Hong Kong Data Centre Embraces Liquid Cooling to Meet Surging Chinese AI Demand
Global Switch introduces liquid cooling solutions in Hong Kong to meet rising AI power demands. Mainland Chinese customers driving new demand for high-density racks and cooling solutions. US export restrictions on Nvidia GPUs increase interest in Chinese-made AI chips.
The company has introduced innovative liquid cooling solutions at its Tseung Kwan O facility to cater to the escalating power demands of AI applications, particularly those originating from mainland China.
Ben Ryder, solutions engineering director at Global Switch, highlighted the dramatic shift in power requirements. "We've seen a huge increase in demand for higher and higher density racks," he said. "In the last two years, we've seen requirements for 20 kilowatts [per rack] initially, 40 to 50, and now beyond that, up to 100 kilowatts, as we can support liquid cooling."
The company recently unveiled direct-to-chip liquid cooling capabilities at its 30-megawatt Hong Kong facility. This cutting-edge technology involves placing a cold plate with circulating cool liquid in direct contact with integrated circuits, addressing the soaring power needs of AI applications. Global Switch claims this is the first showcase of such a solution in Hong Kong.
Eric Liu, Hong Kong managing director for Global Switch, noted a significant trend in their customer base. "In Hong Kong it's very clear that the main new demand comes from mainland China customers," he stated. "I think compared with a couple of years before, they are more open to new markets, and they are bringing out from mainland China their own technology to Hong Kong."
The surge in demand for AI chips has been further fuelled by US export restrictions on certain high-performance Nvidia GPUs to China. This has led to increased interest in AI chips from Chinese companies like Huawei Technologies and Biren Technology. While Global Switch does not directly monitor the technology used in customer servers, the power and cooling requirements provide insights into the types of hardware being deployed.
To implement its new cooling solutions, Global Switch has partnered with Supermicro, xFusion, and Liquidstack. The company maintains a neutral stance regarding the hardware used in its facilities, focusing instead on providing a resilient environment for its customers' equipment.
Global Switch's Chinese connections have attracted attention in recent years. The company's ties to China led Australian federal government agencies to terminate agreements with Global Switch in 2017 after a Chinese consortium acquired a significant stake in the company. By 2019, Jiangsu Sha Steel Group had become the controlling shareholder.
Despite geopolitical tensions, Global Switch remains focused on meeting customer demands. The company downplayed potential risks associated with the current geopolitical climate and emphasised its use of interchangeable hardware from multiple vendors to mitigate any concerns.
As AI continues to drive technological advancements and power requirements, Global Switch's adoption of liquid cooling technology positions it at the forefront of data centre innovation in Hong Kong. The company's ability to adapt to changing market demands while navigating complex geopolitical landscapes will likely play a crucial role in its future success.
• Global Switch introduces liquid cooling solutions in Hong Kong to meet rising AI power demands
• Mainland Chinese customers driving new demand for high-density racks and cooling solutions
• US export restrictions on Nvidia GPUs increase interest in Chinese-made AI chips
Source: SCMP