14 April 2025

3 Min. reading time

The Essentials at a Glance

  • In data centers, cooling energy consumption accounts for an average of over 30% of total consumption.
  • The global energy consumption for data center cooling is expected to rise from 136 to 257 TWh by mid-decade.
  • ebm-papst’s NEXAIRA.Systems reduces cooling energy consumption by up to 50% using artificial intelligence.
  • The AI solution creates a digital twin of the cooling system for precise control of all components.
  • From July 2027, a statutory PUE maximum value will apply in Germany, which NEXAIRA.Systems helps to maintain.

Advertisement

Intelligent, efficient, and reliable. The AI-powered cooling system optimization by ebm-papst reduces cooling energy consumption, electricity costs, and CO2 emissions of data centers, making them ready for the future of data usage with AI, as Pascal Köhler, Director Business Innovation & Marketing at ebm-papst neo, shows in his article. 

Data centers are an essential part of the global digital infrastructure. Due to the increasing use of data for business and private purposes, the energy-intensive operation of modern data centers poses a significant challenge for their operators. Energy demand grows faster than the existing energy infrastructure, particularly with the increased use of artificial intelligence (AI), so energy availability quickly reaches its limits.

Legal requirements for improved energy efficiency and CO₂ reduction increase the complexity of proper operation. The system-relevant cooling of plants plays a significant role. On average, more than 30 percent of the energy required by data centers is used for cooling. In the future, global energy consumption for data center cooling will increase from 136 to 257 terawatt-hours – and the costs for energy demand will rise from $19 to $36 billion.

These challenges can be reliably managed with NEXAIRA.Systems from ebm-papst. The innovative solution helps data center operators reduce their plants’ energy needs and achieve their sustainability goals. NEXAIRA.Systems considers the entire cooling circuit, optimizes it considering all components, and controls it for optimal operation.

A digital twin for maximum energy efficiency

The AI-powered cooling optimization by NEXAIRA.Systems creates a digital twin of the on-site cooling system and mathematically models the individual components. This enables more precise predictions of cooling demand and optimal control of all components, considering current environmental conditions.

The intelligent management and control of all components achieve enormous energy savings. Cooling energy consumption can be reduced by up to 50%, simultaneously reducing electricity costs and CO₂ emissions. The increasing demand for data center infrastructure is thus met with optimal and efficient operation. The investment in AI-powered cooling system optimization pays off after about a year.

PUE value: Easier compliance with legal requirements

The innovative solution also has a significant impact on the Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) value. The German government’s Energy Efficiency Act stipulates clear PUE maximum values for all data centers in Germany from July 2027. By reducing the energy required for server cooling, NEXAIRA.Systems lowers the PUE value of the system and helps meet the legal requirements for energy consumption effectiveness.

Up to 50% cooling energy savings and optimal control for data center operators - that's what NEXAIRA from ebm-papst offers

36 billion dollars
are expected to rise. These challenges can be reliably
30 percent
of the energy required by data centers for cooling
50 %
can be reduced, thereby simultaneously reducing electricity costs and CO₂ emissions

Ready for the demands of AI

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly prevalent in business and everyday life, data centers face new challenges related to energy availability and consumption. One of the most critical aspects is energy efficiency, as AI training requires significantly more power than classical data processing.

The higher power density of AI workloads requires more effective cooling solutions, as the increased cooling demand also leads to rising energy consumption. This quickly pushes cooling systems to their capacity limits during peak loads. Therefore, intelligent control of the entire cooling system is necessary. NEXAIRA.Systems helps with its AI-based cooling optimization to control cooling demand in real-time – for maximum energy efficiency and optimal preparation of cooling for the high computing demands of AI workloads.

“Going forward, the energy consumption for cooling data centers worldwide is expected to rise from 136 to 257 terawatt-hours – and the costs for energy consumption will increase from 19 to 36 billion dollars.”

Data Security Without Compromise

In a world that increasingly relies on available and reliable computing power, data security is one of the top priorities for data centers. NEXAIRA.Systems is an on-premise solution that protects sensitive data. An integrated alarm system sends notifications when critical threshold values are exceeded. Real-time monitoring and energy consumption forecasts further increase transparency and operational reliability. For reporting, an ISO 50.001-compliant reporting is also available,

With all these functions, NEXAIRA.Systems enables data centers to reduce their energy consumption and electricity costs, minimize capacity risks, and achieve sustainability goals. Thanks to the innovative solution, cooling systems are optimized for maximum efficiency. This ensures that data centers are operated cooler, smarter, and more sustainably.

Find more information here.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

How much energy is typically used for cooling in data centers?

On average, over 30 percent of the energy required in data centers is consumed by cooling.

What impact does the use of AI have on the energy requirements of data centers?

AI workloads consume significantly more energy than classical data processing and considerably increase the cooling demand. This pushes existing cooling systems to their limits.

How does the AI-supported optimization of NEXAIRA.Systems work?

The solution creates a digital twin of the cooling system and mathematically models all components. This enables precise predictions and optimal control under current environmental conditions.

What energy savings does NEXAIRA.Systems enable?

The energy consumption for cooling can be reduced by up to 50 percent. At the same time, electricity costs and CO₂ emissions are significantly reduced.

How does NEXAIRA.Systems help with compliance with legal requirements?

By reducing the cooling energy consumption, the PUE value is lowered. This allows data centers to comply with the legal requirements from July 2027 in Germany.

Editor’s Reading Tips

More from the MBF Media Network

SecurityToday | MyBusinessFuture | Digital Chiefs

Source of title image: ebm pabst

Also available in

A magazine by Evernine Media GmbH