Aggreko: Heatwave Driving Data Centres to ‘Point of Failure’

Jokes about British weather aside, the UK is uniquely ill-equipped to deal with extreme weather.

The large part of the UK’s infrastructure — whether that be industrial equipment, housing or public transport — is designed to exist in the usually temperate climate of the British Isles, meaning problems occur when abnormally hot or cold temperatures hit the country.

Right now, Britain is in the throes of a heatwave, registering record temperatures for the time of year.

But while citizens up and down the country are wilting in the summer sun, it’s the performance of critical infrastructure that is most worrying to experts.

“If recent temperatures are anything to go by, then this summer is set to bring even more extreme conditions capable of driving equipment to the point of failure,” says Chris Smith, Head of Temperature Control for the UK & Ireland at Aggreko.

“If facilities rely on ageing HVAC systems to keep processes ticking, then the risk of breakdowns during heatwaves only increases.”

Data centres are under pressure

The stakes are particularly high for data centres.

These facilities are the backbone of our digital world, but their maintenance relies almost entirely on the cooling systems that regulate their temperatures.

Even the briefest of cooling system failures can trigger catastrophic consequences for data centres, including hardware damage, data loss and service outages.

In the past few years, data centres have come into the public awareness more than ever before, thanks to their integral role in AI software.

But the rise of AI has sent the power consumption of data centres skywards.

Gordon Johnson, Senior CFD Manager at Subzero Engineering, says that contemporary AI GPUs now draw upwards of 500 watts per chip, pushing hyperscale facilities from the traditional 10-30 kW per rack range to 80-120 kW per rack.

"With air cooling limited to about 30-40 kW per rack, the air just cannot carry the created heat quickly enough, even with optimal containment and supply airflow," Gordon observes.

This becomes even more challenging during heatwaves, when hot ambient temperatures reduce the effectiveness of traditional cooling methods, meaning HVAC systems have to work even harder to regulate temperatures.

The risks of extreme heat

Much of the equipment in data centres — especially those in the UK — was not designed to operate in conditions as extreme as those found in a heatwave.

This is only exacerbated when maintenance of cooling systems or the computers themselves has been neglected.

Blocked condenser coils can force systems to overwork to the point of compressor failure, which creates a cascading series of problems throughout entire facilities.

The financial implications of system failure are vast — and then stretch far beyond simple repair costs. 

Service outages could potentially result in severe penalties for data centre companies, as thousands of businesses across the UK are dependent on their continuous operation.

"Power and cooling have become strategic levers and margin killers in hyperscale operations," Gordon explains.

"Those who get it right will widen their advantage. Those who don't could find infrastructure becoming financially unsustainable."

Is hybrid cooling the solution?

Many industry players are exploring hybrid cooling strategies as a solution to the data centre cooling going forward.

These systems are known as hybrids because they combine traditional air conditioning systems with direct liquid cooling technologies, which pump cold water through the facilities.

While direct-to-chip cooling can reduce overall cooling energy consumption by up to 40% compared to traditional air systems, it is thought that 25% of heat from IT equipment still requires air-based removal.

Memory subsystems, storage components and power delivery circuits continue to rely on airflow management, making comprehensive thermal strategies essential.

Consequently, hybrid systems are seen as a balanced and effective option.

The importance of specialist engineering

Chris, whose role at infrastructure specialist Aggreko makes him an expert in this field, is a strong advocate for recruiting specialist help when it comes to optimising data centre cooling tech.

"Working with a specialist in both HVAC and power can be the real difference maker," he notes.

"Doing so provides contractors with the opportunity to leverage specialist expertise and tailored solutions that address immediate cooling needs."

The message from Chris technology leaders is clear: extreme weather events are exposing infrastructure vulnerabilities that require proactive rather than reactive responses.

With temperatures exceeding 25°C becoming increasingly common across the UK, it’s clear that the window for preparation is narrowing.

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