RACA Journal I October 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 27
DATA CENTRE FEATURE SERIES
INTEGRATION WITH BROADER ENERGY STRATEGIES Cooling design can no longer be considered in isolation. In South Africa’ s energy-constrained environment, highperformance data centres increasingly integrate thermal strategies with broader energy systems, including on-site generation, wheeled renewable energy, battery storage and advanced energy management platforms.
AI-driven optimisation tools are emerging as a key enabler, allowing operators to predict load fluctuations, orchestrate multiple cooling assets and continuously optimise system performance. This convergence of digital control and mechanical infrastructure is fundamental to achieving sustained efficiency gains under variable operating conditions.
Equally critical is the availability of specialised skills. The successful deployment and operation of advanced cooling technologies depend on HVAC engineering expertise adapted specifically for mission-critical environments, an area that will require continued investment as the sector evolves.
OUTLOOK As South Africa’ s data centre sector scales to support AI and the broader digital economy, cooling strategies will play a defining role in shaping facility efficiency, resilience and longterm sustainability.
Operators that adopt flexible, climate-responsive and resource-efficient cooling approaches, supported by intelligent control systems and integrated energy strategies, will be best positioned to meet rising performance demands while navigating the country’ s unique operational constraints.
In this evolving landscape, cooling is no longer a supporting function. It is a core design and operational strategy that will underpin the next generation of AI-driven data centres in South Africa. RACA
REFERENCES:
1. Mordor Intelligence: South Africa Data Center Market Size & Share Analysis – Growth Trends and Forecast( 2026 – 2031) https:// www. mordorintelligence. com / industry-reports / south-africa-data-center-market
2. Wesgro: Overview of the Global and African Data-Centre Landscape( April 2026) https:// www. wesgro. co. za / uploads / files / Wesgro _ Research _ Overview-of-the-Global-and-African-Data-Centre-Landscape _ 2026.04. pdf
3. Africa Data Centres Association( ADCA) Data Centres in Africa 2026: The Economic Report
4. https:// africadca. org / wp-content / uploads / 2026 / 02 / DataCentresInAfrica2026-EN. pdf
5. WSP Liquid cooling in African data centres: A turning point in efficiency, resilience and future-ready design( 10 February 2026) https:// www. wsp. com / en-za / insights / liquid-cooling-in-african-data-centres
Data artificial centres intelligence
RACA Journal I October 2026 www. refrigerationandaircon. co. za 27