Liquid Immersion Cooling is Growing at More than 22% Per Year

Liquid immersion cooling is becoming more popular for several reasons:

Greater energy efficiency. Liquid immersion cooling can be more energy-efficient than traditional air-cooling methods, as it can cool IT equipment more effectively and reduce the need for additional cooling systems. Backing up this claim, a recent study by LiquidStack found a savings of 8,000MWh annually (about $1.2 million) using liquid cooling in a hypothetical 36MW data center located in Washington state.

Improved performance. By keeping IT equipment at cooler temperatures, liquid immersion cooling can potentially improve performance and reduce the risk of downtime or system failure.

Reduced noise. Liquid immersion cooling can be much quieter than traditional air-cooling methods, as there is no need for large fans or other noisy equipment.

Reduced physical space requirements. Immersion cooling can also reduce physical space requirements in a data center, as it eliminates the need for traditional air-cooling infrastructure such as air ducts, chillers, and other equipment.

There are still a number of concerns associated with it as well;

Higher upfront costs. Liquid immersion cooling can be more expensive to implement than traditional air-cooling methods, as it requires specialized equipment and infrastructure.

Maintenance requirements. Liquid immersion cooling systems require regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure that the fluid is clean and the system is functioning properly.

Potential safety risks. Working with dielectric fluids can present safety risks, and proper safety measures must be taken to prevent accidents and ensure the safety of personnel working with the equipment

Limited compatibility. Not all IT equipment is compatible with liquid immersion cooling, and some modifications or adjustments may be needed to adapt certain equipment to it.

According to studies from MarketsandMarkets, liquid cooling's annual revenues have more than doubled from 2019 until today, rising from $1.2 billion in 2019 to reach a projected $2.7 billion this year. It represented 13% of the market in 2019, and is gaining new market share by the year.

Image from LiquidStack.