This Week in Data Center News 9.8.25

This month, the data center industry is buzzing with new partnerships and developments that address the escalating demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing. From innovative cooling solutions to strategic campus expansions, companies are finding new ways to boost efficiency and capacity. Johnston Controls is focusing on greener data centers with technologies that reduce energy and water consumption, while Nokia and SuperMicro have teamed up to deliver integrated, AI-optimized networking solutions. Meanwhile, on the ground, new data center projects are hitting a roadblock in Jerome Township, Ohio, and Equifax is converting its data center in Georgia into office space, reflecting a broader shift to cloud-based operations. Finally, Compal and ZutaCore are making waves with their waterless, direct-to-chip cooling technology, a key innovation for handling the immense heat generated by next-generation servers.

Johnston Controls launches Silent-Aire Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) for high density data centers

Johnson Controls has introduced the Silent-Aire Coolant Distribution Unit (CDU) platform to meet the increasing thermal management needs of high-density data centers. This new platform offers scalable liquid cooling solutions with capacities from 500kW to over 10MW, designed to support the industry's shift towards more intensive computing environments. The CDUs can be flexibly positioned, either in-row or on the perimeter, to accommodate various data center layouts.This launch enhances Johnson Controls' existing portfolio of thermal management products, which includes the Silent-Aire, York, and M&M Carnot brands. 

The company states that its solutions can cut non-IT energy consumption by over 50% in many North American data centers, which could lead to significant energy savings for large-scale AI facilities. The new CDU platform is manufactured globally across Johnson Controls' extensive production network and is backed by a large team of service technicians.

Nokia and Supermicro combine Linux with 800G Ethernet for AI data centers for pre-validated use

Nokia and Supermicro have announced a strategic partnership to address the evolving demands of AI-driven data centers by integrating Supermicro's 800G Ethernet switches with Nokia's Service Router Linux and automation tools. This collaboration delivers a pre-validated solution designed to reduce implementation time, lower operational costs, and improve overall efficiency through Nokia's Event-Driven Automation, which enables faster response times and reduces manual operations.

The partnership specifically targets the transformation of traditional data centers into "AI factories," which require significantly higher network speeds and the ability to handle unprecedented power demands from GPU-intensive AI workloads. By combining Supermicro's high-performance switching platforms with Nokia's network operating system and proactive automation capabilities, the solution aims to place networking infrastructure at the core of modern data center architecture while providing the scalability and reliability needed for AI applications.

This alliance represents Nokia's broader strategy of leveraging partnerships to expand its enterprise market reach, while giving Supermicro customers enhanced flexibility and choice in their infrastructure deployments. The collaboration ensures full integration between Nokia's SR Linux and Event-Driven Automation with Supermicro's systems, providing data center developers with a comprehensive solution for next-generation AI infrastructure requirements.

Jerome Township, Ohio sets moratorium on data center development

Amid community feedback and concerns over potential limitations, Jerome Township has implemented a nine-month moratorium on data center development. The board of trustees voted in favor of this "pause" after a 12-month ban was initially proposed by Trustee Wezlynn Davis. This decision temporarily halts any new data center projects in the township, providing officials time to re-evaluate their approach to this type of development.

Equifax decommissions data center to convert into office space with $25 million corporate expansion in Alpharetta, Georgia 

Credit reporting giant Equifax is investing $25 million to convert a 65,000 sq ft data center on the third floor of its Alpharetta, Georgia campus into collaborative office space, creating capacity for nearly 250 new jobs. This conversion is part of the company's ongoing $3 billion cloud transformation initiative that began in 2018, which has seen Equifax decommission 36 data centers since 2019, including 10 in 2024 alone, as it shifts to a cloud-first infrastructure approach using Google Cloud services.

The Alpharetta facility conversion reflects broader industry trends toward cloud adoption and data center consolidation. While Equifax continues to operate some on-premises data centers with efficiency improvements like optimized HVAC systems and cold aisle containment, the company reports that its remaining data centers now represent approximately 31% of its total scope 1 and 2 emissions, a figure expected to decline further as cloud migration progresses. This strategic shift demonstrates how enterprises are balancing operational efficiency, environmental considerations, and workforce needs in their infrastructure modernization efforts.

Compal and ZutaCore join forces to create integrated server and cooling solutions that revolutionize data center efficiency

Compal and ZutaCore have partnered to deliver breakthrough AI data center cooling solutions that address the surging power demands of next-generation AI workloads. The collaboration integrates Compal's high-performance server platforms with ZutaCore's HyperCool® waterless, two-phase liquid cooling technology, which uses a non-conductive dielectric fluid to instantly remove heat directly at the chip level. Unlike traditional water-based systems, this approach eliminates risks of hardware damage from leaks while achieving exceptional Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) scores as low as 1.04-1.1.

The partnership showcases two cutting-edge platforms: the SG720-2A-L2 (7U 8-GPU system) designed for AMD Instinct™ MI325X GPUs with universal rack compatibility, and the SD221-8A-L2 (2U 4-Node system) achieving an industry-leading partial PUE of 1.01. These systems demonstrate how advanced cooling translates into real-world gains in density, efficiency, and reliability while supporting both current EIA 19-inch racks and future ORv3 open standards.

For data center operators, this technology delivers immediate benefits including higher performance per rack, dramatically reduced energy costs, enhanced reliability without condensation or corrosion risks, and significant sustainability improvements through reduced water and electricity consumption. The waterless cooling approach is particularly valuable for edge AI deployments where space constraints and reliability are critical factors.

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