{
  "id": 15689362,
  "title": "AI Data Center Cooling and Energy Transition Take Center Stage at HARFKO 2026 Forum",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/20/ai-data-center-cooling-and-energy-transition-take-center-stage-at",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-20T03:08:32.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Korea IT Times",
    "slug": "korea-it-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreaittimes.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=158324"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The prestigious HARFKO 2026 Forum is set to shine a spotlight on two crucial aspects of the HVAC&R industry: the surge in artificial intelligence data centers and the transition towards renewable energy sources. With AI computing infrastructure becoming a major power consumer, cooling technologies are now a key determinant of energy efficiency, reliability, and overall performance in data centers.\n\nAt the forum, scheduled for October 21 at the HARFKO Open Stage in South Korea, experts will discuss the limitations of traditional air cooling and the emerging benefits of liquid cooling systems, such as direct-to-chip and immersion cooling. These cutting-edge methods aim to enhance heat dissipation in high-density computing environments.\n\nIn the second session, the focus shifts to industrial heat pumps and the adoption of environmentally friendly refrigerants. Heat pumps, which transfer thermal energy using electricity, are gaining traction in industrial applications for their energy-efficient capabilities. Their use extends beyond conventional heating and cooling, offering alternatives for hot water production and waste heat recovery.\n\nRefrigerant transitions are also a significant concern, with low-global-warming-potential (GWP) refrigerants becoming increasingly prevalent. Manufacturers must balance refrigerant selection with energy efficiency, safety, and long-term maintenance. The forum will delve into these technical and market challenges, highlighting the importance of considering refrigerants throughout the equipment's lifecycle.",
  "summary": "The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers and the global transition toward cleaner energy are reshaping the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC&R) industry, creating new demand for advanced cooling systems, industrial heat pumps and environmentally sustainable refrigerants.As AI computing infrastructure becomes increasingly power-intensive, cooling…",
  "key_points": [
    "AI data centers are a major power consumer, driving focus on cooling technologies",
    "Liquid cooling systems, like direct-to-chip and immersion cooling, enhance heat dissipation",
    "Industrial heat pumps and low-GWP refrigerants are key in energy-efficient industrial applications"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The forum signals a shift toward liquid cooling and industrial heat pumps as the HVAC industry adapts to the massive energy and thermal demands of artificial intelligence infrastructure.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}