ABI Research Forecasts Data Center Cooling Demand to Rise by 2035
ABI Research reported projections for rising data center thermal cooling demand and linked the outlook to increased focus on cooling, automation, and predictive operations. The figures describe a scale-up from 2025 to 2035 and place cooling requirements alongside broader building technology modernization.
In ABI Research’s forecast, data center thermal cooling requirements were expected to rise from 28.8 million tons in 2025 to 194.6 million tons in 2035, reflecting a 20.1% CAGR. The firm also said building owners prioritized interoperable platforms, predictive maintenance, and AI-enabled automation as they modernized assets and addressed operating requirements.
ABI Research said the shift was visible in data centers, with facility area forecast to grow from approximately 2 billion square feet in 2025 to more than 5 billion square feet in 2035. It also pointed to higher rack densities accelerating movement toward liquid-ready and hybrid cooling architectures, supported by predictive cooling, workload balancing, and automated controls.
ABI Research attributed additional retrofit momentum to wireless sensors, cloud software, and minimally disruptive controls. It cited market activity including Johnson Controls’ acquisitions of Nantum AI and Alloy Enterprises, Siemens’ continued expansion of its Building X and fire safety portfolios, and Honeywell’s push into cloud-native security and AI-powered analytics. It also cited deployments such as CoreWeave’s AI-optimized cooling infrastructure, Applied Digital’s AI-optimized cooling infrastructure, and Amazon’s heat pump rollout with Transaera, and cited the ABI Research “Smart Buildings Semiannual Update: 1H 2026” report, part of its Smart Buildings research service.
“Smart buildings are no longer defined by how much data they collect, but by how effectively that data is turned into operational action,” said Paris McKinley, Research Analyst at ABI Research. “As labor constraints, energy costs, and sustainability pressures intensify, building operators are looking for solutions that can unify fragmented systems, support AI-driven decision-making, and deliver measurable outcomes across portfolios.” “Over the next 24 months, the competitive edge will come from repeatable deployment models, strong data readiness, and the ability to scale proven use cases across buildings and portfolios,” McKinley said.
Provided by Globe Newswire on behalf of ABI Research. Read the original.