Flex & Equinix: The Energy-Efficient Future of Data Centres

Amid global efforts to decarbonise digital infrastructure, the challenge of energy use in data centres remains front and centre.

As sustainability takes precedence alongside performance, cooling systems are becoming a key focal point in improving overall efficiency.

Flex, a worldwide leader in manufacturing and infrastructure innovation, is responding to this challenge through a rack-level deployment at the Equinix Co-Innovation Facility (CIF) in Ashburn, Virginia.

The project demonstrates how smart cooling can help meet net zero targets while tackling energy intensity in next-generation compute environments.

Unlocking energy-efficient liquid cooling

Flex’s solution integrates standalone and facility-ready single-phase direct liquid cooling (DLC) technologies, designed by JetCool – a Flex subsidiary focused on advanced thermal management.

The pilot is housed within an OCP Open Rack Version 3 (ORv3), which unites power, rack and cooling infrastructure in a single system designed and manufactured by Flex.

This closed-loop configuration allows operators to shift smoothly from air to liquid cooling, minimising operational disruption while optimising efficiency.

At its core is JetCool’s SmartPlate System for Dell PowerEdge R760 servers. The closed-loop design eliminates the need for additional coolant distribution units or facility plumbing, delivering a 15% reduction in IT power consumption – a critical gain for energy-conscious facilities operating in constrained grids.

Maximising performance while reducing energy use

Flex has extended DLC integration to Dell PowerEdge R660 platforms, enabling operation at inlet temperatures up to 70°C through JetCool’s cold plate technology. By cutting cooling power use by up to 50% and reducing water consumption by as much as 90%, the system demonstrates a tangible route towards more sustainable high-density compute.

The SmartSense 6U Liquid-to-Liquid (L2L) distribution unit supports loads of up to 300kW, directly linking with Equinix’s secondary cooling loop to ensure complete DLC functionality. Within the ORv3 rack, integrated manifold, busbar and disconnect features centralise system management for optimal thermal and energy performance.

Rob Campbell, President of Communications, Enterprise and Cloud Business at Flex, said: “We are proud to bring Flex’s high-performance, energy-efficient liquid cooling solutions into data centre facilities such as the Equinix CIF.

“This milestone builds on our longstanding collaboration with Equinix across power and cooling infrastructure.

“As the demand for AI and HPC workloads continues to accelerate, Flex’s end-to-end portfolio will enable data centre operators to bring infrastructure to market faster.”

Scaling sustainable energy systems

Flex’s project at the CIF underscores how scalable liquid cooling infrastructure can advance broader energy goals across the digital ecosystem.

With manufacturing capability spanning millions of servers annually, the company is uniquely positioned to merge supply chain strength with energy innovation.

Its lifecycle service offering – covering installation, maintenance and warranty for cold plates, manifolds and distribution systems – ensures continued operational reliability while extending the energy performance benefits of each deployment.

A key outcome of the collaboration is the demonstration of JetCool’s single-phase system, capable of cooling up to 4kW per processor socket with further scalability.

Such performance opens the door to significant energy and resource savings as compute-intensive industries pursue cleaner, more sustainable operations.

Innovation through energy collaboration

Equinix’s role in this initiative highlights the value of cross-industry collaboration in deploying energy-smart cooling.

Pawel Wlodarczak, Innovation Director at Equinix, says: “The Equinix Co-Innovation Facility provides a collaborative environment where emerging infrastructure technologies can be tested and refined for real-world, high-density compute environments.

“Demonstrations like this help our partners explore new approaches to meeting our customers’ performance and sustainability needs.”