UTA Researcher Explores New Technology to Cool Data Centers

Dereje Agonafer, PhD

A University of Texas at Arlington engineering researcher has received a $2.84 million grant to develop a hybrid cooling technology that will aid high-power data centers and server farms.

Dereje Agonafer, UT Arlington Presidential Distinguished University Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), said the grant will be used to develop a holistic novel hybrid cooling technology to address the growing need for advanced thermal management solutions and energy efficiency for data centers.

“Climate change, including severe weather events, threatens the functionality of data centers that are critical to connecting computing and network infrastructure that power our everyday lives,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm in a DOE press release. “DOE is funding projects that will ensure the continued operation of these facilities while reducing the associated carbon emissions to beat climate change and reach our clean energy future.”