Data Center Richness

Rich Miller

Data Center Richness brings you expert insights on the world of data centers, cloud computing and AI infrastructure. Join respected industry expert Rich Miller for conversations that will help you understand the fast-moving world of digital infrastructure, and what it means to you.

Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been tracking the data center industry for more than 25 years, explaining how data centers are central to the Internet, the AI revolution, and the energy transition. Rich founded and led two of the sector's leading publications (Data Center Frontier and Data Center Knowledge), and his insights have been featured in major media including CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Wired, and The New York Times.

We bring you interviews with the top thought leaders and innovators building the digital economy. These conversations are particularly relevant for data center professionals and those in the energy industry, exploring the road ahead for AI infrastructure.

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Thursday · 29 min
Why Big Money Is Pouring Into AI Cooling
Liquid cooling has become one of the most important technologies in the rise of AI. Powerful new AI server hardware throws off a lot of heat, pushing past the limits of most traditional air cooling. This has driven a surge of acquisitions in the cooling sector, and none bigger than Ecolab's $4.75 billion deal to acquire liquid cooling specialist CoolIT Systems. In this episode of Data Center Richness, host Rich Miller sits down with Jason Walker, Director of Product Marketing for Data Centers at Ecolab, to break down the CoolIT acquisition. Walker discusses how Ecolab is pairing decades of industrial fluid management with CoolIT's cold plates, CDUs, and manifolds to solve critical operational bottlenecks. Learn why fluid health and monitoring matter during commissioning, how joint R&D at CoolIT's 6MW Calgary facility aims to extend single-phase cooling limits for extreme densities, and how integrated hardware and chemistry simplify lifecycle operations for hyperscalers and multi-tenant colocation operators. Here's an overview of the conversation: 00:00 - Introduction: The CoolIT Acquisition and AI Cooling 01:42 - Ecolab's Mission in Data Centers and Fluid Management 04:00 - Strategic Fit: Why Ecolab Acquired CoolIT 05:56 - Navigating Startup Risks and Direct-to-Chip Fluid Health 09:06 - In-Line Testing and 3D TRASAR Real-Time Monitoring 10:32 - Deploying Side-Stream Controllers and BMS Integration 12:09 - Connecting Hardware Monitoring and Fluid Data 13:40 - Integration Progress and Cultural Alignment Post-Close 16:40 - Calgary Testing Facility and Joint R&D Capabilities 19:28 - Extending Single-Phase Liquid Cooling Limits 23:01 - Customer Base: Hyperscalers vs. Colocation Operators 26:10 - Fluid Health and Multi-Tenant Hybrid Cooling Challenges 28:21 - Where to Connect with Jason Walker and Learn More ----------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 VISIT OUR SITE: Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Ecolab Data Center Solutions https://www.ecolab.com CoolIT Systems https://www.coolitsystems.com Jason Walker on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-j-walker-mba/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: The Future of Liquid Cooling https://youtu.be/JGL4Bi6Vrn4?si=d5UPjeEfEDu7qfFd Liquid Cooling Has Finally Arrived https://youtu.be/sZM6MZBOeho?si=HrDgXB345zn51-XL A Closer Look at Two-Phase Liquid Cooling https://youtu.be/w_Us94JgYzc?si=wMd1TUS7bMJjqjew All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx If you enjoyed this conversation, please like the video, leave your thoughts in the comments, and subscribe to Data Center Richness for deep dives into AI infrastructure, power, and high-density computing.
August 26 · 31 min
Building A Safety Culture at Internet Speed
Building hyperscale data centers at the speed of AI comes with a massive challenge: taking care of the thousands of tradespeople on the front lines of construction sites. As project schedules compress and job sites push into remote locations, how do industry leaders build a culture that keeps workers safe, healthy, and genuinely supported? In this episode of Data Center Richness podcast, we sit down with Trey Dean, Senior Vice President of Global EHS at Vantage Data Centers. Trey shares how Vantage is priotiizing site welfare, tracking workforce mental health with actionable data, and using AI and robotics to remove workers from high-risk duties., like moving giant racks Here is an overview of the conversation between Rich Miller of Data Center Richness and Trey Dean. 00:00 - 01:30 - The Basics: A Safe, Clean Work Environment 07:15 - The Enormous Opportunity in Data Center Construction 08:50 - The Vantage Safety Summits 15:00 - Mental Health and Wellness on the Jobsite 23:10 - The Role of Robotics and AI in Worker Safety ----------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 VISIT OUR SITE: Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Trey Dean on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/treydeanhse/ Vantage Data Centers https://vantage-dc.com/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Inside the Future of Data Center Construction https://youtu.be/o0mfu_em4rg?si=_XwxeGAIniTc8InU How Builders See Everything With Reality Capture https://youtu.be/X-vB0POITIs?si=4CjfVAuBjd0wvCih An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
August 19 · 26 min
Is The Data Center Boom Built to Last?
