The Era of Intelligent Computing: The Transformation Journey of Data Center Power Distribution and Cooling

Recently, a data center in Singapore experienced a service outage due to a fire in its lithium-battery room, ultimately impacting several well-known internet services and drawing widespread attention across the industry. While a single incident calls for more detailed investigation to pinpoint the root cause and assess whether there were any gaps in operations, maintenance, or disaster recovery, viewed within the broader context of the evolution of intelligent computing centers, this event serves as a timely reminder to engage in deeper reflection on the relationship between emerging technologies and industrial development.

In the era of intelligent computing, data centers are facing ever-growing demands for power supply. Traditional lead-acid batteries, with their large footprint, heavy weight, and high maintenance costs, can no longer meet the requirements for high density and high reliability. Lithium batteries, with their high energy density, long service life, and low self-discharge rate, have emerged as a popular alternative.

However, the safety of lithium batteries has long been a central concern in the industry. Following the data center fire in Singapore, some voices have squarely blamed lithium batteries. At the same time, industry experts emphasize that, beyond the inherent safety of lithium batteries themselves, the key lies in the standardized application and deployment of these technologies.

In the recent Singapore data center fire, the deployment of lithium batteries within the facility led to forced shutdowns and migrations of IT equipment during both the fire and firefighting operations, drawing widespread criticism from industry professionals. This incident primarily highlighted shortcomings in the application and deployment of lithium batteries. Industry experts emphasize that lithium-ion battery rooms must comply with the latest fire safety codes and standards, including provisions for emergency ventilation, firewater drainage systems between battery compartments, and non-fire-related one-touch emergency power shutoff. In addition, remote or isolated deployment of lithium batteries is an effective strategy for enhancing data center security.

In fact, China and Singapore, among other countries, have successively introduced a series of standards to regulate the use of lithium batteries in data centers. These standards set forth clear requirements covering material selection, equipment and product technology, as well as battery room design. As long as deployment is carried out in strict accordance with these specifications, the safety of lithium batteries can be effectively ensured. In addition, intelligent management of lithium batteries is another crucial approach to enhancing their safety. By leveraging AI technologies for predictive maintenance, life-cycle prediction, and electrolyte-leak detection, the risk of lithium-battery failures can be significantly reduced.

1. Lithium Batteries Empower Data Centers: Opportunities and Challenges Coexist

(1) The Inevitability of the Rise of Lithium Batteries

With the advent of the intelligent computing era, data centers have become veritable “power behemoths,” their insatiable appetite for electricity steadily growing. Traditional lead-acid batteries, with their bulky size, heavy weight, and high maintenance costs, are increasingly struggling to keep pace in the race for high-density, high-reliability power supply. In this context, lithium batteries have emerged as a dark horse, leveraging their outstanding attributes—such as high energy density, exceptionally long service life, and low self-discharge rate—to make a powerful entrance and quickly establish themselves as the preferred alternative.

(II) Reflection Amidst the Shadow of Security

However, the safety of lithium batteries has long loomed like a Sword of Damocles over the industry, constantly keeping stakeholders on edge. Following the recent fire at a Singapore data center, public outcry was widespread, with many squarely blaming lithium batteries themselves. Yet seasoned industry experts have hit the nail on the head: the key to lithium-battery safety lies not only in the inherent quality of the batteries themselves, but also in rigorous standards and best practices throughout their application and deployment.

Looking back at the recent fire at a Singapore data center, the rapid onset and subsequent firefighting efforts—triggered by lithium batteries “embedded” within the facility—forced IT equipment to be shut down urgently and hastily relocated, a chaotic situation that has drawn widespread criticism from industry professionals. A closer examination of the root causes reveals that this incident primarily highlights shortcomings in the deployment and integration of lithium batteries into data center environments. Experts emphasize that lithium-ion battery rooms must be rigorously aligned with cutting-edge fire safety codes and standards, including comprehensive accident ventilation systems, highly efficient fire-suppression drainage systems for battery rooms, and convenient one-touch emergency power-off functionality for non-fire-related circuits—none of these measures can be omitted. In addition, physically distancing or isolating lithium battery installations is a sophisticated strategy for strengthening the overall security posture of data centers.

Fortunately, China and Singapore, among other countries, have long been proactive in preparing for such scenarios by successively introducing a series of stringent guidelines for the use of lithium batteries in data centers. These guidelines cover everything from meticulous material selection and cutting-edge equipment and technology to rigorous design standards for battery rooms, providing clear guidance across the board. As long as these standards are followed scrupulously and implemented with care, the safety of lithium batteries can be effectively ensured. Moreover, by leveraging AI technologies to equip lithium batteries with an “intelligent armor”—enabling predictive maintenance, precise lifespan forecasting, and timely leak detection—the risk of battery failures can be significantly reduced.

