According to Nikkei Asia, Fuji Electric has developed a new water-cooling system that reduces electricity consumption for cooling data center servers by roughly 85% compared to conventional air-cooling methods. The core innovation lies in eliminating power-hungry compressors during the refrigerant compression phase; instead, supersonic nozzles are used to compress the refrigerant via kinetic energy generated as it passes through them. Additionally, heat emitted by computer chips is recovered to further drive the refrigerant cycle, thereby significantly cutting overall power demand. This energy-saving approach draws on Fuji Electric’s expertise in energy efficiency gained through its vending machine business. The new system is set to be commercially released in June 2026, with Fuji Electric aiming to expand its market presence worldwide.
With surging AI-driven demand for computing power, cooling systems have become a major pain point for data centers, where cooling-related electricity usage accounts for approximately 40% of total consumption. Unlike mainstream liquid-cooling solutions such as cold plate or immersion cooling, Fuji Electric targets the market by addressing compressor-related power consumption. However, its capacity for large-scale commercial adoption and compatibility with existing computing infrastructure still await validation in the marketplace.