‘Liquid Cooling Critical To Nigeria’s Digital Future’

The country president of Schneider Electric Anglophone Africa, Ajibola Akindele, has called for a shift in data centre infrastructure design in Nigeria, citing the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.

Akindele said traditional air-cooling systems are reaching their limits due to increasing demand from high-density data centres, underscoring the need for operators to adopt advanced liquid-cooling solutions to support the country’s digital growth.

He noted that liquid cooling offers the efficiency and capacity required to power modern technologies without compromising sustainability goals.

“We are moving away from traditional cooling methods toward liquid cooling, which offers the density and efficiency required to power the digital future of Nigeria without compromising our sustainability goals,” he said.

He referenced projections from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which indicate that data centres could account for about three per cent of global electricity consumption by 2030, nearly doubling current levels and growing faster than other sectors.

According to him, cooling systems are the second-largest energy consumers in data centres after IT equipment, making them a key area for potential energy savings. He added that energy consumption is influenced by design and operational decisions, including site selection, climate, and heat management systems.

Akindele also highlighted water usage as another critical factor, noting that while liquid cooling systems operate as closed loops and do not directly consume water at the rack level, overall water use depends on how heat is discharged into the environment.

He explained that carbon emissions from data centres are largely driven by energy sources, particularly in regions reliant on fossil fuels, and emphasised that efficient cooling systems can help reduce environmental impact.

Akindele described cooling as a critical enabler of innovation in the era of AI, rather than just a support function, adding that adopting liquid cooling technology would enhance energy and water efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and support the higher computing demands of Nigeria’s digital economy.