Data Center trends that will power the future of digital infrastructure sustainability
According to Research and Markets, the data center services market grew from USD 56.65 billion in 2023 to USD 62.23 billion in 2024 and it is expected to reach USD 110.34 billion by 2030. Demand for advanced digital infrastructure, new benchmarks for capacity and sustainability, and global expansion fuelling unprecedented growth is catapulting data center services to the top of business agendas.
Here, we tap into the insights of a few atNorth leaders to get their thoughts on why 2025 is set to be a transformative year for the industry.
Standardization and legislation will highlight sustainably minded data center design
Chris Larsen, Chief Technical Officer
As demand for data center services continues to skyrocket, site standardization is going to become business-critical to enhance scalability, simplify maintenance and ensure consistent and sustainable performance and quality across sites.
The key to underscoring this is the impending Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), which came into effect in October 2023. This directive signals a new era for data center operators by establishing transparent, significant, and clear requirements focused on sustainability and energy efficiency. The emphasis on energy usage using PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) as a reference will play a crucial role in promoting more energy-efficient consumption, driving a sustainable future for the design and operation of data centers. atNorth’s data center infrastructures are designed to be best in class, with a strong focus on minimizing energy usage and providing a more sustainable future.
Futureproofing data center designs will require significant flexibility and innovation
Camilla O’Leary, Sales Director DK/DACH
Uncertainties around exact GPU requirements for AI inferencing are complicating long-term planning. This calls for significant flexibility and innovation in infrastructure and cooling designs, to ensure maximum efficiency and return on investment. With power densities rising exponentially, advanced liquid cooling such as direct-to-chip and immersion technologies are emerging as critical solutions to manage the heat output of HPC and AI workloads.
Equally, futureproofed facilities will need to integrate modular approaches, allowing for dynamic scaling as compute and density demands grow. This unique flexibility and scalability will be key to infrastructure design, ensuring operational efficiency, protecting large-scale investment, and providing a clear path to meeting the demands of AI and HPC while maintaining energy efficiency and sustainability.
The rise of colocation providers as hyperscalers continue to scale
Wayne Allen, Sales Director — US
2024 has been a data center land grab. We have seen the AI explosion plus continued post-Covid demand for cloud capacity. Before the pandemic, capacity planning for two to three years ahead was enough. Covid expedited the demand for the cloud and organizations had to re-think infrastructure to meet demand for the digital explosion.
This has led to the growth in hyperscalers where large data center operators like AWS, Microsoft Azure and Google had to adapt quickly to evolving tech innovation, changing regulations, and customer demands. As hyperscalers continue to expand their cloud and AI capabilities, colocation providers are crucial, particularly those who can offer the ability to scale quickly with efficiency, flexibility and sustainability at the forefront.
Pushing the boundaries of the data center’s role in society
Johann Thor Jonsson, Director of Site Selection
Our future relies on a shift in focus where our industry comes together to embrace opportunities that can make a positive impact on our local surrounding communities. 2025 will be a tipping point where the next generation of data centers become dynamic hubs, powered by renewable energy, supporting the local grid, and enriching their communities. Read more about how atNorth envisions the future of the data center here – where data center ecosystems are the backbone to self-sustaining, thriving societies with a commitment to energy efficiency and community integration.