Data Center Refrigeration is No Longer Just About Cooling; It’s About Shaping the Cities of 2040
“The future of AI, energy, and sustainable cities hinges on a technology we rarely consider: data center refrigeration. As compute density rises from 15 to 500 kilowatts per rack, cooling is evolving from a supporting utility into a strategic enabler of digital infrastructure, energy systems & urban resilience.”
Every digital interaction generates heat, and every new generation of AI demands even more computing power. While processors power intelligence, cooling may quietly determine how far that intelligence can scale. In this episode of Futurecast, we explore how data center refrigeration could evolve from a supporting operational function into a strategic enabler of AI infrastructure, sustainable computing, and future urban energy systems.
Our expert, Marco Margotti, with over 30 years of experience in industrial refrigeration, thermal energy systems, and sustainable cooling technologies, explains what this transition means for data center operators, energy providers, and the cities of 2040.
From the Recording:
Host: What is driving this transition from cooling as a foundational capability to thermal management potentially defining how far AI and digital infrastructure can scale?
Marco Margotti/Expert: Five years ago, we had a 15-kilowatt maximum per rack. Today, we are thinking about 250 kilowatts, and they are thinking about 500 kilowatts. In a very small space, we have a lot of heat. Air is not possible to be used. Liquid is the only way to remove the heat in an efficient way. But all this heat is thrown out. From the energy point of view, this is stupid.
Host: Looking ahead to 2040, what role could data centers play within broader energy ecosystems?
Marco Margotti/Expert: 10 megawatts gives 5,000 houses. I would prefer small data centers, up to 30-50 megawatts each, around the city. If we project the city in this way, we solve two problems: manage the data and allocate the energy in the right way. We don’t throw away anything else. The only way is to use it.
Host: What is one shift in thinking that organizations should begin making today to be ready for that future?
Marco Margotti/Expert: Data centers must be convinced that having a higher temperature in the outflow is good. Temperature is the key. They must be able to raise it. 500 kilowatts in a rack is only heat. That is the right direction, because then we can use it.
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Refrigeration was the entry point. The real discussion was about the future of AI, energy, sustainability, and the infrastructure behind it. Cooling is becoming a strategic consideration for the future of digital infrastructure, and the organizations that recognize this shift early will be better positioned to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. Temperature is the key, and those who master it will shape the cities of 2040.
About the Author(s)
Marco Margotti has 30+ years of experience in industrial refrigeration, thermal energy systems, and sustainable cooling technologies. He has contributed to valuable global conversations around sustainable cooling and energy transition. Sandhya Saraswat is a Manager, Healthcare Innovation Strategy at Stellarix, guiding clients through emerging care models and strategic healthcare transformation.