Research Note: Power & Cooling Systems, Specialized AI Training Clusters
Power & Cooling System Products
Power and cooling systems for AI training clusters provide the specialized infrastructure needed to deliver reliable power and remove heat from densely packed GPU accelerators operating at maximum capacity. These products, including liquid cooling solutions from vendors like CoolIT Systems and Asetek, high-capacity power distribution from Schneider Electric and Vertiv, and integrated thermal management systems, are specifically designed for the extreme power densities of AI infrastructure. While traditional data center racks might consume 5-15kW of power, AI racks frequently exceed 50kW—sometimes approaching 100kW—necessitating fundamentally different approaches to cooling and power delivery. Direct-to-chip liquid cooling, rear door heat exchangers, and immersion cooling technologies have moved from niche applications to mainstream solutions as air cooling reaches its practical limits for AI infrastructure. The efficiency of these systems directly impacts both operational costs and environmental sustainability, as power usage represents both the largest operational expense and the primary environmental impact of AI training. As models grow larger and training clusters expand, innovative power and cooling technologies become essential enablers for scaling AI capabilities while managing costs and environmental impact.
Power & Cooling System Market
The Power & Cooling System market for AI training clusters has grown to approximately $1.5-2 billion in 2024 and is expected to reach $5-7 billion by 2030 as power density requirements for AI infrastructure continue to increase dramatically. Power densities for AI racks now frequently exceed 50kW (compared to 10-15kW for traditional servers), driving demand for specialized cooling solutions beyond conventional air cooling. Liquid cooling technologies, including direct-to-chip, immersion, and rear-door heat exchangers, are gaining significant adoption with approximately 30-40% of new AI deployments implementing some form of liquid cooling. Schneider Electric and Vertiv lead with comprehensive solutions spanning power distribution, uninterruptible power supplies, and advanced cooling designed specifically for high-density AI environments. Specialized liquid cooling vendors like CoolIT Systems and Asetek are growing rapidly by focusing exclusively on the unique thermal challenges of densely packed GPU accelerators. The market is evolving toward integrated power and cooling solutions designed to optimize total cost of ownership while addressing the exponentially increasing power demands of AI training clusters.
Source: Fourester Research
Power & Cooling System Vendors Matrix
The Power & Cooling System Vendors Matrix shows Schneider Electric and Vertiv as the dominant leaders, offering comprehensive power and cooling solutions specifically optimized for high-density AI workloads. Both market leaders have developed extensive ecosystems and partnerships while maintaining reasonable total cost of ownership despite their premium positioning. ABB and Eaton appear in the Challengers quadrant with strong technical capabilities but less developed AI-specific ecosystem integration compared to the leaders. CoolIT Systems and Lenovo Neptune emerge as Visionaries with innovative liquid cooling technologies specifically designed for GPU-intensive workloads, though with less comprehensive offerings than the established leaders. Asetek maintains a balanced position with moderate scores across both dimensions, offering specialized liquid cooling solutions without the full breadth of the larger vendors.