The rise of AI and the intensive computing power that comes with it is accelerating rapidly across the globe, and Asia is no exception.

With this surge comes a fundamental shift in how data centers are designed, delivered, and operated. The industry is racing to keep up with the dramatic increases in power consumption, heat output, and complex cooling requirements.

Ultra-high-density workloads are the new standard, and the bar is only expected to rise. Rapid growth is reshaping every layer of data center strategy, from core infrastructure considerations to cooling systems, site selection, availability of critical resources, and skilled labor.

In a recent DCD>Talks episode, Paul Churchill, vice president for Asia at Vertiv, shares his expert insight on how the region is responding. He outlines where growth is accelerating, which challenges are most pressing, and why long-term planning is becoming non-negotiable across the entire data center ecosystem.

Diversification

“Virtually all data centers that we're building today are AI-ready,” begins Churchill. “And when we talk about AI-ready, we're referring to the capability to handle AI-related heat and cooling loads, which can range anywhere from 30 kilowatts per rack up to around 60 kilowatts.

“We've seen that over the last 12 months, what we initially thought were high densities, now really aren’t considered high density at all. And that’s the direction the market is moving in.”

It’s a daunting reality: the rate of change is so rapid that what may be considered new or radical today, can quickly become outdated and outpaced.

The rate of growth is also bringing about plenty of opportunities across the industry. As demand for power and land rises, the location of traditional strongholds is shifting and data center hubs are expanding.

“Predominantly, the hubs for data centers within the APAC region were Singapore, Sydney, Melbourne, and Hong Kong,” explains Churchill. “But we’ve seen that shift significantly, particularly over the last 12 months, and perhaps a little longer.”

There’s been substantial growth in data centers across Malaysia, specifically in Johor, and a significant increase in demand across what are considered Tier 2 locations – such as Indonesia. Churchill continues:

“We’ve seen a lot of growth in Indonesia over the last couple of years, and that stretches into the Philippines, Thailand, Korea, and Japan. The whole region is pretty much buzzing these days with opportunities for data center development.”

Adapting to demand

The requirements of high-density, AI-ready facilities are, unsurprisingly, more varied and complex than those of traditional data centers. Higher heat outputs and demand for more efficient cooling solutions are the dominant forces driving drastic changes in infrastructure.

“You need to have liquid of some form to handle the densities we’re talking about – anything above 30 kilowatts per rack,” explains Churchill. “As time evolves, we’re going to see more of a shift from air to liquid cooling – perhaps eventually to 100 percent liquid-cooled facilities.”

Churchill emphasizes a key nuance when it comes to scaling up for increasingly high-density workloads: flexibility must be built in from the start.

Any infrastructure put in place today, or planned for the near future, must be able to increase its liquid cooling capacity. While air cooling won’t be eliminated entirely overnight, the ratio between the two is certain to continue shifting in favour of liquid-based solutions.

“A lot of the data centers we’re currently deploying are looking at a 70 percent liquid, 30 percent air cooling capacity,” adds Chucrhill. “That significantly changes the design, philosophy, and operation compared to a traditional data center.”

However, not all emerging markets are created equal, and some will be able to adapt more easily than others, as Churchill explains:

“There’s also the surprise factor of water. If we’re using water for cooling, it’s not necessarily an abundant utility across the region. Some customers are finding that access challenging,” adds Churchill. “On the power side, not so much here in Asia yet, but globally, we’re seeing applications where there’s a need to bring your own power.”

To this effect, power is also a top priority, and not just any power, but the right kind: reliable, easily accessible, and quick to deploy. Simple as that…

Getting stronger

Just as impactful as cooling demand is the physical size and weight of high-density racks. Data centers must now be designed to carry that load without cracking under the pressure. Churchill gives an example of how some locations across Asia are responding to that key challenge:

“Singapore and Hong Kong, for example, have taken the opportunity to develop low-rise data centers – for more of a campus style setup – that creates the ability to increase your floor loading.

“In contrast, in a high-rise environment, there are limitations to how much floor loading and future expansion you can manage – especially if you’re planning to fit out as you go. A campus-style design offers much more flexibility.”

Rather than being roadblocks, the challenges of higher densities are driving the exact innovations needed to redefine modern data center design.

A shift toward a modular design approach is another key example. Particularly useful in co-location environments where the end-user is unknown and densities are unpredictable, the ability to build the core infrastructure and later add critical power and cooling components in response to changing demand is an increasingly valuable advantage.

Anticipating the road ahead

To avoid becoming outdated too quickly, facilities must support today’s already unprecedented densities and complex cooling requirements – while also making allowances for future growth.

Although the curve is clearly rising, no one knows just how rapidly densities will increase, and the levels they may reach. What is certain, is that the entire data center ecosystem must come prepared. Facilities must be armed with built-in defences to handle what lies ahead – however that may look.

It’s a tall order, with several key considerations, as Churchill explains: “It’s not necessarily an easy thing to do, because you’ve got to stay within cost constraints. A lot of these data centers are built as co-location facilities, which is why we’re seeing many designs making space for future expansion – both in electrical and cooling infrastructure. That’s critical when designing any data center for the future.”

The people problem

As mentioned, moving away from traditional strategies, familiar practices, and even geographic strongholds is no small feat. The shift is presenting its own challenges – on top of those driven by growing densities.

“As we start moving away from the traditional hubs into other countries, there’s a growing requirement for consulting engineers, construction teams, and M&E expertise just to build the data centers,” says Churchill.

That doesn’t just entail a design overhaul – it requires a fundamental mindset shift. And it’s creating a growing need for new skills and more people equipped to implement a new, forward-looking approach.

The availability of skilled individuals is directly tied to the availability of land and resources. Churchill points to a key industry-wide challenge: the talent gap. “Having the skilled labor to deploy and maintain these environments is a significant hurdle – but we’re already seeing progress on that front.”

The greater the obstacle

He concludes by highlighting how, in some regions, demand will stretch utilities to their very limits, and posits onsite power generation as an increasingly appealing solution.

With no end in sight for AI demand or the maximum heat densities it can produce, one thing is certain: both the challenges and opportunities for data centers will continue to grow.

The shift from traditional strongholds in Asia to emerging markets underscores that growth. While this move comes with many obstacles, it will also drive the level of innovation the industry needs today more than ever.

To hear more about the development of AI data center infrastructure across Asia, watch the full DCD>Talks episode with Paul Churchill, here.