AWS unveils 3 innovative energy efficiency technologies for data centers at re:Invent Event. (Photo: AWS)
Amazon Web Services (AWS) unveiled new data center components on Dec. 3, including innovations in power supply, cooling systems, and hardware design aimed at supporting the development of next-generation artificial intelligence (AI).
The day prior, AWS also announced a partnership with AI startup Orbital Materials to jointly develop decarbonization technologies for data centers.
AWS data center decarbonization focuses 3 new designs
1. Simplified electrical and mechanical design for high availability
At the annual AWS re:Invent conference, Amazon showcased three key technological innovations for data centers. First, the company introduced simplified power distribution and mechanical system designs, including relocating backup power supplies closer to racks, using natural pressure differences to expel hot air, and reducing the number of fans. These changes improve data center infrastructure availability to 99.9999% and reduce the number of racks affected by power issues by 89%.
2. Innovations in cooling, rack design, and control systems
Second, AWS improved liquid cooling, rack design, and control systems. AWS developed a new mechanical cooling solution offering configurable liquid-to-chip cooling that can be applied to both existing and new data centers, seamlessly integrating with air cooling solutions.
In terms of rack design, AWS leveraged generative AI to redesign rack layouts, reducing idle power, and combined it with an innovative power supply system. This ensures that even with a sixfold increase in rack power density within the next two years, AWS will continue to operate smoothly. Additionally, with Amazon's proprietary electromechanical control systems for standardized monitoring, logistics, and operation sequences, AWS can provide 12% more computing power.
3. Increased energy efficiency and sustainability
Third, AWS focused on improving energy efficiency and sustainability. The company estimates that its enhanced cooling systems could reduce mechanical energy consumption by up to 46%. AWS has also adopted low-carbon building materials, reducing the embodied carbon in the concrete of data center exteriors by 35%. Furthermore, future backup generators will run on renewable diesel, a biodegradable and non-toxic fuel that reduces greenhouse gas emissions by 90% over its lifecycle compared to traditional fossil fuels.
Data centers built with these new components are expected to begin construction in early 2025 in the U.S., with plans to expand to AWS data centers worldwide.
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AWS data center located in the U.S. AWS recently announced plans to build a new data center with new components in the U.S. by early 2025. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)
AWS partners with AI startup to accelerate materials R&D
The day before the annual conference, AWS announced a collaboration with AI startup Orbital Materials to leverage generative AI to accelerate the development of decarbonization technologies for data centers. AWS will use Orbital Materials' AI platform to discover innovative technologies and materials that can effectively integrate carbon removal and cooling technologies for data centers.
Founded in 2022, Orbital Materials launched its AI model "Orb" in September, claiming to be the most accurate AI model for designing advanced materials globally, surpassing even Google and Microsoft. The company’s advanced materials research focuses on semiconductors, batteries, and carbon removal. While still early in its development, Orbital Materials has attracted attention from several venture capital firms, including NVIDIA's venture capital division.
Source: AMAZON(1)、(2)、Orbital Materials
