Safes of the digital world, data centers are rapidly changing in 2025 under the influence of several key trends. Artificial intelligence and the increasing need for intensive computing require more powerful and energy-efficient infrastructures. The reduction of their environmental footprint has become the number one priority for constructors and operators of these key digital infrastructures, with the integration of renewable energy and sustainable cooling technologies. Local acceptability of data centers remains a challenge, as does the search for the necessary talent to meet the high level of demand.
Data4 has identified 10 major trends:
- Building vast data center campuses.With the rise of AI, businesses in the United States are increasingly investing in large-scale projects, such as those of Amazon in Virginia or Microsoft in Kentucky. Often close to low-carbon renewable energy sources, these infrastructures – reaching powers of one Gigawatt – are designed to handle immense volumes of data and meet the growing need for intensive computing, particularly for AI and real-time data analysis.
- Explosion of the demand for energy.With the acceleration of AI, the energy consumption of data centers is booming. AI, particularly for generative AI applications such as ChatGPT, consumes up to ten times more energy than conventional services such as Google searches. This growing demand compels businesses in the sector to find innovative means of powering their infrastructures while minimizing their carbon footprint.
- Advanced, sustainable cooling systems.Cooling remains a critical factor, with increased attention being paid to systems such as direct liquid cooling (DLC), which makes it possible to improve the management of high-density servers. In addition to this, immersion cooling solutions are emerging. They can be used to dissipate even more heat by submerging the servers in non-conductive liquids to achieve even higher densities.
- Making data centers more autonomous on the energy front.Industry stakeholders have begun to take a close interest in the subject of energy independence at data centers, which is more of an issue than ever when it comes to reducing their environmental impact. To achieve this, several strategies are emerging such as the use of small modular nuclear reactors (SMR) to offer a stable, clean power supply, especially in isolated areas. Other players are investing in energy storage systems, such as high-capacity batteries, to manage fluctuations in consumption and guarantee increased energy resilience.
- Digital simulation (digital twins).A few years from their inception, digital simulation projects for optimizing the energy efficiency of data centers are starting to show results. These “digital twins” can be used to simulate the behavior of data centers and find solutions for reducing energy consumption while adjusting the performance of the cooling and power supply systems.
- Location and diversification of sites.In the face of energy limitations, more and more data centers are now based in industrial areas or away from conventional hubs. These new sites, often close to renewable energy sources of electrical power stations, have the aim of circumventing bottlenecks related to the energy infrastructure of major urban centers.
- Innovations in heat reuse.Subject to a number of criteria such as proximity to heat networks, projects to re-use the heat produced by data centers must now explore other paths. As part of this approach, the concept of the bio-circular data center is a promising step forward. By using waste heat to cultivate algae, this model goes further than conventional thermal recycling: it could enable the production of biomassto manufacture added-value products for the pharmacological and food production industries.
- To maximize the impact of such innovations, an integrated Lifecycle Analysis (LA) approach is becoming essential.Beyond simply consuming energy, the global environmental footprint of data centers – materials, construction, and end-of-life – must be optimized. Sustainable construction, accredited by standards such as BREEAM and based on low-carbon concrete, is therefore crucial to meet future expectations in terms of sustainability. In the long term, it is this holistic vision, both environmental and circular, that must prevail in the sector.
- (Still) working on acceptability.Although they play a crucial role in the digital world, data centers and their presence in local communities still raise questions. That’s why it is essential for stakeholders in the sector to commit to transparent, sustainable approaches, promoting on-premises employment, and forming ties and partnerships with local schools or businesses. An approach that will not only make it possible to meet the challenges of the digital economy, but also to create shared value.
- Finding the necessary human resources.To build and deliver data centers quickly enough to meet time-to-market deadlines, the necessary human resources must be available. The challenge in 2025 for operators will be to continue their efforts to attract new talents from other industries and keep them!
