Is Immersion Cooling the next big thing for Data Centres?

Lubezine Magazine | Editor-in-Chief

W elcome to Edition 52, the first edition of the year 2025. As always, we have compiled the latest developments in the lubricants industry within Africa and beyond.

The year is offto a great start; with various companies undertaking expansion projects aimed at increasing their production and expanding their footprint. In South Africa, FUCHS LUBRICANTS SOUTH AFRICA has opened its recently expanded lubricant blending plant, which will increase its production capacity by 40%. This expansion also brings increased storage for base oils and additives. In Nigeria, CDN Oil and Lubricants Limited has announced plans to expand its production capacity, aiming to enhance its capabilities and meet the growing demand for lubricants in the country. Elsewhere, in a move to expand its footprint in the Philippines, Saudi Aramco acquired a 25% stake in Unioil Petroleum Philippines. Through this acquisition, Saudi Aramco will introduce Valvoline products in the Philippine market. In Europe, TotalEnergies acquired Fluid Competence, a German manufacturing company of fire-resistant hydraulic fluids. This acquisition will extend TotalEnergies’ product portfolio of specialty fluids.

By 2030, data centers are expected to account for over 4% of global electricity consumption. With increasing energy costs and growing concerns about climate change, traditional air cooling is becoming unsustainable. The demand for high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics is pushing data centers to their limits; creating significant heat management challenges. Traditional air-cooling methods consume excessive energy and water, making them inefficient. Immersion cooling, however, is gaining attention as a more sustainable solution.

In our lead article, Valentina Serra Holm, Head of Engineered Fluid Solutions at PETRONAS Chemicals Group (PCG) Specialty Chemicals, explores the future of data center cooling and the advantages of immersion cooling. She highlights sustainability as a key driver, and notes that EU regulations require data centers to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. The article also discusses the chemical requirements for immersion cooling fluids and the obstacles to adopting this technology.

Another development that has been a topic of discussion is the rise of electric vehicles. We feature an article that looks into China’s role in the adoption of electric vehicles. For the past decade, China has been the world’s largest market for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), and sales of electrified passenger cars have continued to grow. The article provides a close examination of China’s burgeoning New Energy Vehicle (NEV) market, delves into the latest trends, and evaluates the implications for the lubricants market.

Finally, in our professional interview segment, we are joined by Roland Ntabanou, the Business Development Lead for Bureau Veritas Group in Africa. With 20 years of expertise in oil inspection and certification, Mr. Ntabanou offers valuable insights into the African oil market, discussing topics such as the availability of testing facilities and the key skill sets needed in this field.

There is much more in this edition, prepared for you. .

Enjoy the read.