Sustainable data centres essential to support AI and quantum computing

Just like GenAI, quantum computing will also fuel a data explosion, says Terry Maiolo, Vice President and General Manager in Asia Pacific for OVHcloud.

As a European cloud provider in Southeast Asia, OVHcloud continues to play an important role for businesses opting the multi-cloud strategy. Having launched two data centres in Singapore, OVHcloud remains focused on sustainability in the region as well. The French cloud provider also opened its third data centre in Sydney, Australia recently.

What makes these data centres unique is that they rely on water cooling. Specifically, the new data centres are equipped with the latest water-cooling technology and is optimized for mission-critical workloads. By eliminating the need for air-conditioning, the data centres achieve an optimal Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.26, significantly lower than the industry average of 1.56.

While this metric underscores the energy efficiency of OVHcloud’s data centres, the demand for GenAI use cases could eventually see a greater need for sustainable practices. According to Terry Maiolo, Vice President and General Manager in Asia Pacific for OVHcloud, with AI expected to be a pervasive force in 2025, the cloud will stay at the cornerstone. This is because the cloud provides the necessary infrastructure to harness the power of these technologies and deliver tangible benefits to individuals and the society.

But how can organizations maintain sustainable practices as they continue to invest in developing more AI use cases? The compute power required by GenAI is definitely a game changer when it comes to sustainable plans that most industries have laid out.

For Maiolo, GenAI has irrevocably reshaped numerous industries, and Southeast Asia stands at the forefront of this technological revolution. With the region estimated to have driven US$30 billion in AI infrastructure investment in the first half of 2024, the surge is driven by soaring consumer interest, high digital literacy and a robust smartphone market.

“In 2025, we anticipate a significant surge in the adoption of AI agents. These intelligent systems are poised to streamline workflows, boost efficiency, and deliver unparalleled value to both businesses and consumers. Already, we are seeing promising applications across various industries, from customer-facing chatbots to internal tools that assist employees in their daily tasks – even outside of traditionally tech-centric industries. By bridging GenAI’s capabilities with real-world execution, AI agents can help unlock AI’s full potential,” said Maiolo.

At the same time, Maiolo also believes that the rise in AI agents will ultimately lead to a significant increase in the amount of data that is created and utilised.

“With more data generated than ever before and new data sources emerging, increasing amounts of data will become scattered across disparate systems, limiting its accessibility and utility – unless governed by robust infrastructure and a trusted cloud. Moreover, the sheer volume of data will place increasing demands on data centres, necessitating scalable storage and processing capabilities,” added Maiolo.

The rise of quantum computing

Interestingly, the French cloud provider also predicts quantum computing to have a bigger impact in 2025. Though still in its infancy, Maiolo believes that remarkable progress is being made in both hardware and software, signalling the dawn of a new era in computing that promises unprecedented speed, power and innovation.

Maiolo pointed out that in the APAC region, the surge in quantum computing is driven by increasing investments, robust research ecosystems, and a growing number of quantum startups and collaborations. Countries like Singapore have recognized the strategic importance of quantum technology, committing up to SG$300 million to its National Quantum Strategy, aiming to establish the nation as a global hub for quantum research and development.

“As quantum computers mature, we can expect to see increasing integration with AI into quantum AI. This convergence has tremendous potential from optimising complex financial models to accelerating drug discovery, with the ability to revolutionise industries. For example, in energy, it could accelerate the development of new, more efficient, renewable energy technologies,” said Maiolo.

Just like GenAI, quantum computing will also fuel a data explosion. Maiolo highlighted that data centres, already struggling to keep pace, face an even greater challenge as businesses accelerate their digital transformation. He explained that these facilities, already energy-intensive, consumes 1-1.5 percent of global electricity with potentially significant implications on energy use from AI and Machine Learning in upcoming years.

“As the immense computational demands of AI and quantum workloads require substantial processing power and storage capacity, the resulting heat output necessitates increased energy consumption to maintain optimal operating temperatures. This will strain cooling systems, escalating energy consumption, and exacerbating overall data centre energy usage. In SEA, cooling data centre systems alone accounts for 40 percent of energy consumption, 10 percent more than the global average. Furthermore, research revealed that over 95 percent of data centres in the region still use traditional air-cooling despite its recognised higher expenditure, as opposed to the more efficient water cooling,” explained Maiolo.

As Singapore is a key player in SEA’s data centre landscape, the country continues to lead the charge towards sustainable data centre development. Maiolo highlighted that the nation has not only established standards to facilitate the construction and operation of energy-efficient data centres but also has plans to introduce standards for IT equipment and energy-efficient water cooling by 2025. He also mentioned that governments worldwide are increasingly recognizing the need for cleaner energy sources, with hydrogen fuel cells emerging as a promising alternative to fossil fuels.

Maiolo commented that is becomes imperative for businesses to prioritize green data centers which are designed to optimize energy efficiency, scalability and environmental sustainability. By implementing advanced cooling technologies such as water cooling, Maiolo believes data centres can significantly reduce their water and electricity consumption, thereby minimizing their environmental impact.

“The good news? We are already seeing markets like Thailand take steps, with others like Vietnam announcing plans to follow in the coming years. By investing in energy-efficient infrastructure and adopting eco-friendly practices, businesses will be able to achieve long-term success in the cloud and ensure that its digital ambitions are not curtailed by avoidable setbacks,” concluded Maiolo.