Riding the Wave of AI and GPU Demand: How a Hong Kong Data Centre is Leveraging Liquid Cooling

The need for AI and GPU in China is on the rise, prompting a data center in Hong Kong to adopt liquid cooling. Global Switch, supported by China, is introducing new liquid-cooling methods at its Tseung Kwan O location in response to growing interest from the mainland.

Global Switch, a data centre management company owned by China's government-supported Jiangsu Sha Steel Group, reported that the increasing demand from artificial intelligence companies in mainland Hong Kong is prompting the need for new chip-based cooling systems that they have begun to supply in the city.

"There's been a significant rise in the need for more densely packed racks," stated Ben Ryder, the director of solutions engineering at Global Switch. "Over the previous two years, we've observed the need for 20 kilowatts per rack at first, then 40 to 50, and now even more, up to 100 kilowatts, since we have the capability to facilitate liquid cooling."

On Monday, Global Switch declared the introduction of direct-to-chip liquid cooling at its 30-megawatt site in Tseung Kwan O. The announcement came after the company invited potential clients last week to preview what they claim to be Hong Kong's inaugural display of this technology. The cooling method, which involves a cool liquid circulating through a cold plate placed directly on integrated circuits, is becoming more sought after in data centres due to the rising power needs for AI applications.