Europe Data Center Cooling and Thermal Management Forum 2026

AI Always On. Data Centers Never Off. This is the defining expectation of the digital era — and the mission the data center industry must deliver.

As rack power moves toward 600 kW and cooling can account for up to 40% of total energy consumption, maintaining uninterrupted operations has become one of the industry’s greatest challenges. The rapid expansion of Generative AI is driving unprecedented infrastructure demand — from large-scale AI training clusters to distributed inference workloads — placing new requirements on data center architecture, deployment models, and cooling systems.

As facilities enter the era of ultra-high-density computing, traditional air cooling is approaching its limits. Advanced thermal management — particularly liquid cooling — is emerging as a critical enabler of next-generation AI infrastructure, while higher density also increases operational complexity and the need for efficiency, cost control, and PUE optimization.

Across Europe, regulatory frameworks are accelerating the transition toward more sustainable operations. Policies such as Germany’s Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG) are promoting energy-efficient cooling and waste heat reuse, while stricter focus on Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) is driving more responsible water management. At the same time, grid constraints, extreme weather, and rapid capacity expansion are pushing operators to rethink how data centers are designed, deployed, and cooled.

Key Themes of the Forum • AI-Driven Data Center and Cooling Market Dynamics, Opportunities, and Infrastructure Transformation • Scaling Liquid Cooling: From Pilot to Industrial Deployment of D2C and Immersion Cooling • Energy Efficiency, Cost Optimization, and PUE Management in High-Density Environments • Sustainable Data Center Development in Europe: Heat Reuse, Water Efficiency (WUE), and Decarbonization Policie

The Europe Data Center Cooling and Thermal Management Forum 2026 will take place in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 9-10, 2026 — at the heart of Europe’s digital infrastructure. Join us to shape the next decade of data center cooling: resilient, efficient, and built for the AI era.