2026 Data Center Trends: AI, Cooling & Power Insights (AFCOM State of the Data Center session, Bill Kleyman)

Overview

This write-up summarises the findings of the AFCOM State of the Data Center and the 2026 predictions that Bill Kleyman presented at Data Center World 2026. Topics include AI's growing share of workloads, the gap between current rack densities and AI requirements, power access as the top constraint, liquid cooling adoption, security threats and workforce shortages. The text summarises a conference session and gives no method detail.

AI is about 15 percent of workloads today and is projected to reach 40 percent by 2030. Only 20 percent of respondents are prepared to support the 50-70 kW per rack needed for AI. Average rack density grew from 6.1 kW nine years ago to 16 kW, while AI needs 30-40 kW or more.

Liquid cooling is already used by 19 percent of respondents; rear-door heat exchangers (RDHx) suit traditional colocation, while direct liquid cooling (DLC) and immersion suit HPC and AI. US data centre demand is expected to reach 50 GW by 2030; 27 percent use renewables, 62 percent are exploring off-grid options, and nuclear interest rose from 11 percent to 33 percent in three years.

80 percent of respondents report workloads moving from public cloud back on-premises. The limits of the source are that it is survey-based and US-weighted, and its figures reflect respondent perception. Its value for designers is as a source of reference bands showing current industry averages and the AI readiness gap.

Key points

1. AI is about 15 percent of workloads today and is projected to reach 40 percent by 2030.
2. Only 20 percent of respondents are prepared to support the 50-70 kW per rack needed for AI.
3. Average rack density grew from 6.1 kW nine years ago to 16 kW; AI needs 30-40 kW or more.
4. 19 percent of respondents already use liquid cooling; RDHx suits traditional colocation, DLC and immersion suit HPC/AI.
5. US data centre demand is expected to reach 50 GW by 2030; 27 percent use renewables and 62 percent are exploring off-grid options; nuclear interest rose from 11 percent to 33 percent in three years.
6. 80 percent of respondents report workloads moving from public cloud back on-premises.

Using it in design

• Use AFCOM density figures (16 kW average; 50-70 kW for AI) as reference bands in the rack-density selector.
• Prompt users who choose racks under 20 kW for AI halls to reconsider.
• Include RDHx as a retrofit option in colocation templates.

Who should read it

Operators and designers planning rack density, cooling and power strategy.

Publication details

Authors

Bill Kleyman

Publisher

Data Center World / AFCOM

Year

2026

Event

Data Center World 2026

Document language

English

Source type

Industry body

Access

Free to read

Licence

Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation