What Data Center Innovation Looks Like in the Age of AI

Data center development is moving fast, and so is the computing technology that lives inside them. The AI boom is accelerating just about everything, placing a premium on innovation. So what does data center innovation look like in 2025 and beyond?

To explore this question, we turned to Phill Lawson-Shanks, the Chief Innovation Officer at Aligned Data Centers. Phill has been involved in transformative work in the sector for years, from the edge of the network to the center of the data hall.

On today’s show, Phill shares how modular designs are helping Aligned keep pace with new technology and new hardware, adapting to changes in power and cooling infrastructure, and all the while staying keenly focused on sustainability.

00:00 - Intro and Phill’s “Data Center Journey”

04:16 - What innovation looks like in the age of AI

08:45 - The importance of modularity in an evolving design environment

14:20 - Managing infrastructure through the cloud to AI transition

19:45 - Extending innovation to site selection and the power landscape

24:30 - Prioritizing sustainabilty in a rapidly-evolving energy industry

27:30 - Future-proofing cooling infrastructure

31:30 - The Next 5 Years - How Phill sees it

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW
Aligned Data Centers
https://aligneddc.com/

Phil Lawson-Shanks on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/plawsonshanks/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

How Aligned is Tackling the Data Center Density Challenge
https://youtu.be/_zeLScBMDxk?si=k6t3xZIJKfWbBdjl

A Closer Look at Two-Phase Liquid Cooling
https://youtu.be/w_Us94JgYzc

How Will Data Centers Be Different in 2030
https://youtu.be/IUO8fUWNoX8?si=QjhHEBlvx3fMR0Z

All video by Data Center Richness.

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Energy is the lifeblood of every data center. As the AI boom has gained velocity, the focus on energy has intensified as power demand has effectively maxed out existing grid capacity in major data center markets. Understanding the finer points of power has never been more important.

Dan Crosby has helped explain the complexities of the energy market for the data center sector. Dan is the founder and CEO of Legend Energy Advisors, where he and his team helped deploy clients deploy multiple gigawatts of data center projects in 2024.

On this edition of the Data Center Richness. Dan shared his take on how long the current power constraints might last, the growing profile of natural gas for powering large loads, and the opportunities and challenges in deploying onsite power at data centers.

00:00 - Why energy matters right now.

01:32 - Dan Crosby's "Data Center Journey" and background

04:00 - How Legend Energy Advisors works with data center clients.

06:20 - How long will key data center markets remain power-constrained.

10:50 - Onsite power for data centers - the opportunities and challenges.

15:45 - Designing loads and grids - how to manage dynamic power.

18:12 - What are the best strategies to collaborate with utilities?

21:11 - Load flexibility, and how to make it work.

25:15 - The rising profile of natural gas, and the role of renewable energy.

32:50 - Data centers as anchor customers for next-generation nuclear.

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack: https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW

Legend Energy Advisors
https://legendenergyadvisors.com/

Dan Crosby on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-crosby-a58a3212/

Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power (Elisa Wood)
https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=ewmU1WMbkHU2lnSh

Unlocking Power for AI Growth (Tyler Norris)
https://youtu.be/D6-1QxRRxoA?si=VHUbBdImjKbqAs4g

Why Data Centers Are Turning to Bloom Energy
https://youtu.be/Z-udNWq2bAg?si=vHOizsz7AqT5M7eQ

All video by Data Center Richness.

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When a data center project comes to town, a question often asked by residents and local officials is “what’s in it for us?” What if there was a guide that could help local officials understand the upside of how digital services can transform their work and their community?

Today we continue our series on data centers and community controversies. Our guest is Ilissa Miller, the CEO of iMiller Public Relations, who has deep experience communicating the benefits of digital infrastructure. Iliisa has also held local office in her community, a role that informs her current work with the OIX Digital Infrastructure Framework, which provides guidance for community planners and economic development officials.

The goal is to empower community leaders to understand the infrastructure they have, what they need, and how to plan for what’s coming. Ilissa has also has insights into the current challenges for data centers in community relations.

Here's an overview of the conversation between host RIch Miller and Ilissa Miller of iMiller PR:

00:00 - A Framework for Better Community Conversations

02:20 - From Opera to Digital Infrastructure: Ilissa Miller's Data Center Journey

05:20 - iMiller PR and its Mission and Services

07:40 - The History of Data Centers and Secrecy

13:50 - How to Improve the Media Narrative

17:30 - Introducing the Digital Infrastructure Framework

21:00 - Digital Infrastructure as a Tool for Master Planning

22:00 - Getting the Word Out

24:30 -Helping Communities Understand the Benefits of Digital Services

26:40 - Where to Learn More

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW:

The OIX Digital Infrastructure Framework
https://www.oix.org/standards-and-certifications/oix-dif-standard/

iMiller Public Relations
https://www.imillerpr.com/

Follow Ilissa Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilissamiller/

Follow Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:
Data Centers and Community Controversies
https://youtu.be/syRpAj9aCSg?si=aYveuysL-DGCfC5O

We've seen a lot of headlines about data centers lately, especially controversies in communities considering large new data center campuses to support AI.

Community resistance to data centers is not new, but has escalated rapidly in recent months, with a number of projects being canceled or delayed amid community outcry, including some that represented billions of dollars in local investment.

Adam Waitkunas of Milldam Public Relations publishes a newsletter tracking data center controversies and how local communities are shaping the future of data center growth. Adam and host Rich Miller discuss why we're seeing more of these controversies, some of the key factors in community resistance, and what data centers can do to change the narrative and address some of the concerns about AI development.

It's an important topic, and one we need to talk more about. Digital services are a growing part of our entertainment, business and social lives, and that trend will continue. Data centers are the engines of this digital economy.

Here's an overview of the conversation:

00:00 - Overview: Community controversies are on the rise.

01:48 - About Adam Waitkunas of Milldam PR and the Zoning In newsletter.

05:45 - How We Got Here: The evolution of community controversies.

10:12 - Community Awareness and Data Center Development

15:00 - Transparency and Why It Matters

19:18 - Best Practices for Communicating With the Community

20:56 - Public Officials on the Hot Seat.

24:40 - Localizing the Community Conversation

27:00 - NDAs and Community Relations

29:15 - A Legacy of Secrecy. Time for a change?

35:00 - How Media Coverage Shapes the Narratives

39:00 - Could the data center industry be doing more?

41:10 - Building Bridges and Expertise

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At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack:
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW:

Milldam Public Relations
https://milldampr.com/

Follow Adam Waitkunas on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/awaitkunas/

Follow Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

What's Next for Data Center Real Estate?
https://youtu.be/H2FFJfm5wug?si=NLKTZmDMDm5bS6Sx

Mastering High-Density Cooling
https://youtu.be/_zeLScBMDxk?si=432CIwTrRQjgw3_q

Why AI Will Be A Paradigm Shift
https://youtu.be/u-Lv9MwS7x8?si=TCP_HUMfghSktAP0

All video by Data Center Richness.
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It’s been a big year for Bloom Energy, a fuel cell manufacturer which has been winning large deals to provide power for data centers.

Our guest on Data Center Richness is Jeff Barber, the Vice President of Data Center Sales for Bloom Energy. Jeff discusses why Bloom is providing on-site power for large data centers AND their utility providers, and how fuel cells can address some of the community concerns about noise and emissions from data center projects.

