Top 5 Predictions For Data Center Cooling Technologies In 2026
HPCwire, Thursday, January 29th, 2026
Energy availability has become one of the most powerful forces shaping data center strategy. Power has overtaken land, fiber, and tax incentives as the most important factor in where new facilities can be built and how fast they can scale.
The trend is now unmistakable: according to the U.S. Department of Energy's 2024 Report on U.S. Data Center Energy Use, national data center electricity demand has tripled since 2014 and is projected to double or even triple again by 2028. This surge, driven largely by AI and accelerated computing, is straining regional grids and turning megawatt availability into the gating factor for both site selection and operational planning.