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As we commemorate World Water Day under the theme “Leveraging Water for Peace,” it’s vital to spotlight the intersection of technology and environmental stewardship. The tech industry, particularly data centers, plays a significant role in managing natural resources responsibly.

Data centers, the backbone of our digital world, are among the largest consumers of water, primarily due to their cooling systems. These facilities rely on extensive cooling mechanisms, including towers, chillers, and humidification systems, to mitigate the heat generated by around-the-clock operations. Given that a significant portion of the global population will soon reside in water-stressed regions, the imperative for sustainable water use in data centers has never been more pressing.

On this World Water Day, we’re called to reflect on the integration of sustainable practices across all sectors, including the pivotal tech industry. Embracing solutions that foster both business growth and environmental sustainability is crucial for a harmonious future.

Highlighting efficiency in practice

Several tech giants are pioneering in minimizing water usage within their data centers, setting benchmarks for the industry:

• Google employs innovative cooling solutions, utilizing seawater in Finland and recycled canal water in Belgium, demonstrating that natural and recycled resources can effectively reduce freshwater consumption. Google has committed to replenishing more water than it consumes by 2030. This means they aim to replenish 120% of the freshwater volume they consume, on average, across their offices and data centers.
• Microsoft showcases a groundbreaking zero-water cooling system in Quincy, Washington, eliminating water use in cooling processes and setting a precedent for waterless cooling technologies. Microsoft has set a goal of reducing the amount of water its data centers use by 95% by 2024, which is around 5.7 billion liters each year. The company has also committed to being water positive by 2030.
• Amazon Web Services (AWS) is committed to reducing the water used for cooling its data centers. The company maximizes the use of free-air cooling systems that cool servers with outside air without using any water. During peak summer temperatures, AWS utilizes direct evaporative cooling, which uses water to cool the air that removes heat from the servers. AWS has demonstrated its commitment to water stewardship by using reclaimed or recycled water instead of potable (drinking) water in multiple regions.
• Meta Platforms leverages outdoor air for cooling and reclaimed water, significantly reducing its water usage and contributing to water conservation efforts. The company’s water stewardship strategy focuses on sourcing water responsibly, driving water efficiency across facilities and operations, and investing in critical water restoration projects in the same watersheds where their facilities are located. Meta Platforms has committed to becoming water positive by 2030.

These examples underscore the tech industry’s capacity for large-scale operations that prioritize sustainability and efficient water use. As we observe World Water Day, let’s champion the adoption of such practices, ensuring our technological advancements contribute to a sustainable and peaceful world.

The digital economy’s growth in Southeast Asia is spurring significant investments in digital infrastructure, reshaping the data center sector. This evolution demands that operators and investors adapt to new trends and changing stakeholder expectations.

Generative AI and data center demands

The emergence of generative AI is creating a surge in computing resource demands. Data centers now face the challenge of supporting higher rack densities and managing the heat generated by AI workloads, leading to a shift in their design and location.

Localization of data centers

Traditionally concentrated in major economic hubs, data centers are increasingly becoming localized to be closer to end-users, especially in tier-two and tier-three cities. This trend caters to the diverse needs of cloud operators, content and gaming companies, and other enterprises.

Retail colocation business models

In Southeast Asia’s retail colocation market, diverse business models reflect the unique requirements of different customer segments. Local operators focus on leveraging their connections, while regional platforms emphasize innovation and premium services.

Sustainability and ESG

Sustainability and ESG concerns are gaining prominence, especially among hyperscaler customers. These factors are now critical in evaluating data center operators, influencing investment decisions and the emergence of green funding avenues.

Emerging cooling technologies

New cooling technologies, such as immersion cooling, are set to disrupt traditional data center models. These innovations are essential for managing the heat from AI workloads and could lower entry barriers for new operators.

Data centers are foundational to the digital economy in Southeast Asia. Their ability to adapt and evolve in response to these trends is crucial for sustainable growth. For companies like GreenBay, which specialize in building data centers, understanding and aligning with these trends is key to staying ahead in this dynamic sector.

Mexico City, a blend of ancient heritage and modern vibrancy, is now home to the Felipe Ángeles International Airport (AIFA), a key transportation hub in Mexico. AIFA, designed with efficiency and safety in mind, caters to the air travel needs of the region, offering a seamless experience to passengers.

Central to AIFA’s operations is its data center, crucial for meeting increasing passenger demands and aviation safety standards. Huawei’s FusionModule2000, a smart modular data center solution, has been instrumental in establishing a robust and reliable data center at AIFA.

Huawei’s FusionModule2000: Redefining Data Center Efficiency

The FusionModule2000 stands out for its simplicity and adaptability, ideal for small to medium-sized data centers. It offers a significant advantage over traditional solutions, requiring less stringent deployment conditions and enabling flexible capacity expansion.

This innovative solution was implemented at AIFA within just three months, 30% faster than conventional methods. It also boasts a 60% smaller battery system footprint, leading to a 30% reduction in operating expenses and a 25% decrease in Power Utilization Effectiveness (PUE).

