How Global Switch Cuts Energy Use in Data Centre Cooling
Global Switch is spotlighting liquid cooling as a practical response to the energy demands of AI and high-performance computing (HPC), opening Europe’s first live showcase of the technology at its London Docklands campus.
The facility removes heat by using liquid rather than air, lowering carbon emissions and boosting efficiency in the process.
A new approach to cooling energy-intensive infrastructure
Traditional air cooling systems are no longer enough to manage the rising energy needs of modern data centres.
As rack power densities increase due to growing AI and HPC workloads, more effective heat management is required.
Global Switch is positioning liquid cooling as an answer to this challenge, describing it as offering "superior cooling capabilities compared to traditional air cooling, as well as lower carbon emissions".
Liquid cooling technologies, including direct-to-chip and immersion systems, enable data centres to maintain high performance while reducing energy consumption.
By circulating a coolant directly to hot components or immersing hardware in a thermally conductive liquid, data centres can operate more efficiently and sustainably.
Global Switch’s London Docklands site now hosts a fully operational suite showcasing four types of liquid cooling, developed in partnership with six infrastructure suppliers such as LiquidStack and SuperMicro.
The suite includes live examples of these technologies and the Accelsius Thermal Simulation Rack, which models AI and HPC thermal loads for real-time benchmarking.
This hands-on setup means customers can directly experience the technology.
“We are trying to be at the forefront of liquid cooling," says Ben Ryder, Solutions Engineering Director at Global Switch told Data Centre Magazine at Global Switch’s showcase.
“We are speaking directly with suppliers and rack integrators and we have open engagement with a number of our customers.
"We demonstrate here a lot of technologies that many may not be particularly aware of and that shows where we are.
“We’ve pulled everything we’re aware of and excited about into this showcase.”
Liquid cooling as part of energy-conscious growth
The showcase comes as the energy footprint of digital infrastructure continues to grow.
Global Switch’s response, led by liquid cooling, supports lower energy use while still meeting surging demand from customers building AI and HPC environments.
The company highlights four benefits: improved energy efficiency, support for higher density hardware, better environmental performance and lower running costs.
“Across all our data centres worldwide, we are offering customers an opportunity to benefit from truly flexible infrastructure, including a complete suite of liquid cooling options,” says Ashley Muldoon, CEO.
“Densification is the key to unlocking the potential of the most advanced AI and HPC workloads and continues to sit at the heart of our investment plans.”
The shift is also strategic for the business.
“Our London Campus is at the forefront of data centre technological innovation, not just in London but across the world," explains Adam Eaton, Executive Group Director for Europe.
“Liquid cooling technologies will enable us to capture the growth expected in this market, meeting the vital digital infrastructure needs of the city’s most innovative businesses.”
Customers are still in the early stages of working out how best to use the technology, and Global Switch sees its role as one of enabling that learning process.
Chief Commercial Officer Matthew Dent comments: “Our customers are still exploring new technologies themselves and how they can best utilise them. We’re helping them on that journey.”
Expansion supported by power-ready infrastructure
Global Switch’s investment in energy-efficient infrastructure fits into a wider expansion strategy.
Its London East facility, originally a printing press for the Financial Times, is being redeveloped to boost capacity across multiple floors.
The adjacent London South centre, now under construction, will add a further 35MW when completed in 2027.
The Docklands campus, which includes both East and South facilities, will ultimately provide 160MW of data centre power.
Located in the area known as the Spice Docks or East India Docks, the campus sits among a cluster of digital infrastructure, including Telehouse’s 30MW site nearby.
With £2.9bn (US$3.9bn) pledged for AI start-ups in 2024 alone, London’s data centre market is expanding quickly.
Analysts expect the city’s capacity to double between 2025 and 2026, even with continued pressure on available space and power.
Global Switch says its 224MVA of secured power positions it well to serve the full range of customers, from hyperscalers to smaller AI startups.
Adam notes that demand remains strong even for conventional colocation services: “While there is a lot of discussion around AI and high-performance compute, there’s still very much demand for traditional colocation space with enterprise companies.”
As the eastern side of London grows in importance for digital infrastructure, he says Global Switch’s campus is ideally placed: “The Spice Docks will be a significant campus development on the east side.
"There is a lot of demand in the east end of London so the fact that we have our 224MVA secured coming into this site, we’re seeing a lot of growth, hence supporting the growth of our campus.”
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