There's a big question at the heart of today's tech headlines: Is there an AI bubble? I sat down with someone who's been building data centers since 1997, and I found his answer really insightful. That's Ron Vokoun. He's had 37 years in construction, most of it in digital infrastructure - fiber networks in the '90s, the first Qwest data centers, a stretch dedicated to prefab and modular builds, and now cooling as the Senior VIce President of Data Center Cooling at SVL Inc. Ron has also become one of the most trusted voices curating data center news, first on LinkedIn, now with his Mission Critical Connections newsletter on Substack. In this conversation, we get into why he thinks prefab is more important than ever due to the labor shortage in construction, how rack densities have blown past anything we saw coming, and his interesting answer on whether this AI buildout is a bubble, and what's actually keeping it in check. Here's an overview of the discussion between Data Center Richness host Rich Miller and Ron Vokoun: 00:00 - On the front lines of construction, design, cooling and data center news curation 01:00 - Ron Vokoun's Data Center Journey 05:30 - The Evolution of Modular and PreFab Designs 07:00 - From Construction to Cooling 10:00 - The Pace of Change in the AI Era 14:00 - The Key to Good Business News Curation 17:40 - The AI Boom, and Ron's Take on "Bubble" ----------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 VISIT OUR SITE: Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Ron Vokoun on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ronvokoun/ SVL Data Center Cooling https://dcc.svl.com/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Inside the Future of Data Center Construction https://youtu.be/o0mfu_em4rg?si=_XwxeGAIniTc8InU How Builders See Everything With Reality Capture https://youtu.be/X-vB0POITIs?si=4CjfVAuBjd0wvCih An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
July 9 · 39 min
How Tech is Transforming Data Center Construction
Demand for data center space is hitting all-time records. That is creating a major boom in data center construction, including more projects and larger campuses. How does the industry keep track of all this construction? For more than 1,000 data center projects, the answer is OpenSpace, a technology company that provides visual intelligence on construction job sites. Its platform uses 360-degree cameras, smartphones and drones to create a digital record of the project that can be updated in real time. OpenSpace packages this "reality capture" visual data in apps that offer a remote overview of the project, giving owners, general contractors, and subcontractors a shared visual record of every corner of these massive sites, updated continuously as work progresses. OpenSpace CEO Jeevan Kalanithi joins us for a fascinating discussion about his company's platform and the role of technology in construction. Here's an overview of the discussion between host Rich Miller and Jeevan Kalanithi: 00:00 - How Technology is Transforming Data Center Construction 02:55 - Jeevan's Background and Entrepreneurial Journey 05:30 - How OpenSpace Models a Construction Site 09:20 - How the Data s Collected and Delivered 12:45 - Data Center Delivery and the Labor Talent Challenge 21:10 - The Human Component - Feedback from Contractors 27:40 - The Tech Required for a Global Video Enterprise 31:20 - The Road Ahead for Construction Tech ----------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 VISIT OUR SITE: Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW OpenSpace https://www.openspace.ai/ OpenSpace on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/openspace.ai/posts/?feedView=all Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Inside the Future of Data Center Construction https://youtu.be/o0mfu_em4rg?si=BnPSEnb-K3rN01D7 An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms How AI Finds More Electricity for Data Centers https://youtu.be/OcxupZZsGj0?si=OArBPdq-nxzC84ES All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
June 30 · 43 min
The State of Data Center Construction
Inside the Future of Data Center Construction Demand for data center capacity has never been higher. But building a data center is a complex undertaking, involving global supply chains and local contractors. As the industry seeks to build super-sized data center campuses, there are reports that a growing number of projects are falling behind schedule. So what's the state of data center construction? To find out, we speak with Doug Mouton, who for many years worked with construction teams building data centers for Microsoft and Meta. Doug and host Rich Miller discuss the complexities of building at AI scale, and the supply chain and staffing challenges faced by large campus projects. Doug is particularly focused on worker safety on job sites. Although data center construction teams have reduced the number of safety incidents, there is more work to do, especially on mental health and wellness for a workforce facing constant pressure on delivery schedules. Doug is also deeply connected as an advisor and board member in the sector, and shares his takes on capital, the risks of geography and silicon, how inference may guide where projects get built, and how power influences the entire market. Here's an overview of our discussion: 00:00 - Data Center Construction in the