Here’s a guide to our discussion:

00:00 - Intro: A Big Year for Bloom Energy

00:55 - Jeff Barber’s Data Center Journey, and an overview of Bloom Energy

03:35 - Data Centers, Fuel Cells and Bloom Energy’s Strategy

08:58 - Where Bloom Fits in the Shift to On-Site Power

13:30 - Data Centers, Utilities and Power Pricing

15:30 - Bringing Fuel Cells to Internet Scale

17:30 - AI Workloads, Power Fluctuations and Stability

20:48 - CoreWeave and Bloom - Densification and Faster Time to Power

22:45 - Bloom Energy and AEP - On-Site Power Through a Utility Partnership

25:45 - Bloom’s Deal with Oracle - Power at Scale, Within 90 Days

29:00 - The Future of Power, and Bloom’s Opportunity

NOW ON SUBSTACK!

Check out the Data Center Richness Substack
https://datacenterrichness.substack.com/

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights:

On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

On the Web: Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW:

Bloom Energy
https://www.bloomenergy.com/industries/data-center-power/

Follow Jeff Barber on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jabarber1/

Follow Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

Flexibility: The Key to Unlocking More Data Center Power
https://youtu.be/D6-1QxRRxoA

Data Centers, AI and the Future of Power
https://youtu.be/EYo2YK7L5q0?si=hc4pFlJ68jPSuP61

All video by Data Center Richness.

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Cooling is a hot topic in the data center industry. Few companies have been more focused on cooling than Aligned Data Centers, which builds hyperscale facilities for some of the world's leading players in cloud computing and AI.

Our guest today is Michael Welch, the Chef Technology Officer at Aligned, who discusses how Aligned is updating its products and designs for the rising densities in AI workloads, and why an advanced cooling lab is an important part of the company’s strategy.

Data Center Richness host Rich Miller and Michael Welch discuss the following topics:

00:00 - Intro: Cooling is a Hot Topic

00:52 - Meet Michael Welch and an overview of Aligned Data Centers

03:50 - The State of Data Center Cooling

08:00 - The Delta Cubed and Delta Flow systems

11:00 - Hybrid Environments: Air Cooling and Liquid Cooling, Working Together

16:42 - The Aligned Advanced Cooling Lab

20:33 - How Higher Density Can Enabl;e Server Waste Heat Reuse

23:50 - On-Site Power and the Future of Energy

26:00 - The Improving Economics of Fuel Calls and BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems)

28:08 - How Aligned Optimizes its Supply Chain

31:25 - The Supply Chain in the Gigawatt Era

35:05 - The Road Ahead: Designing for Bigger, Denser Data Centers

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

On the Web:
Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW:

Aligned Data Centers
https://aligneddc.com/

Inside Aligned's Advanced Cooling Lab
https://youtu.be/-aq_uVdZ6eA?si=Q4wTNvTYlLNA4lfy

Follow Michael Welch on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-welch-0a7b092b/

Follow Rich Miller on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterfrontier/

RELATED VIDEOS:

A Closer Look at Two-Phase Liquid Cooling
https://youtu.be/w_Us94JgYzc

How Will Data Centers Be Different in 2030
https://youtu.be/IUO8fUWNoX8?si=QjhHEBlvx3fMR0Z

All video by Data Center Richness.

Supplemental music via Epidemic Sound https://share.epidemicsound.com/60o8qx

Large global investors have played a major role in the AI boom, providing funding for the construction of data centers and network infrastructure.

Today we look at data centers through the perspective of investors, How do large private investors think about data centers as an asset class? What trends do they consider in their investment strategies? Which markets are the most attractive? And how do they think about opportunity and risk in a fast-moving market?

Rich Miller's guest today is Michael Hochanadel, the Managing Director and Head of Digital Assets at Harrison Street. Michael has been an investor in the sector for 20 years, and shares his insights about how investors assess different types of properties and business models, and what the next phase of AI-powered growth might look like.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 - The Investor Perspective on the Data Center Sector

01:37 - Introduction to Michael and his career

03:25 - Background on Harrison Street

07:15 - The Themes Guiding Harrison Street’s Data Center Strategy

12:30 - Harrison Street’s digital infrastructure investments - PowerHouse, 1547, Oppidan and Summit IG

15:40 - How network architecture creates investment opportunities

17:45 - The state of the Enterprise data center market. What’s next?

