Could Europe’s start-ups help solve the power problems created by the AI boom?
Euronews Next looked at startups in Europe that are trying to make better use of existing grid capacity, reduce the electricity used for cooling and put waste heat to work.
Europe's surge in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure is sparking discussions about whether its electricity system can keep pace. Energy consumption for data centers is expected to increase from 96 terawatt-hours (TWh) in 2024 to 236 TWh by 2035, according to UK-based energy think tank Ember. While Europe requires more data centers to expand AI capacity, they also add strain to already stressed electricity grids. Startups in Europe are proposing innovative solutions to address this growing power crunch.
Some startups are rethinking data center cooling methods. UK-based EkkoSense uses wireless sensors to monitor temperature, airflow, power and cooling capacity inside data center rooms, turning the data into a three-dimensional view for operators to identify equipment with improper cooling. This system cut cooling energy by an average of 15% at 20 Virgin Media O2 data center sites in 2024, saving over £1 million annually and 760 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
German startup etalytics takes a different approach by using simulations to optimize cooling systems. The software tests how chillers, pumps, and heat exchangers would perform under different conditions, calculating how they could operate with less electricity while maintaining safe temperatures. NTT, a Japanese tech company, tested etalytics' software in its Bonn data center facility and saw a 19.1% reduction in chiller electricity usage, with potential savings up to 25% yearly.
Spanish startup Submer offers a hardware-based solution by immersing servers in a non-conductive liquid that directly carries away heat, reducing the need for energy-intensive fans and air conditioning. This method can increase energy efficiency by up to 50%, reduce carbon emissions from refrigerant gases, and lower the total cost of ownership for data centers.
Software is also being used to give data centers' batteries a second job. Irish energy-technology company GridBeyond developed software that controls when batteries charge and discharge in response to electricity network conditions. These batteries can charge during periods of abundant electricity and supply some of the facility's power during high demand, reducing the amount the facility must draw from the grid.
Installed at two Dublin data centers owned by Singaporean company Keppel DC REIT, GridBeyond's software provides a combined 8 MW of flexible capacity.
Lastly, some startups focus on utilizing server heat for other purposes. UK startup Deep Green places compact computing facilities near organizations requiring heat, such as swimming pools and district-heating networks. Liquid heated by the servers transports the heat to the neighboring building's heating system. In a trial in southwest England, Deep Green reported that providing heat to a swimming pool would reduce its gas use by 62%, save over £20,000 annually, and cut carbon emissions by 25.8 tonnes.
Moving data centers closer to communities allows for this heat reuse, saving local businesses energy costs and reducing carbon footprints. However, increasing efficiency and flexibility alone cannot replace the need for physical expansion. As AI demand grows, Europe will ultimately require more electricity generation and stronger grids, which can take five to 15 years to plan, approve, and complete.
Despite this, the work of these startups could help ease pressure on Europe's power system while that infrastructure is being built.
Written by urgent.news from Euronews's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