Spotlight 02:30 - Doug Mouton's Data Center Journey 06:40 - Data Center Delivery at AI Scale 10:24 - Data Center Safety: Stats and Solutions 18:40 - The Role of Capital in Data Center Development 23:40 - Training and Inference, and How it Shapes Digital Geography 32:00 - The Role of Power in Data Center Growth ----------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 VISIT OUR SITE: Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Doug Mouton on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-mouton/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: An Inside Look at the Data Center Development Journey https://youtu.be/tp9tzLjurms How AI Finds More Electricity for Data Centers https://youtu.be/OcxupZZsGj0?si=OArBPdq-nxzC84ES Solid-State Transformers and the Future of AI https://youtu.be/fyN9_9wz-3M All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
June 18 · 44 min
What Solid State Transformers Mean for Data Centers
The transformer is a key component of power delivery, but its core design dates to the 19th century. A number of startups are working to build a better transformer using software-defined power electronics that are ready for the AI era. One of those companies is DG Matrix. It focuses on solid-state transformers, which are emerging as as a critical piece of the infrastructure for next-generation AI data center. DG Matrix CEO and cofounder Haroon Inam joins us to discuss solid-state transformers, and how a multi-port design can provide new options for savings and efficiency in the data center power chain. Here's an overview of our conversation: 00:00 - Why Power Transformers Are Ripe for Disruption 01:05 - Haroon Inam's Journey in Power Electronics 04:15 - Types of Transformers and Their Availability 07:15 - Why Multi-Port SSTs Matter 15:00 - How Can SSTs Help Data Centers? 18:00 - The DG Matrix Offering 22:45 - SSTs and the 800 VDC Transition 25:15 - What the 800 VDC Shift May Look Like 32:30 - What Are the Challenges to SST Adoption 37:00 - Partnerships with Exowatt and InfraPartners 40:00 - The Road Ahead for DG Matrix ----------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW DG Matrix https://www.dgmatrix.com/ Solid-State Transformers Could Reshape the Future of AI https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/p/solid-state-transformers-could-reshape Haroon Inam on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/harooninam/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Solid-State Transformers and the Future of AI https://youtu.be/fyN9_9wz-3M Exowatt: The Solar Startup Aiming to Transform Data Centers https://youtu.be/KPdI5OW-TUw?si=8a10IaGZGQAcbWEF Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=u6kDairimGUARt3b All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
June 12 · 54 min
Why Google is Turning to Virtual Power Plants
Can electric vehicles, solar panels and smart thermostats in homes help free up more grid power for data centers? This concept that has been turning in recent months as the data center power crunch has become more challenging. The concept known as a virtual power plant or VPP. It's a collection of small energy sources that are brought together to create a large energy asset, which can be managed to help support the power grid in moments of high usage. The owners of homes and vehicles get paid for the energy they share back to the grid. Our guest today is Elisa Wood, an expert in distributed energy who can help us understand virtual power plants, and how they work. Elisa has been covering the energy sector for many years. She's the founder of Energy Changemakers, where she reports on the future of distributed energy. I asked Elisa to join us because in recent months we've seen a growing push to tap unutilized energy that exists on power grids. It turned out to be a timely conversation. Literally while we were taping our podcast, Google announced a groundbreaking deal with VPP provider Voltus Energy, which marks the first time that a data center operator has worked with a VPP provider. Their agreement is structured as a "Bring Your Own Capacity" deal, which will unlock 100 megawatts of new capacity on the PJM Interconnection, which serves 67 million customers in the Eastern half of the country. The location is notable because the PJM grid is facing capacity constraints, as well as a huge influx of data center projects. Given the importance of the deal between Google and Voltus, Elisa rejoined me to share her take on the landmark deal and its significance. In today's episode you'll hear parts of both our conversations, which we've edited together to provide a solid understanding of virtual power plants and why they matter. ---------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 LINKS FROM THIS SHOW : Energy Changemakers (Elisa's Community) https://energychangemakers.com/ Elisa Wood on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisawood/ Google and Voltus Announce Bring Your Own Capacity Agreement https://www.voltus.co/press/voltus-google-bring-your-own-capacity-pjm Voltus Energy https://www.voltus.co/ RELATED VIDEO: Voltus: Data Centers Can Bring Their Own Energy https://youtu.be/pG2vRhn2eTQ?si=8qS5p053oH121i8X Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=8xgKEabduuqwdNzw Fixing the AI Power Gap https://youtu.be/uwNa5dZfo90?si=heU4h2wWujvbyK2X Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound.