1. Refrigeration Innovation: Breaking Through Heat Dissipation Challenges in Data Centers in the Era of Intelligent Computing

(1) Air cooling steps aside; liquid cooling takes center stage.

The data center cooling sector has also been mired in a similar quagmire as the lithium-battery industry.

As the density of chips and servers in intelligent computing centers rises exponentially, thermal management has swiftly emerged as a focal point of industry-wide attention. Traditional air-cooling solutions prove increasingly inadequate in the face of high-density, high-power requirements, prompting the emergence of liquid-cooling technology—a timely solution that addresses this pressing challenge. However, the path to widespread adoption is far from smooth: immature supply-chain maturity, persistently high costs, and reliability that still requires long-term validation all pose significant hurdles.

(II) Turning Points and Advancements in Liquid Cooling

Fortunately, since 2023, demand for intelligent computing has surged at a rocket-like pace, instantly driving up the power density of AI infrastructure. Under these pressing circumstances, liquid cooling has emerged as one of the few lifelines. Moreover, as cooling is an essential, day-to-day requirement for data centers, its importance is even more urgent than that of “backup” systems such as UPS and energy storage.

Consequently, despite the challenges posed by the cumbersome retrofitting of data centers, the arduous task of service upgrades, the high cost pressures, as well as shortcomings in operations and maintenance expertise and the difficulty of selecting the right cooling fluid, enthusiasm for deploying liquid cooling within the industry continues to grow, with real-world deployment cases springing up like mushrooms after rain. Whether it’s the extreme heat dissipation offered by immersion cooling, the sophisticated design of cold-plate systems, or hybrid air–liquid solutions tailored to current needs, numerous vendors are boldly exploring this new blue ocean—though we will not go into detail on each approach here.

1. Breaking the Mold with New Technology: Drawing Insights from Electric Vehicles

How can we skillfully harness new technologies to maximize their advantages? Perhaps the rise of electric vehicles can shed light on this question.

Looking back to around 2010, major automakers were scrambling to enter the electric-vehicle space. At the time, the prevailing approach was rather straightforward—and often crude: pick one or two best-selling conventional models, ruthlessly strip out the engine and fuel tank, slap in a battery and electric motor, and hastily launch the resulting EV version on the market.

Yet reality has delivered a harsh rebuke to this approach: most of these products have been cast aside by the market, reduced to little more than footnotes to progress. In the end, it is the new-generation electric vehicles—those that leverage the unique characteristics of lithium batteries to undertake a profound reengineering of the vehicle architecture—that have emerged as the true winners. Of course, this reengineering does not imply a complete break with conventional technologies. In today’s EV market, range-extended electric vehicles provide an excellent example: they ingeniously combine the low-energy consumption advantages of all-electric cars with the long-range appeal of gasoline-powered vehicles, winning widespread consumer favor and securing a substantial market share.

Range-extended vehicles are by no means merely a case of adding an extra battery to an existing internal-combustion engine; rather, they represent a comprehensive, ground-up redesign spanning vehicle architecture, component layout, powertrain integration, and even driving dynamics and handling feel—transforming the vehicle from top to bottom in ways that set it apart from conventional automobiles. This underscores a fundamental principle: when confronted with a new technology, simple functional substitution often addresses only the symptoms rather than the root cause. Only by leveraging the unique characteristics of the new technology to undertake a deep, system-wide reengineering can we pave the way to a brighter future.

1. Working Together: Embarking on a New Journey Toward Sustainable Data Center Development

The intelligent computing industry is like a rising sun, bursting forth with vigorous growth. As data centers serve as the solid foundation of the digital economy, upgrading and transforming their power distribution and cooling systems has become an urgent priority. Looking ahead, in the face of increasingly complex and dynamic market demands and ever-stricter industry standards, adhering to the guiding principles of safe and reliable operation, elastic scalability, and green, low-carbon solutions will remain the unwavering cornerstone of innovation.

We must recognize clearly that the successful implementation and institutionalization of these new technologies will by no means be achieved overnight. It requires the entire industry to unite in purpose and concerted effort—meticulously refining standards, overcoming formidable technical challenges, and consistently investing in talent development. Only in this way can the industry confidently navigate transformation, proactively embrace new technologies, and propel the data center sector toward sustainable, high-quality growth, thereby forging a brilliant future for the digital economy.