Episode #48 of the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast features an interview with Jon Summers, Research Leader at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden.
- Discover the importance of considering material resources, not just carbon emissions, in data center sustainability efforts.
- Understand Jon Summers' career journey from academia to leading research on data center energy and sustainability.
- Gain insights on how to advise young people interested in client-facing data center careers like marketing, sales, and product management.
- Explore strategies for mid-career professionals to transition into new roles within the data center industry.
- Recognize the potential for AI to drive innovation in data center cooling and power consumption.
- Appreciate the value of research and data-driven approaches to addressing sustainability challenges in the data center sector.
Joshua Feinberg, CEO
DCSMI
Special Guest:
Jon Summers, Research Leader
RISE Research Institutes of Sweden
Jon Summers, Research Leader at the Research Institutes of Sweden, discusses the sustainability challenges in the data center industry, emphasizing the need to consider material resources beyond carbon. He highlights the importance of liquid cooling, driven by AI's growing demands, and the necessity of holistic system thinking. Summers also addresses the educational gap in the industry, suggesting internships and shadowing to foster understanding. He warns against over-focusing on carbon and stresses the need for comprehensive sustainability metrics. Additionally, he predicts future energy consumption trends, linking AI's advancements to the Kardashev scale and the potential for space-based energy production to avoid planetary overheating.
Outline
Jon Summers' Background and Career Journey
- Jon Summers shares his background, starting as an academic in the UK, focusing on mechanical engineering and thermodynamics.
- He transitioned into researching liquid cooling for high-performance computing systems, recognizing the energy demands of these systems.
- In 2017, he joined the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) to explore new opportunities and move to Sweden.
- Jon discusses his role at RISE, working in the digital systems unit next to one of the largest OCP data center in Europe, and the unique challenges of operating in a cold climate.
Early Adoption of Liquid Cooling and Career Insights
- Jon recalls his early interest in liquid cooling around 2008-2009 and how it became more mainstream by 2016.
- He emphasizes the importance of not getting pulled into industry silos and viewing data centers as integrated systems.
- Jon advises young professionals interested in data center careers to consider the multifaceted nature of the industry, including construction, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and software development.
- He highlights the importance of understanding sustainability and how to measure it, as well as the growing need for data centers to build relationships with communities.
Challenges and Opportunities in Data Center Careers
- Joshua Feinberg and Jon Summers discuss the challenges of attracting young talent to the data center industry, which is often perceived as less exciting compared to tech giants like Facebook, Apple, Amazon, and Google.
- Jon suggests that internships and shadowing opportunities could help mid-career professionals explore new roles and avoid burnout.
- They explore the idea of "internships of the Third Age" to help experienced professionals pivot their careers.
- Jon emphasizes the importance of understanding the entire data center system and the various disciplines involved.
Sustainability and the Role of Data Centers
- Jon discusses the mistake of focusing solely on carbon emissions when considering sustainability, emphasizing the need to look at the entire lifecycle of data centers, including material resources.
- He highlights the importance of heat recovery and the challenges of balancing sustainability metrics with the infrastructure needed for heat recovery.
- Jon mentions the need for data-driven research to substantiate sustainability claims and avoid greenwashing.
- He shares insights on the potential impact of AI on power consumption and the need for alternative energy sources as fossil fuels become scarce.
The Future of Research and Standards in Data Centers
- Jon talks about the ongoing digitalization and the increasing importance of liquid cooling due to AI's demands.
- He references the Kardashev scale, which measures a civilization's power consumption, and discusses the potential need for energy production in space to avoid overheating the planet.
- Jon emphasizes the role of AI in processing large volumes of data and its potential to help humanity reach the next level of the Kardashev scale.
- He highlights the importance of research and innovation in addressing the challenges of power consumption and sustainability.
Practical Considerations and Industry Challenges
- Joshua and Jon discuss the practical challenges of integrating AI and liquid cooling into data centers and the need for reliable heat recovery systems.
- Jon emphasizes the importance of pragmatic and realistic approaches to sustainability and the need for solid research data.
- They explore the potential impact of widespread EV adoption on the electrical grid and the need for alternative energy sources.
- Jon shares his thoughts on the importance of data-driven research and the role of RISE in driving innovation and sustainability in the data center industry.
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
- Jon Summers encourages listeners to connect with him on LinkedIn for further discussions.
- Joshua Feinberg thanks Jon for sharing his insights and highlights the importance of the work being done at RISE in advancing sustainability and energy research in the data center industry.
- The podcast episode concludes with a reminder of the sponsorship by DCSMI and an invitation to subscribe to the Data Center Sales and Marketing Newsletter for updates on future episodes.
Guest Resources
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