June 4 · 56 min
How Google Built the Future of Data Centers
What's it like to work on the front lines of data center innovation? Google has been a pioneer in the digital economy, and developed many of the innovations that define hyperscale data centers. Today on Data Center Richness, we discuss what it's like to be building at the leading edge of a massive technology transformation. Our guest is Joe Kava, who led the Google data center team through an amazing phase of growth, both for the company and the data center industry. Joe retired from Google in 2025, and at the Data Center World 2026 conference, he was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Today, he's here to share his thoughts on his journey at Google, and what's next for the data center sector. Here's an overview of my talk with Joe Kava: 00:00 - The Innovation That Defined Hyperscale Computing 01:30 - Joe Kava's Data Center Journey, and How it Led to Google 10:22 - The RagingWire Factor 11:20 - Google Scale - Where No Data Center Had Gone Before 21:00 - The New Economy Rises in the Footprint of the Old 22:20 - Rethinking Everything: Optimizing from Chip to Cloud 30:20 - How PUE Drove Massive Efficiency Gains 31:30 - Google's Leadership on Sustainability 32:50 - DCW and the Lifetime Achievement Award 41:00 - What's Next for the Data Center Industry? 48:30 - The Challenge Ahead - Navigating Amid Community Resistance ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW How A 'Leap of Faith' Sparked Joe Kava's Data Center Career https://datacenterworld.com/article/how-a-leap-of-faith-sparked-joseph-kavas-storied-google-data-center-career/ Google Data Centers https://datacenters.google/ Joe Kava on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/billkleyman/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: The State of the Data Center 2026 https://youtu.be/NxqFYbuJduY?si=YH2MgxhM7cpREsyV Verrus is Rethinking The Data Center https://youtu.be/x9OoLh8UEoc?si=YMkPOqgisOGdWrYw All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
May 27 · 25 min
The Future of Liquid Cooling
Few people know liquid cooling as well as Rich Whitmore. He is the CEO of Motivair by Schneider Electric, which has cooled the world's most powerful supercomputers. After years of working with the HPC and data center communities, Motivair was acquired last year by global equipment giant Schneider Electric to prepare for surging adoption of liquid cooling for AI workloads. The rise of AI and extreme rack density was a key focus at the recent Schneider Electirc Innovation Summit in Buffalo, N.Y., where I sat down with Rich for a discussion of where liquid cooling has been and where it's going from here. Here's a guide to our discussion with Rich Whitmore: 00:00 - The Trajectory of Liquid Cooling 02:00 - Motivair's History and Rich Whitmore's Data Center Journey 03:45 - The Rise of High-Density Cooling 06:20 - The Motivair "Cooling Door" 08:45 - The Latest Trends in Coolant DIstribution Units (CDUs) 12:45 - CDU Sizing in the Hyperscale Age 15:35 - Managing Cooling for Dynamic AI Workloads 17:10 - The Role of Software in Holistic Cooling 20:35 - Grappling With the Megawatt Rack 22:15 - The Road Ahead - What's Next for Motivair by Schneider? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Motivair by Schneider https://www.motivaircorp.com/ Rich Whitmore on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/rich-whitmore-2167284/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Inside Schneider's Liquid Cooling Push With Motivair https://youtu.be/_uPj295skyQ?si=HmuAYGHCanJ69w-a Liquid Cooling Has Finally Arrived https://youtu.be/sZM6MZBOeho?si=HrDgXB345zn51-XL A Closer Look at Two-Phase Liquid Cooling https://youtu.be/w_Us94JgYzc?si=wMd1TUS7bMJjqjew All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
May 13 · 26 min
Solid-State Transformers: The Bridge to 800 VDC?
There's big change coming to power distribution in data centers. Today on Data Center Center Richness, we look at the planned transition to 800 volt DC power distribution, and a new technology - Solid-State Transformers - could play a key role in these upgrades to AI infrastructure. Our guest is Dafna Granot, the Senior Manager for Strategy & Innovation at SolarEdge, which specializes in DC power technology to support solar energy in both consumer and utility settings. The company is expanding into the data center market, with a vision for how Solid-State Transformers can bring extreme efficiency to the 800 volt DC transition. Here's an overview of my conversation with Dafna Granot of SolarEdge: 00:00 - Why Big Change is Coming to Data Center Power. 01:16 - About SolarEdge and Dafna's background 03:20 - Solid-State Transformers and Why They Matter 07:10 - The 800 VDC Roadmap for Data Centers 12:50 - Timelines for 800 VDC Implementation 15:40 - The Challenges Accompanying Solid-State Transformers (SSTs) 18:40 - The Future Supply Chain for 800 VDC 20:20 - NVIDIA's Role in Shaping the DC Power Chain 23:00 - The Road Ahead: Staffing and Expertise ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW SolarEdge (Residential site) https://www.solaredge.com/us/ SolarEdge, Infineon Partner on SSTs for AI Data Centers https://investors.solaredge.com/news-releases/news-release-details/solaredge-and-infineon-collaborate-advance-high-efficiency-power Dafna Granot on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/dafna-granot-b17099156/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Fixing the AI Power Grid https://youtu.be/uwNa5dZfo90?si=DrOgnZv6ymKUHzd- The Solar Startup Aiming to Transform Data Centers https://youtu.be/KPdI5OW-TUw?si=8a10IaGZGQAcbWEF Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=u6kDairimGUARt3b All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
