New Delhi: Nvidia has announced a cooling design for AI data centers that it says can sharply reduce water consumption as artificial intelligence infrastructure faces scrutiny over energy and environmental impact.
Liquid Cooling At Chip Level
The company’s Rubin-generation infrastructure uses a liquid-cooled system designed to remove heat directly from chips and other components. Instead of depending on air-cooling systems, fans and water-heavy cooling towers, the design uses sealed cold plates through which coolant flows continuously.
The coolant absorbs heat from the hardware and moves through a closed-loop system, meaning it is reused rather than consumed. Nvidia says this approach can help AI data centers operate with far lower dependence on fresh water during normal conditions.
Running Hotter To Save Energy
A part of the design is the ability to run the cooling liquid at temperatures as high as 45 degrees Celsius, or 113 degrees Fahrenheit. Nvidia argues that this higher operating temperature improves efficiency because the system does not need as much energy-intensive chilling equipment to keep servers cool.
The company has compared the temperature to a hot tub, saying its newest AI servers can safely operate with coolant even warmer than typical hot-tub water.
DSX Design Targets Zero Water Use
Nvidia says its DSX AI factory reference design is built around a fully closed-loop cooling system. In favorable climates, heat can be rejected through dry coolers for much of the year, reducing or nearly eliminating the need for water-based cooling.
Ali Heydari, Nvidia’s director of data center cooling and infrastructure, said the DSX reference design has “zero water consumption” and cuts power usage linked to cooling.
AI Data Centers Under Scrutiny
The announcement comes as global cloud and AI infrastructure faces criticism over resource consumption. Amazon recently disclosed that its global data centers used 2.5 billion gallons of water in 2025, while saying its facilities remain more water-efficient than the industry average.
Nvidia’s latest approach points to a future where powerful AI systems could run with less pressure on local water resources. However, broader concerns around electricity demand, construction impact and AI expansion are likely to remain part of the debate.
-
UAE women entrepreneurs can now get 12-month fee waiver with new bank offers
-
“How Long Will India Keep Carrying Young Dead Bodies?” — A Nation Confronts Its Systemic Safety Failures After Another Fire Tragedy
-
Law student held for selling AI-generated fake NEET paper ahead of exam
-
Lucknow fire FIR cites illegal commercial use, lack of fire safety measures
-
Horror as girl, 10, raped and murdered before being dumped on road - taxi driver arrested
