Can Europe’s data centres slash energy use by 90% with new cooling tech?
Data centres are facing a sharp rise in energy demand, driven by the rapid growth of artificial intelligence and machine learning. As electricity use threatens to double within three years, new cooling technologies are emerging to cut costs and environmental impact. One promising solution, two-phase immersion cooling (2-PIC), could slash energy and water consumption by up to 90% in various countries across Europe.
The surge in computing power for AI and machine learning has pushed data centre energy use to record levels. In Germany alone, server energy demand is expected to climb by over 60% between 2015 and 2025. With global electricity consumption from data centres set to double in the next three years, regulators and operators are under pressure to find sustainable solutions.
The EU Energy Efficiency Directive now requires data centre operators to report annual environmental and energy metrics. Germany’s Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) goes further, setting strict energy-saving targets for the sector. These measures aim to curb the industry’s growing carbon footprint while maintaining performance. Two-phase immersion cooling (2-PIC) offers a way forward. By submerging servers in specialised cooling fluids, the technology reduces energy and water use by up to 90% and shrinks the physical space needed for data centres by as much as 60%. If widely adopted, 2-PIC could save 340 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy globally by 2055. However, the method relies on fluorinated gases (F-gases), which the EU is working to phase out. While 2-PIC presents clear efficiency benefits, its long-term viability depends on finding alternative cooling fluids that meet environmental standards.
The push for greener data centres is gaining momentum as energy demands soar. With stricter EU reporting rules and national targets in place, operators must adopt more efficient technologies. While 2-PIC shows great potential, its future hinges on overcoming regulatory hurdles and developing sustainable cooling solutions.