April 21 · 26 min
Using AI to Unlock More Power for Data Centers
We've all seen the headlines about AI data centers using up grid capacity and raising power prices. What you may not know is that AI can also find more power and help lower consumer bills. In this video we profile a startup called GridCARE, which is using AI tools and software to unlock more existing electricity for utilities and power grids. CEO Amit Narayan shares how this technology located 400 megawatts of capacity in one of the nation's busiest data center markets, enabling enough power for 5 new data center projects. What's even better is that if a utility can serve more data centers without having to build new transmission lines, it can actually lower power bills for consumers, and utilities can use the savings to improve their infrastructure. Yes, AI data centers use a lot of power. But there's much more to the story. Here's an overview of my conversation with GridCARE's Amit Narayan. 00:00 - Same Grid, Only With More Capacity 01:50 - Amit Narayan's Entrepreneurial Journey 05:30 - How GridCARE Works with Utilities and Data Centers 10:20 - Managing Peaks to Unlock Power 15:00 - Grid Optimization and Site Selection 17:45 - Finding 400 Megawatts for PGE in Oregon 24:00 - The Road Ahead: A Grid-Optimized Future ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW GridCARE https://www.gridcare.ai/ PGE and GridCARE Accelerate Hundreds of Megawatts of Data Center Power https://www.gridcare.ai/post/pge-and-gridcare-accelerate-hundreds-of-megawatts Amu Narayan on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/amitnarayan/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Fixing the AI Power Grid https://youtu.be/uwNa5dZfo90?si=DrOgnZv6ymKUHzd- The Solar Startup Aiming to Transform Data Centers https://youtu.be/KPdI5OW-TUw?si=8a10IaGZGQAcbWEF Data Centers in Space? https://youtu.be/huBe4mbycZc?si=bGX7vopdGpTAqRyG All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
April 15 · 44 min
The State of the Data Center 2026
These are boom times for conferences about data centers and AI. In a time of Big, Fast, Change, industry events provide essential education and networking for the many folks who are new to the data center sector. One of the largest events on the conference schedule is Data Center World, which gets underway next week in Washington, D.C. We sat down with Bill Kleyman, the Executive Chairman of Data Center World, to talk about the growth of conferences, and their important role in the industry. Bill has LOTS to share about the scope and agenda for Data Center World, and shares highlights from the AFCOM State of the Data Center Report. Bill is an old friend and colleague, and you'll appreciate the energy and insight he brings to our discussion. Here's an overview of my talk with Bill Kleyman: 00:00 - The Data Center Conference Boom 02:25 - Meet Bill Kleyman, Data Center World Goes Global 08:30 - Building an Event Agenda Amid a Firehose of Change 12:00 - The State of the Data Center 2026 Report Highlights 22:00 - Rich's Take on the Report's Top Trends 28:30 - Hot Sessions for DCW Attendees 32:20 - A New Era for Data Center Security Concerns ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Data Center World 2026 https://datacenterworld.com/ The New Front Line: Securing Data Centers in the AI Era https://www.datacenterknowledge.com/security-and-risk-management/the-new-front-line-securing-data-centers-in-the-ai-era State of the Data Center 2026 Executive Summary https://afcom.com/news/720973/WHITEPAPER--State-of-the-Data-Center-2026-Executive-Summary.htm Apolo - Bill's day job ... he is the CEO https://www.apolo.us/ Bill Kleyman on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/billkleyman/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Power, Bravery and Nuclear Data Centers https://youtu.be/STr3FHuBhok?si=XBJLbKW3BkfCqNG5 Why AI Will be a Paradigm Shift for Tech https://youtu.be/u-Lv9MwS7x8?si=2O0qDYz_Fc4XVJGi All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
March 24 · 42 min
The Solar Startup Aiming to Transform Data Centers
Let's talk about solar-powered data centers. A lot of the recent discussion of data center power has focused on strategies supported by natural gas, or perhaps small modular nuclear reactors. But what about renewable energy? Today my guest is Nic Bustamante, who has held data center leadership positions at several hyperscale players. Nic is the Chief Data Center Officer at Exowatt, a renewable energy company with an innovative approach to delivering clean power around the clock for data center campuses. It combines several existing technologies - thermal solar, Fresnel concentrating lenses, and the Stirling engine - to create a module that provides solar power and energy storage without lithium batteries. We talk about the current state of data center energy, Exowatt's thermal solar technology, and the opportunity for solar in the AI boom. Here's an overview of our conversation: 00:00 - The Solar Opportunity for AI Data Centers 01:20 - Nic Bustamante and his Data Center Journey 03:15 - A Box of Hot Rocks: What's Different About Exowatt? 