Hybrid Cooling Solutions Future-Proof Data Centers

A recent special report article series outlines how strategically leveraging both air and liquid cooling solutions provides data centers with the best of both worlds.
June 9, 2025
2 min read

Artificial intelligence and skyrocketing rack densities are fueling an unprecedented surge in data center cooling demands, pushing the limits of traditional air-cooling infrastructure. While liquid cooling promises greater efficiency and enhanced computing power, high transition costs, operational disruptions and a lack of standardized practices create challenges, especially for brownfield facilities with existing infrastructure. A hybrid approach, that strategically leverages both air and liquid cooling solutions, offers a practical, cost-effective and sustainable way forward.

Hybrid for the Win: Optimizing Liquid Cooling Solutions Using Existing Air-Cooled Data Center Infrastructure, featuring Trane, explores hybrid liquid cooling solutions as a way to navigate the complex interplay of AI, sustainability and operational efficiency. Check out our recent article series focused on the special report:

Optimizing Cooling with Liquid and Air Solutions: A strategic combination of air and liquid cooling solutions offers a practical, cost-effective, and sustainable pathway for data centers to meet escalating cooling demands while conserving budgets and minimizing downtime. We kick off our article series by exploring the data center cooling revolution.

The Allure and Obstacles of Full Liquid Cooling: Data centers are under increasing pressure to reduce their environmental impact, and liquid cooling offers a way to improve energy efficiency and reduce water consumption. However, it’s not without its challenges. In this article, we examine some of the obstacles of full liquid cooling and why hybrid cooling offers the best of both worlds.

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency: The Hybrid Competitive Edge: In our third article in the series, we explore how sustainability and energy efficiency give hybrid cooling systems a competitive edge. We also discuss some technical and implementational aspects of hybrid cooling.

Hybrid Cooling: A Cost and ROI Analysis: We conclude our article series on hybrid liquid cooling solutions with a discussion of the cost implications and return on investment of a hybrid cooling approach. We also share tips for selecting a trusted advisor.

Download the full report, Hybrid for the Win: Optimizing Liquid Cooling Solutions Using Existing Air-Cooled Data Center Infrastructure, featuring Trane, to learn more.

About the Author

Kathy Hitchens

Kathy Hitchens

Kathy Hitchens has been writing professionally for more than 30 years. She focuses on the renewable energy, electric vehicle, utility, data center, and financial services sectors. Kathy has a BFA from the University of Arizona and a MBA from the University of Denver.  

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