VivoPower PLC (NASDAQ:VIVO, FRA:51J) chief real estate officer and Advisory Council member Shane Whelan talked with Proactive's Stephen Gunnion about the evolving dynamics shaping data centre infrastructure, with a particular focus on how artificial intelligence is transforming requirements across the sector.
Whelan explained that traditional data centres are no longer suitable for modern AI workloads, stating that “a legacy data centre is essentially a giant library… an AI data centre is a high-performance engine room.” He highlighted three key differences: significantly higher power density, the shift from air to liquid cooling, and the need for advanced networking to support east-west traffic between GPUs.
The discussion also explored the rapid rise in global power demand driven by AI. Whelan noted that data centres are expected to consume over 500 terawatts globally by 2026, accounting for around 2% of total electricity usage, with this figure projected to rise further. He pointed to growing strain on power grids and increasing community resistance in key hubs such as Northern Virginia and Dublin.
As a result, major technology companies are adapting by securing their own energy sources, including nuclear power and onsite storage solutions. Whelan emphasised that the industry focus has shifted away from chips and toward infrastructure, warning that “a breakthrough in chip efficiency is useless if you have no place to plug it in.”
He concluded that access to reliable, scalable power is now the defining competitive advantage in AI, driving data centre development into remote regions with abundant energy resources.
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