09:30 - How Much Land Does Solar Need (at AI Scale) 18:00 - The Geography of Solar Data Centers 25:00 - Community Relations and Solar 32:00 - How Inference Could Shape Solar Deployments ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Exowatt https://www.exowatt.com/ ExoRise Powered Land https://www.exowatt.com/exorise Nic Bustamante on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nbustamante/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Why AI Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power https://youtu.be/Yx7QGNQsJaQ?si=5KI-IgaaZU7GAtwL Decoding Data Center Power (Dan Crosby) https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=OP8wPhevaZnyY8xL Why Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy https://youtu.be/Z-udNWq2bAg?si=E1a0OPEgdM9Dz_jT All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
March 3 · 36 min
What's Next for Onsite Energy and Data Center Power
One of the biggest growth stories of 2026 is the rise of on-site powers for data centers. The AI boom is driving huge growth in demand for electricity to support AI factories, as well as traditional cloud workloads. But many major markets have limited availability of utility power, as electric grids are struggling to keep pace with the growth of digital infrastructure. Today on Data Center Richness, we are talking on-site power for data centers. Our guest is Scott Yappen, a business development specialist with Wartsila, a Finnish company that has been a major player in the global power market. Over the past year, Wartsila has signed several deals to provide generation capacity for U.S. utilities and and developers to support data center growth. Our topics include the growth of data demand, options for onsite power, the supply of engines, and the key role of energy storage in future data center campuses. Here's an overview: 00:00 - Onsite Power, and Why it Matters 1:00 - Meet Scott Yappen of Wartsila. 5:00 - About Wartsila and Its Energy Offerings 8:00 - The Power Squeeze and the Rise of Onsite Generation 11:30 - Supply, Demand and Equipment Timelines 18:30 - Criteria for Onsite Power Development 21:00 - Bridging Power Vs Permanent Power 27:00 - The Road Ahead ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Wartsila Data Center Power Solutions https://www.wartsila.com/energy/engine-power-plant-solutions/flexible-baseload-power-plants/data-center-power-solutions Wartsila Chosen for Major U.S. Data Center Project https://www.wartsila.com/media/news/29-01-2026-wartsila-chosen-for-a-major-u-s-power-plant-project-addressing-critical-energy-demand-driven-by-data-center-development-3711601 Scott Yappen on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottyappen/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Why AI Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power https://youtu.be/Yx7QGNQsJaQ Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power (Dan Crosby) https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=PyyLwfBINXWtI8oo Why Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy https://youtu.be/Z-udNWq2bAg?si=vHOizsz7AqT5M7eQ All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
February 24 · 21 min
Solving the Speed to Power Problem
Solving the Speed to Power Problem Speed to power is the hot topic these days, as data center operators race to deploy new capacity for AI services. Many of the leading players in the AI sector say they are capacity constrained - meaning they can't get new compute fast enough. Meanwhile, many utilities are also constrained, and have limited power availabel for new data center builds. Bridging this power gap is one of the most critical issues for the AI ecosystem. That's our topic today on Data Center Richness, and our guest is Ned Buschelman, the director of engineering at APR Energy. APR has lengthy experience providing g power bridging solutions to major industrial users. Ned shares how power constraints have created an opportunity for APR Energy and other providers of on-site energy solutions, how APR works with data center customers, and the future out look for on-site power. Here's an overview of our discussion: 00:00 - Solving Capacity Constraints for AI 02:00 - About Ned Buschelman's Data Center Journey and APR Energy 04:30 - The Data Center Opportunity for Power Providers 07:20 - The Geography of Onsite Power for Data Centers 09:00 - What Customers Need to Know When Considering Onsite Power 10:45 - Bridging Power or Long-Term Generation? 13:15 - Timelines for Turbines and Engine Equipment 17:00 - The Road Ahead for Onsite Power ------------------------------------------------------------------------ At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW APR Energy https://www.aprenergy.com/ APR Energy Expands Power Generation Capacity to 1.1 GW https://www.aprenergy.com/apr-energy-expands-power-generation-capacity-to-over-1-1-gw-as-data-center-power-demand-soars/ Ned Buschelman on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/nbuschelman/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Why AI Data Centers Are Building Their Own Power https://youtu.be/Yx7QGNQsJaQ Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power (Dan Crosby) https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=PyyLwfBINXWtI8oo Why Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy https://youtu.be/Z-udNWq2bAg?si=vHOizsz7AqT5M7eQ All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
