Scaling more resource-efficient cooling for the growth of AI
Sep 26, 2026
Artificial intelligence and high-performance computing are driving rapid growth in digital infrastructure. But that growth comes with a challenge: data centers require significant amounts of electricity and place increasing pressure on power grids and other local resources.
According to the International Energy Agency, global electricity demand from data centers increased by 17% in 2025 and is expected to double by 2030. For AI-focused data centers, electricity consumption is set to triple. This makes improving energy efficiency across the entire data center increasingly important.
Cooling is a critical part of that equation. Every watt used by computing equipment ultimately becomes heat that must be managed. By developing cooling solutions that reduce energy and resource use, Munters can help customers expand the digital infrastructure needed for AI while limiting its wider environmental impact.
Expanding chiller production in the US
Chillers are a critical part of many data center cooling systems, helping remove the heat generated by increasingly powerful computing equipment. Making this process as energy efficient as possible is therefore an important part of reducing the resources needed to support the growth of digital infrastructure.
Munters expansion in the US includes production of the Circlemiser chiller. Its cylindrical condenser design is engineered to reduce energy consumption and total required power compared with typical air-cooled chillers.
Local production also brings manufacturing closer to an important data center market. Together with end-of-line testing, in-house condenser coil rolling and advanced laboratory capabilities, this creates a platform for producing and developing energy-efficient cooling technologies for demanding data center applications.
“Bringing this capability to the US strengthens our ability to combine a broader technology portfolio with production closer to an important data center market,” says Frank Pellegrino, Group Vice President at Data Center Technologies.
More than one path to efficient cooling
There is no single cooling technology that fits every data center. The right solution depends on factors such as computing density, climate, access to water and electricity, and the design of the facility.
As AI increases heat loads, operators are increasingly combining air- and liquid-based cooling technologies. Munters broader portfolio allows customers to select and combine solutions based on the requirements of each site, from early-stage design and system integration to operation and lifecycle support.
This technology-agnostic approach is important because sustainability is not only about the performance of an individual product. It is also about designing the complete cooling system to use energy and other resources as efficiently as possible throughout its lifetime.
Turning efficiency ambitions into measurable performance
The expanded Daleville campus brings production, engineering and testing capabilities together. Its chiller laboratory includes an environmental chamber that can test chillers up to 3 MW at air temperatures ranging from 12.7°C to 57.2°C, enabling engineers to evaluate performance under different operating conditions before equipment is deployed.
The test facility also reuses energy within the testing process. Chilled water from the unit being tested is used to cool hot condenser air back to the required test conditions, reducing the overall energy needed for testing.
Continuous improvement extends to production. By applying Lean Six Sigma methodologies and data-driven decision-making, the Daleville team works to reduce variation and waste, standardize processes and improve efficiency. Every flow lane also undergoes end-of-line testing before a chiller leaves the site.
“Having the right manufacturing setup is only part of the equation. We also need skilled people, technical knowledge and service capabilities to support our customers with solutions that operate effectively and with minimum waste of resources throughout their lifetime,” says Pellegrino.
Enabling digital growth with fewer resources
Expanding Daleville is therefore about more than increasing production capacity. It strengthens Munters ability to develop, validate, and manufacture the cooling technologies needed as AI and high-performance computing continue to grow.
For Munters, supporting the expansion of digital infrastructure also means helping customers address their energy and resource demands. By combining efficient technology, advanced testing, Lean production, and lifecycle expertise, the ambition is to enable data centers to grow more efficiently, reliably, and responsibly.