Green and Efficient: The Low-Carbon Data Center

Huawei’s FusionModule2000 features a modular design integrating cooling, cabinets, and monitoring systems. This design simplifies installation, speeds up deployment, and minimizes space usage. The AIFA data center employs an in-row cooling system with cold aisle containment (CAC) and precision air conditioners, significantly enhancing cooling efficiency and reducing hot spots. This approach cuts down PUE by 25%, promoting green and low-carbon operations.

High Security and Reliability: Ensuring Continuous Operation

The power system, akin to the heart of the data center, is bolstered by Huawei’s ultra-high-density modular UPSs. These systems feature redundancy designs for key components, ensuring uninterrupted operations. Huawei’s UPSs, enhanced with AI technology, shift from passive to proactive maintenance, monitoring component life and preemptively signaling for replacements, thereby boosting system reliability. The SmartLi battery solution further enhances safety with its multi-level battery management system and individual fire extinguishers for each battery pack.

Intelligent O&M: Streamlining Data Center Management

Huawei’s NetEco intelligent management system offers real-time monitoring of critical data center parameters, 3D visualization of equipment room status, and comprehensive fault impact analysis. This system simplifies manual operations and maintenance, ensuring efficient management.

The collaboration between AIFA and Huawei Digital Power exemplifies digital transformation in the aviation sector. As airports become digital hubs, Huawei’s solutions not only facilitate this transition but also ensure smart, stable operations.

Looking ahead, Huawei Digital Power and AIFA aim to further explore smart airport possibilities, setting new standards in digital aviation and inspiring global airports to embrace digital transformation.

Global Switch, a prominent player in the data center domain, operates 13 expansive facilities across Europe and Asia Pacific, offering a staggering 428,000 square meters of top-tier technical space. Among these, the Hong Kong center stands out as a paragon of sustainable design and efficiency. This facility, the largest carrier and cloud-neutral data center in Hong Kong, spans 70,000 square meters and is a testament to Global Switch’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

The Hong Kong data center, particularly in its first stage, set a high bar by achieving the prestigious LEED Platinum Rating. As part of its ongoing sustainability journey, Global Switch aimed to elevate the power and cooling efficiency in Buildings 4 and 5. This quest led them to Huawei, known for its trailblazing solutions in energy efficiency.

Matthew Winter, Global Switch’s Chief Design Officer, highlights the collaboration’s success. Huawei’s innovative solutions played a pivotal role in the final development phase, contributing to the facility’s impressive annualized design PUE of 1.3 at full load, a figure independently verified by CBRE | Romonet.

In the challenging warm climate of Hong Kong, reducing the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) is a formidable task. Huawei’s high-efficiency Computer Room Air Handling (CRAH) units, equipped with Electronically Commutated (EC) fans, address this challenge head-on. These fans adjust their speed according to the load, optimizing energy consumption. The data center’s cooling strategy, which includes free-cooling techniques, is a leading example of sustainable architecture in Hong Kong.

The power supply system, a critical component of any data center’s operations, also saw significant advancements. Global Switch Hong Kong implemented Huawei’s SmartLi UPS solution, featuring Insulated-Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) UPSs and lithium batteries. This system not only halves the footprint compared to traditional power supplies but also allows for the deployment of approximately 42 additional cabinets, enhancing the center’s revenue potential. The modular UPS system’s efficiency stands at 97%, outperforming traditional tower UPS systems by 2% and offering substantial electricity cost savings. Its full redundancy design eliminates any Single Point Of Failure (SPOF), markedly boosting system availability.

In the age of digital transformation, the transportation industry is undergoing significant changes. With the rise of the digital economy, the China Transport Telecommunications & Information Center (CTTIC) has embarked on an ambitious project: the establishment of the Transport Information Industry Center in Shanghai’s Baoshan District. This initiative aims to create the “CTTIC Cloud” and implement a “big data” strategy under the “new infrastructure” policy. The goal? To build a top-tier O&M data center industry base in the Yangtze River Delta, focusing on digital government services.

Central to this endeavor is the power supply system, the lifeblood of any data center. Recognizing the critical role of reliable power, CTTIC turned to Huawei and its FusionPower6000 solution. But what makes the FusionPower6000 stand out?

Integrated Power Supply
The FusionPower6000 offers a seamless integration of full-power links, ensuring MW-level power supply and distribution tailored for large-scale data centers.

Efficiency and Safety
Traditional power supply systems often involve components from various vendors, assembled onsite. This can reduce efficiency and introduce potential safety risks. Huawei’s solution integrates multiple components, maximizing space and ensuring rapid deployment. The result? A data center where an additional 750 m² is available, allowing for the deployment of 350 more racks.

Intelligent Features
Both the FusionPower6000 and SmartLi utilize AI algorithms. They adopt a modular and hot-swap design, enabling swift module replacements after risk predictions. This reduces maintenance time to a mere 5 minutes. The iPower intelligent feature offers visualized management across all links, ensuring the reliability of the power supply system and simplifying O&M.

In conclusion, as the transportation sector evolves, so too must the infrastructure supporting it. Huawei’s FusionPower6000 is a testament to the future of power management in data centers, ensuring that as the digital realm expands, the power solutions keeping it alive are more than up to the task.