February 10 · 31 min
The State of Enterprise Data Centers in 2026
There's been a big focus on hyperscale facilities for generative AI. Where does the enterprise customer fit in the current data center landscape? One of the providers focused on the enterprise market is Flexential, a company with a history providing network-focused colocation and wholesale space in second-tier markets. Flexential CEO Ryan Mallory joins us today on Data Center Richness to share his take on the state of the enterprise data center market, how enterprises are adopting AI, and the road ahead for Flexential. Here's an overview of our conversation: 00:00 - The Enterprise AI Data Center Landscape 01:30 - Ryan Mallory's Data Center Journey 02:52 - About Flexential: Services, Infrastructure and Who it Helps 05:55 - The Evolution of Design in the Era of AI 10:20 - Balancing Wholesale and Multi-Tenant Requirements 12:00 - The Cloudy Context for Enterprise AI 15:00 - Where AI is Gaining Traction in the Enterprise 18:00 - AI and the Enterprise Network 21:30 - Data Center Geography and the Road Ahead 26:00 - Where Will Inference Live? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Flexential https://www.flexential.com/ Flexential Lines up $800 Million toDrive Growth https://www.flexential.com/resources/press-release/flexential-completes-800-million-asset-backed-securities-offering Ryan Mallory on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-mallory-3483504/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Why Data Centers Are Moving to Power-Rich Locations https://youtu.be/AlIwlsiLa5M Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU How Will Data Centers Be Different in 2030 https://youtu.be/IUO8fUWNoX8?si=FmoHM5EuAjOAlnpn All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
February 3 · 1 hr 7 min
Data Centers and Energy: Bridging the Knowledge Gap
The AI boom is creating a massive business opportunity at the intersection of the data center and energy sectors. But these are both complex industries with lots of specialized knowledge. How can these two crucial industries work together effectively to build the future? We explore this questions today with the help of Arushi Sharma Frank, who is an expert in energy market economics, regulation, and technology. Her work spans the intersection of policy, markets, and infrastructure, shaping how complex energy systems evolve under structural change. With industry background at Constellation Energy and Tesla, she is now a senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Arushi has been a fantastic source of information about power and policy, the energy markets, and the workings of utilities and power grids. I first encountered her work on energy podcasts, and asked her to share her insights with my audience here at Data Center Richness. Our conversations looks at the AI power crunch, why solving it is so challenging, and how better communications can help. And Arushi shares her insights on recent efforts to address power constraints on the PJM and ERCOT grids. We cover a lot of ground, and share lots of insights and educational resources along the way. Here's an overview of our conversation: 00:00 - The AI Boom Energizes Two Key Sectors 02:30 - Arushi Sharma Frank's career journey and current work in the energy sector. 08:45 - How the AI Boom Has Disrupted Energy 13:15 - Flexibility: What it Means for Energy and Data Centers 22:00 - Educating the Energy Sector About Data Centers 24:00 - Hyperscale Secrecy as a Barrier to Progress 30:30 - How Policy and Regulation are Positioned to Help 35:40 - The PJM Dilemma: The White House Gets Involved 50:20 - How Batteries Can Aid Data Centers (and the Grid) 55:00 - The Road Ahead: Opportunities for Change --------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Arushi Sharma Frank on Substack https://arushisharmafrank.substack.com/ Arushi Sharma Frank at CSIS https://www.csis.org/people/arushi-sharma-frank Upcoming "Ted Talk" on ERCOT https://arushisharmafrank.substack.com/p/grid-positive-people-positive-where ERCOT PGRR 134 Issue https://www.ercot.com/mktrules/issues/PGRR134#keydocs Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=x60ed4yWu46gt3fV Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU Flexibility: The Key to Unlocking Data Center Power https://youtu.be/D6-1QxRRxoA?si=OUgglh2wSJ0abOhF All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
January 21 · 33 min
Data Centers in Space: Talking Tech With Space Pioneer Chris Stott
Why the Future of Data Might Be Off Earth Data centers in space are a hot topic. Hyperscale data center builders like Google and Crusoe are planning space-based facilities, and tech veterans like Eric Schmidt, Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk also have ambitions for deploying data centers in space. All these headlines have folks wondering - are data centers in space a pipe dream, or the next phase in digital infrastructure? To find out, I sought out someone who has actually deployed data storage on the moon. Chris Stott is the executive chairman of Lonestar Data Holdings, whose mission is to provide data storage in outer space, including on the surface of the moon. On today's show, Chris shares about Lonestar's missions to the moon, what's involved in deploying IT infrastructure in space, how data sovereignty works above the earth, and the future growth prospects for data centers in outer space. This was a really fun conversation, which I think you'll enjoy. 