUE) since mechanical cooling generally demands more energy, the use of high-efficiency economizing chillers along with increased cooling temperatures is anticipated to mitigate some of this additional energy requirement.
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www.techradar.com