How tech companies are achieving climate goals

• A study by Microsoft and WSP Global reveals that advanced cooling methods like cold plates and immersion cooling can reduce data centre emissions by 15-21%, energy use by 15-20%, and water consumption by 31-52% compared to traditional air cooling.

• The study, led by Husam Alissa of Microsoft, Mukunth Natarajan, and Praneet Arshi of WSP, provides actionable insights to help the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry meet its climate goals.

• The study highlights the importance of efficient heat removal in electronics, which heat up like crowded kitchens.

• The ICT industry needs to cut emissions by 42% by 2030 to curb climate change, and data centres need greener designs that use less energy and water.

• Two prominent cooling techniques have emerged as viable alternatives: cold plates and immersion cooling. Cold plates, or direct-to-chip cooling, are small heat exchange modules equipped with microchannels to enhance heat transfer. Immersion cooling, on the other hand, is likened to dunking a hot frying pan into a pool of heat-hungry oil instead of blowing air on it.

• The study highlights the need for systemic thinking, not isolated fixes, to truly lower the carbon footprint of cooling technologies.

• With grid electricity, cold plates and immersion cooling can cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 15%, energy use by more than 15%, and water consumption by more than 31%.

• Switching to renewable energy could lead to cuts of 13% for emissions, 15% for energy, and 50% for water.