00:00 - Data Centers in Space - The Final Frontier? 01:30 - Meet Chris Stott of Lonestar Data. Chris shares about his career in the space industry. 03:00 - Why Lonestar Data Holdings was founded, and details on its lunar missions 05:25 - Why the Moon for Data Storage? 10:20 - How Operating in Space is Different - Cooling, Radiation and more 16:20 - Data Sovereignty in Space (and how it differs from Terrestrial Data Storage) 19:00 - Why are There so Many Space Data Center Initiatives? 23:45 - Free Power? A Closer Look at Solar Arrays in Space 26:40 - The Road Ahead: Lonestar Data's Roadmap for Data Storage in Space ---------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW Lonestar Data Holdings https://www.lonestarlunar.com/ Lonestar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/lonestar-data-holdings/ Lonestar Data Makes it to the Moon https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/edge-computing/article/33037610/lonestar-data-makes-it-to-the-moon-on-im-1-lunar-lander Chris Stott on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-stott-aa0820/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power Now https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=KqZsV0pkwb_aywdq All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
January 6 · 43 min
Beyond Hydrogen: ECL Hosts NVIDIA's Most Advanced Racks
The data center landscape is changing fast, as AI drives innovation in both energy and cooling. In a industry dominated by big companies and big requirements, it's a tricky time for data center startups. Yuval Bachar is the founder of ECL, a startup that set out to pioneer hydrogen-powered data centers. With the arrival of ChatGPT and the AI data center boom, ECL has changed along with the industry. Today on the Data Center Richness podcast, Yuval is here to share how ECL has moved to the cutting-edge of AI, deploying the very latest NVIDIA high-density racks in a hydrogen-powered, liquid-cooled data center. It's a story that reinforces the importance of an engineering mindset, and always being ready to innovate. Let's get started …. CHAPTERS GO HERE 00:00 - How data center startups navigate in an era of big, fast change 01:45 - Meet Yuval Bachar and learn about his "Data Center Journey" 09:30 - Managing Hydrogen-Powered Liquid-Cooled NVIDIA Racks 15:35 - Building Out the Executive Team at ECL 18:00 - Growth Opportunities in Texas with Natural Gas and Hydrogen 22:00 - The Shape of Inference and the Role of Data Centers 28:15 - The Evolution of Modular Data Center Design 31:40 - Cooling: How Dense Can We Go? 36:25 - The Road Ahead ---------------------------------------------------------------------- At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW ECL Web Site https://ecldc.com/ Yuval Bachar on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/yuvalbachar/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: How Factory-Built Designs Speed AI Deployments https://youtu.be/hZ6vuoDJ8Nc?si=qIhnFjV_CvhSDqst Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU Why Every Data Center Pro is Talking About Power Now https://youtu.be/GJiBqvUl5rU?si=KqZsV0pkwb_aywdq All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx
Dec 11, 2025 · 43 min
How AI is Reshaping Data Center Design
AI is changing the way we design and build data centers. Meanwhile, cloud computing and enterprise companies continue to need lots of IT capacity. This creates a challenge for the teams that design data centers, who must navigate rapid change amid tensions between workloads and technologies. AI or cloud? Air-cooled or liquid-cooled? This is Sara Martin's world. Sara is an Associate Principal at HED, an integrated design end engineering firm that works with many data center clients. On today's podcast Sara provides an inside look at how the rise of AI is creating new challenges, and how leading data centers are using design to build for the future in a period of big fast change. Here's an overview of the conversation with Data Center Richness host Rich Miller and Sara Martin of HED: 00:00 - Why AI Challenges the Status Quo in Design 01:15 - Sara Martin shares her Data Center Journey, and what HED does. 05:10 - The AI Transition and Modular Designs 10:00 - Hybrid Cooling in Multi-Tenant Data Centers 14:45 - The Pace of Change as a Design Challenge 21:20 - Data Center Water Usage and Community Pushback 27:00 - Trends in Closed-Loop vs. Evaporative Cooling 32:30 - The Future Path of Power and Cooling 39:00 - Supply Chains and Why Modular Matters At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1 NOW ON SUBSTACK! Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/ On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterrichness.com/ LINKS FROM THIS SHOW HED's Data Center Portfolio https://hed.co/stories/mission-critical Sara Martin on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-martin-7b61b546/ Rich Miller on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/ RELATED VIDEOS: How Factory-Built Designs Speed AI Deployments https://youtu.be/hZ6vuoDJ8Nc?si=qIhnFjV_CvhSDqst Data Center Innovation in the Age of AI https://youtu.be/P_0U0SLFJc8?si=Khxv-My10V0V3slU Can Data Centers Be Good Neighbors? https://youtu.be/syRpAj9aCSg?si=4r6IQJEjukwQ67Eu All video by Data Center Richness. Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

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