- UL Solutions (ULS, Financial) launches a new service for testing and certifying immersion cooling fluids for data centers.
- The initiative aims to enhance safety, energy efficiency, and performance in data centers.
- Data centers are projected to increase their electricity consumption significantly by 2028.
UL Solutions Inc. (ULS), a leader in applied safety science, has introduced a new testing and certification service specifically tailored for immersion cooling fluids used in data centers. These fluids play a critical role in protecting equipment from overheating, which is especially important for facilities handling artificial intelligence (AI) and other high-demand technologies.
According to UL Solutions, immersion cooling offers a more energy-efficient alternative to traditional air cooling methods, helping ensure that vital IT equipment operates reliably and safely. The fluids used must pass the tests outlined in UL 2417, which include assessments of autoignition temperature, flash point, and dielectric breakdown voltage.
The demand on data centers is steadily increasing, with the U.S. Department of Energy noting that from 2014 to 2023, electricity consumption by data centers rose significantly from 58 terawatt-hours to 176 terawatt-hours. This trend is expected to continue, with predictions that data centers could consume as much as 6.7% to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028.
As part of its ongoing commitment to innovation and safety in data centers, UL Solutions continues to support advancements in immersion cooling systems, taking part in initiatives like the Open Compute Project to contribute to industry standards and best practices.
