Artificial intelligence [AI] is no longer a distant concept; it has become an integral part of industries worldwide, offering limitless possibilities. From medical breakthroughs and innovative farming techniques to accurate fraud prevention and personalized education, AI’s impact is undeniable.
In Africa, the potential for AI-driven development is immense. A 2023 report by Access Partnership highlights how AI is already making significant strides on the continent. AI is being used to predict natural disasters, protect endangered species, enhance food security, and improve maternal health outcomes. The report estimates that AI could contribute up to $136 billion in economic benefits to just four sub-Saharan countries Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa by 2030, a figure surpassing Kenya’s current GDP and representing 12.7% of these economies’ combined 2022 GDP.
The Shift to High-Density Computing: AI’s Impact on Data Centres
As AI continues to transform everyday life, from ChatGPT to navigation apps, its influence is also reshaping data centre infrastructure. High-performance computing [HPC] is evolving, with AI workloads demanding more power and sophisticated cooling solutions.
Traditionally, IT racks handled workloads ranging from 5 to 10 kilowatts [kW], with anything over 20 kW considered high-density. However, AI chips now require around five times more power and cooling capacity. This shift is leading to rack densities of 40 kW per rack, with some exceeding 100 kW.
The Future of Cooling: Embracing Liquid-Cooling Technologies
The increased power demands necessitate upgrades across the entire power train, from the grid to individual chips. Traditional cooling methods are no longer sufficient, prompting the adoption of liquid-cooling technologies in data centres and enterprise server rooms. Two primary options are emerging:
Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling: Cold plates atop heat-generating components like CPUs and GPUs draw off heat. This method can remove up to 75% of the heat generated, with the remainder managed by air-cooling systems.
Rear-Door Heat Exchangers: These passive or active systems replace the IT rack’s rear door with heat-exchanging coils, absorbing heat and often used alongside other cooling systems.
Meeting the Power and Cooling Demands of AI
As power and cooling become increasingly integral to IT design, the lines between IT and facilities teams blur, adding complexity to deployment and operation. This shift calls for strong partnerships and comprehensive expertise.
To address these challenges, Vertiv has introduced the Vertiv 360AI portfolio in EMEA, offering scalable solutions for AI infrastructure. Vertiv 360AI accelerates the retrofitting of air-cooled data centres and supports hyperscale greenfield projects with minimal disruption to existing workloads. These solutions, designed for high-density environments, can power and cool over 130 kW per rack.
For more information on the Vertiv 360AI offering, visit Vertiv’s AI Hub, where you can access expert resources and reference designs to plan your AI-ready infrastructure.