21:30 - AI and Infrastructure: How will the rise of inference shape th enetwork?

27:00 - AI use cases could be “limitless.” Michael shares some early winners.

30:15 - Assessing investment risk in a rapidly evolving AI landscape

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years. Subscribe to our channel for more insights:

On YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@DataCenterRichness?sub_confirmation=1

On the Web:
Data Center Richness https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW:

Michael Hochanadel Bio
https://harrisonst.com/people/michael-hochanadel/

Michael on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-hochanadel-767380/

Harrison Street
https://harrisonst.com/

RELATED VIDEO:

What's Next for Data Center Real Estate?
https://youtu.be/H2FFJfm5wug?si=RI-9sGUGGbzmE4qh

How Will Data Centers Be Different in 2030
https://youtu.be/IUO8fUWNoX8?si=QjhHEBlvx3fMR0Z

Why Data Centers Matter in the Age of AI
https://youtu.be/9GJSENgbcmk?si=lkeyM8AiseP1v99t

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only, and does not constitute investment advice or any other professional advice. Please consult with a professional for specific advice tailored to your situation.

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Chris Crosby has deep insights on essential the role of data centers in an AI-powered future. Crosby is the CEO of Compass Datacenters, which builds some of the world’s largest data center campuses.

In this week's Data Center Richness episode, host Rich Miller talks with Crosby about how Compass has embraced new approaches to power and the supply chain, as well as sustainable construction and backup power. Crosby also shares about Compass' adoption of HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil), a lower-emissions diesel fuel, and the company's current project to convert the former Sears Headquarters near Chicago into a massive data center campus.

But for Crosby, the success at Compass all comes down to company culture and building great teams.

Highlights:

00:00 - Overview from host Rich Miller

02:00 - The role of digital infrastructure in an AI-powered world

03:30 - Solving power constraints impacting AI growth

07:45 - Load flexibility as a Pathway to Power

11:15 - The role of capital in fixing the grid

15:00 - How to address utility power queues

17:45 - How do data centers make flexibility work?

20:25 - Rethinking the data center supply chain

23:15 - The power of company culture in building great teams

27:45 - Bringing new talent into the data center industry

30:05 - How Compass thinks about sustainability

32:15 - Leading the way on adoption of HVO (low-emission generator fuel)

34:30 - Converting the Sears HQ campus into a huge data center

37:00 - The role of data center retrofits and adaptive reuse

38:25 - Data centers and community relations

41:00 - Data centers and the opportunity ahead

At Data Center Richness we demystify technology and explain why data centers matter, and what comes next for the Internet, cloud computing and AI. Host Rich Miller is a journalist and analyst who has been covering the data center sector for 25 years.

Subscribe to our channel for more insights:

On the Web: Data Center Richness
https://datacenterpodcast.com/

LINKS FROM THIS SHOW:

Compass Datacenters
https://www.compassdatacenters.com/

Compass Culture: Core Convictions
https://www.compassdatacenters.com/about/

Sears HQ to Become a Data Center https://www.datacenterfrontier.com/hyperscale/article/55089460/suburban-chicago-welcomes-compass-datacenters-major-hyperscale-development-on-legacy-sears-hq-site

Chris Crosby on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-crosby-3542b71/

RELATED VIDEO:

Flexibility: The Key to Unlocking More Data Center Power
https://youtu.be/D6-1QxRRxoA?si=0Zf8leFTQJ28ZlTg

How Will Data Centers Be Different in 2030
https://youtu.be/IUO8fUWNoX8?si=QjhHEBlvx3fMR0Z-

Verrus is Rethinking the Data Center
https://youtu.be/x9OoLh8UEoc?si=mINiJlqSCMmX1ejJ

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