AI racks could consume 20 to 30 times the energy of traditional racks by 2030
AI-focused racks are projected to consume up to 1MW each by 2030
Average racks expected to rise steadily to 30-50kW within the same period
Cooling and power distribution becoming strategic priorities for future data centers
Long considered the basic unit of a data center, the rack is being reshaped by the rise of AI, and a new graph (above) from Lennox Data Centre Solutions shows how quickly this change is unfolding.
Where they once consumed only a few kilowatts, projections from the firm suggest by 2030 an AI-focused rack could reach 1MW of power use, a scale that was once reserved for entire facilities.
Average data center racks are expected to reach 30-50kW in the same period, reflecting a steady climb in compute density, and the contrast with AI workloads is striking.New demands for power delivery and cooling
According to projections, a single AI rack can use 20 to 30 times the energy of its general-purpose counterpart, creating new demands for power delivery and cooling infrastructure.
Ted Pulfer, director at Lennox Data Centre Solutions, said cooling has become central to the industry.
