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Global Market: Data Centre Boom Fuels Demand for Power, Cooling Equipment Suppliers
AI-driven data-centre demand is boosting orders for cooling and transformer suppliers as operators race to manage heat and power bottlenecks.
Global data center investment could reach nearly $7 trillion by 2030, triggering surging demand for power and cooling equipment. Suppliers including South Korea's HD Hyundai Electric and China's Hainan Jinpan Smart Technology report record orders from developers racing to build AI infrastructure.
AI chips consume massive electricity, requiring advanced cooling and transformers to manage heat and power distribution. Hyperscalers often demand facilities within six months, but grid connection delays stretch to 24 months in emerging markets and more than eight years in developed ones.
HD Hyundai Electric's order backlog rose 23% to $8.5 billion by June as companies bet on solid-state transformers boosting efficiency by around 4% and liquid cooling cutting energy use by over 27%. Both technologies address rising power demands.
Despite surging orders, supplier stock gains have moderated as investors question elevated valuations amid intensifying competition. "Not everyone can win," said Matty Zhao, Bank of America's Asia-Pacific head of research, cautioning investors to select proven leaders.
Developers are exploring unconventional approaches, including floating facilities and underwater data centers, to manage infrastructure bottlenecks. McKinsey forecasts nearly $7 trillion in global investment by 2030, positioning power and cooling suppliers at the center of this expansion.