DCD Zero Downtime: The Bi-Weekly Data Center Show

Iceotope's David Craig returns to DCD Zero Downtime as he prepares to hand in his badge and gun. We talk what's next for Craig, and how he has seen the industry change and mature during his lengthy run.

We are all acutely aware that the data center industry has an aging, and thus thinning, workforce. But what can we do about it? In this episode, we talk to Nabeel Mahmood, managing director of Nomad Futurist - a non-profit dedicated to increasing awareness about the world of digital infrastructure - about how we can bring more people into the industry, especially those positioned at a disadvantage, be it because of a lack of resource, their location, or even society expectations.

Data center operators are getting serious about waste heat and, more specifically, what to do with it.While the solution for many is to pump it back into nearby district heating systems, other companies are getting more creative and using warmth from servers to heat aquafarms and greenhouses. European operator Data4 has joined a project which aims to demonstrate that waste heat from its data center can help to grow algae, which could in turn be used as biofuel. Linda Lescuyer, Data4’s innovation manager, joins us to explain how the project is taking shape. 

Data center markets vary wildly by location, and in this episode we head "down under" to the wonderful land of Australia. With the AI boom in full across the globe, Australia is no different and experiencing increased demand.   We talk to David Hirst, who heads up Australia's Macquarie Data Centers, about the trends he is seeing in the country, how Macquarie is approaching AI, and the company's recent news, including its forthcoming IC3 Super West data center.

During a natural disaster, networks often go down. This can massively impact rescue missions in some cases. The importance of network operators and the role they play in responding to unpredictable moments is something that should be highlighted. We spoke to Verizon to see how it prepares its response to hurricanes and tornados, and find out the level of training required to support its efforts.

CTO of NexGen Cloud discusses entering the cloud market with a focus on HPC and GPU infrastructure. Topics include challenges in GPU supply, sustainable expansion, competition, data sovereignty, and diversifying GPU workloads in the cloud market.

Sourcing adequate amounts of power to run new facilities is a problem that keeps even the most seasoned data center operators awake at night.  Many are looking at new technologies such as battery storage to help meet their power demands, but ensuring these assets operate efficiently can be a challenge. Dublin-based GridBeyond thinks it can help by providing grid-connected battery technologies and management software to data centers and other clients across a range of industries. In this episode, Michael Phelan, founder and CEO of GridBeyond, talks about the challenges and opportunities presented by the clean energy transition, and the future of Ireland’s overstretched power grid.

With AI dramatically driving up density, data center cooling is getting much more interesting.  Iceotope is one of the companies exploring the most efficient and sustainable way to cool down data centers - and their solution is precision cooling. On the face of it, precision cooling resembles immersion cooling - viscous liquid? Check. Bathtub-like container? Check. But as CEO David Craig explains, it is actually a far more efficient solution. Beyond the world of liquid cooling, we talk about political optimism and how the next generation will hopefully help us all towards a greener world. 

Joanne Rodriguez, CEO at Mycocycle, discusses using mycelium to recycle data center construction waste, create new materials, and reduce carbon emissions. They explore mobile bioprocessors for on-site waste processing, transforming materials like gypsum, rubber, and carpet into valuable raw materials. The conversation highlights using mycelium in construction, partnerships with hyperscale companies, and innovative business models for mushroom recycling.

Nuclear power may have its detractors, but amid a growing capacity crunch data center operators are becoming increasingly interested in whether atoms can provide the electrons needed to power tomorrow's high-density facilities. In this episode, Chris Lohse of the Idaho National Laboratory, talks about the recent innovations around nuclear power, the highs and lows of recent years, and what the future might hold for nuclear-powered data centers.