Cooling the AI Boom: Hybrid Solutions in Data Centres

In our latest article from our Future of Data Centres series, Nick Remington, Technical Director at Black & White Engineering, explores the rise of hybrid cooling solutions, their efficiency gains, and what they mean for the sustainability of hyperscale facilities.

As artificial intelligence accelerates data centre workloads, traditional cooling methods are struggling to keep up. With power density on the rise, operators face an urgent question: how do we manage this energy without compromising efficiency or sustainability?

Hybrid cooling solutions are fast becoming the answer for data centres. But are they enough to future-proof for the AI era? In this article, part of our Future of Data Centres series, Nick Remington, Technical Director at Black & White Engineering, shares his perspective on what’s changing, what’s working and what’s coming next.

How AI is Transforming Power and Cooling Demands

Demand for data centre capacity is already at a historic high due to cloud hosting, enterprise platforms and data storage. But AI has taken that demand to a new level.

We’re seeing a tangible shift across the board from hyperscale and neocloud developers towards significantly higher power densities. This is largely driven by the rapid deployment of AI GPUs, vastly reshaping how data centres are designed, built and operated.

What Are the Advantages of Hybrid Cooling Over Traditional Solutions?

As power density increases, traditional air-cooling methods are no longer sufficient. Hybrid cooling systems combine air and liquid cooling technologies, such as direct-to-chip and immersion cooling. Liquid cooling removes heat directly from the GPU’s heat source offering a far more efficient heat transfer compared to air.

These systems improve the facility’s Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), helping reduce operational emissions and power consumption. Higher power density means less white space is needed, reducing the overall building footprint, lowering capital costs, speeding up construction and the permit approval process as well as cutting embodied carbon.

Can Hybrid Systems Support Sustainability Goals?

Hybrid systems offer higher efficiency, particularly in reducing Scope 2 emissions. By operating the facility water system (FWS) at higher temperatures, we can minimise the use of chiller compressors, lowering energy use even further. The cooling distribution units (CDUs) used in these solutions consume significantly less power than traditional air-cooling fans, offering further PUE improvements.

Another key benefit is heat reuse. With a high-temperature FWS, there’s a real opportunity to export heat to surrounding buildings or feed into a district heating network. While this doesn’t drastically improve data centre performance, it has a meaningful impact on the wider built environment.

The Future Outlook: Will Hybrid Cooling Become the New Standard in Data Centres?

The rise of hybrid cooling is directly linked to the uptake in AI deployment. While some large hyperscalers have recently slowed AI investments, the broader trend remains clear. A new generation of GPU cloud operator, the neoclouds, have arrived and are pushing these limits to suit the latest GPU requirements.

There’s strong momentum in AI adoption because of its wide-reaching benefits, from generative AI and large language models (LLMs) to advanced science and economic growth. We expect this demand to continue rising at pace and cooling strategies must evolve accordingly.

Direct-to-chip has widely been the immediate industry accepted solution. This will soon be followed by 2-phase liquid cooling and immersion cooling, all readily available and offering different benefits with increasing capacities.

Let’s Talk About Smarter Cooling

As AI pushes data centres to new performance thresholds, hybrid cooling offers a compelling way to stay ahead, balancing high-efficiency performance with long-term sustainability. This shift won’t happen overnight, but for data centre developers, designers and operators, the time to explore and implement smarter cooling strategies is now.

For more on hybrid cooling solutions in data centres you can hear from Nick and other industry experts in a recent feature for News in the Channel.

At Black & White Engineering, we work closely with data centre developers to implement innovative solutions that support these goals. If you are looking to future-proof your data centre infrastructure, get in touch with us to continue the conversation. 

Black & White Engineering Shortlisted for Three Construction Industry Awards in People, Culture and Training Excellence

We’re proud to share that Black & White Engineering has been shortlisted for three major industry awards in 2025. Each nomination reflects the dedication of our global team and our sustained investment in creating a workplace where people are supported to do their best work, grow confidently and progress professionally.

