- As data centers expand to support AI and cloud computing, immersion cooling is emerging as a key technology for reducing energy use and boosting performance.
- Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction (E&C) Group’s strategic partnership with GRC highlights this growing shift toward energy-efficient digital infrastructure.
The growth of artificial intelligence (AI), high-performance computing (HPC), and blockchain technologies has triggered a dramatic surge in global data center workloads. However, this performance boom brings mounting operational challenges—most notably the need for more efficient cooling systems to prevent overheating and curb electricity consumption.
Traditional air-cooled systems are approaching their thermal limits. Airflow cooling, even with enhancements like rear-door heat exchangers, struggles to keep pace with today’s dense Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-accelerated servers. As a result, operators are increasingly turning to liquid immersion cooling, a method that offers dramatic improvements in cooling efficiency, energy use, and system density.
How Immersion Cooling Works
Immersion cooling is a high-efficiency thermal management method where IT components are submerged in non-conductive dielectric fluid. This fluid absorbs and transfers heat away from the server hardware more effectively than traditional air-based systems.
There are two main types of immersion cooling:
- Single-phase immersion cooling uses a fluid that remains in liquid form. Heat is transferred from the hardware to the fluid, which is then cooled externally and recirculated.
- Two-phase immersion cooling involves a fluid that boils upon contact with heat. The resulting vapor is condensed and returned to the tank, providing highly efficient heat removal.
Both systems eliminate the need for mechanical fans and large-scale air conditioning, resulting in reduced energy use, quieter operations, and greater hardware density. These benefits are especially valuable in AI training, blockchain processing, and real-time data analytics environments.
A Market on the Rise
As digital workloads continue to grow, immersion cooling is gaining rapid traction.
According to recent research, the immersion cooling market is projected to grow from USD 0.4 billion in 2023 to USD 2.1 billion by 2031, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.1 percent.
The technology is being adopted across hyperscale and edge data centers, with single-phase systems leading due to their scalability and compatibility with standard IT infrastructure. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region, followed by North America.
Researchers are also exploring advanced applications, such as systems using liquid air for cooling. In one recent study, this approach demonstrated enhanced efficiency and reduced power usage compared to conventional cooling towers, while offering the added benefit of electricity generation through high-pressure air expansion. This kind of innovation could help further reduce water use, noise, and operational costs—especially when integrated with renewable energy sources.
Samsung C&T E&C Group and GRC: A Strategic Partnership
Earlier this month, Samsung C&T E&C Group signed a strategic partnership agreement with Green Revolution Cooling (GRC), a U.S.-based company specializing in single-phase immersion cooling technology. The collaboration reflects the Group’s commitment to future-ready infrastructure solutions that improve operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact.
The partnership was complemented by an investment made through the Group’s subsidiary, Samsung Ventures, reinforcing the Group’s support for advanced digital infrastructure.
By working with GRC, Samsung C&T E&C Group aims to explore opportunities for testing and deploying immersion cooling technology in future projects, supporting the development of next-generation data centers.
Shaping the Next Generation of Infrastructure
As data centers continue to scale and digital infrastructure becomes more critical, immersion cooling is emerging as a core solution for long-term efficiency and resilience.
Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group’s collaboration with GRC represents more than a single partnership—it reflects a strategic direction that embraces innovation, sustainability, and the evolving needs of tomorrow’s digital ecosystems.