We’re proud to share that Black & White Engineering has been shortlisted for three major industry awards in 2025, recognising our commitment to developing engineering talent and fostering a culture of continuous learning, innovation and collaboration.

Each nomination reflects the dedication of our global team and our sustained investment in creating a workplace where people are supported to do their best work, grow confidently and progress professionally.

DCS Awards 2025: Outstanding Contribution to Skills and Training
This category recognises organisations making a significant impact on skills development in the data centre industry. Our unique training approach delivered through our Global Academy combines technical excellence with human-centred learning to ensure our teams are equipped for a fast-evolving sector.

Constructing Excellence North East Awards 2025: People & Culture
This shortlisting highlights organisations that put people at the heart of their success. At Black & White, development pathways, leadership training and knowledge-sharing are embedded across the business. Today, 93% of our people say they are proud to work here and would recommend us as a great place to work.

Construction News Awards 2025: Training Excellence
This award celebrates long-term commitment to training. Through our Global Academy, we deliver early careers programmes, immersive learning residencies, our three-tier Management Development Programme, and  our personal development platform ensures every member of our team has a clear, supported route to progress.

Being recognised across these categories reflects our ambition to develop engineers with the skills, mindset and leadership to shape the future of the built environment.

We look forward to celebrating these achievements as we approach the award ceremonies in the months ahead.

Daniel Wilding Wins 3rd Place in Apprentice of the Year Award

A huge congratulations to Daniel Wilding from our London office for his success at the CIBSE Young Engineers Awards 2024.

A huge congratulations to our very own Daniel Wilding for securing 3rd place in the Apprentice of the Year Award at the CIBSE Young Engineers Awards 2024.

Daniel’s hard work, dedication and passion for engineering design have truly shone through and we are incredibly proud to see him recognised at this prestigious level. It speaks volumes about his commitment to excellence and continuous development.

Black & White’s CEO, Mick Cairns Recognised in The CIO World’s Prestigious Feature

Mick Cairns features prominently in the ‘UAE’s Most Influential CEOs You Need to Know’ edition.

We are thrilled to share that Mick Cairns has been prominently featured in The CIO World’s highly anticipated edition titled ‘UAE’s Most Influential CEOs You Need to Know.’ This recognition highlights our CEO’s exceptional leadership, vision, and impact in the industry.

Read further to delve deeper into the insights and achievements of Mick Cairns, showcasing his remarkable contributions to the technology landscape and beyond.

P28: UAE’s Most Influential CEOs You Need to Know

Shortlisted for Multiple Prestigious Awards in 2024

We are proud to be recognised for our dedication to excellence and innovation.

We are proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for several prestigious awards, highlighting our commitment to excellence and innovation in the MEP design industry.

Firstly, we are thrilled to be a finalist at the 2024 Electrical Review & Data Centre Review Excellence Awards, where we have been shortlisted for two categories – Data Centre Consultancy of the Year and Training Provider of the Year. These nominations reflect our dedication to providing top-notch services and training programs, showcasing the talent and expertise of our team.

Additionally, we are excited to share that we have been shortlisted for the G4C Commitment to Employee and Training Development Award. This nomination recognises our efforts in fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth for all our team members. At Black & White, we believe in investing in our people, and this nomination is a testament to the success of our strategies in supporting the professional journey of every employee.

Furthermore, we are pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted for the People and Culture award at this year’s Constructing Excellence in the Northeast. This nomination highlights our ongoing commitment to developing a vibrant, inclusive, and empowering workplace culture. Our people are our greatest asset, and it’s their hard work, creativity, and dedication that drive our success.

Lastly, we are excited to share that we have been shortlisted for the Construction News Construction Consultancy of the Year Award 2024. This recognition underscores our team’s hard work, talent, and commitment to excellence in the construction industry.

We thank our incredible team for their exceptional contributions and look forward to celebrating our collective achievements and continuing to push boundaries, deliver value, and serve our clients and communities.

Stay tuned for more updates as we approach the awards ceremonies in May and June!

 

Proud of Our Wins

Black & White Engineering wins Sub-Consultancy of the Year and Project Manager of the Year at the Construction Week Awards 2019.