How is ASHRAE Spain Chapter addressing the current technological and energy transformation scenario that the Data Center sector is going through?

The data center sector is characterized as one of the most energy-intensive areas. In Spain, several studies suggest that the energy demand of this sector will grow exponentially in the coming years.

In this context, ASHRAE Spain Chapter plays a key role as a node of knowledge, standardization and training, acting as a bridge between experts, industry and regulations.

We are promoting specialized technical training, through courses and workshops aimed at designers, and working on the translation of reference standards, such as ASHRAE 90.4 for Data Centers, in order to facilitate their implementation in our country.

Our purpose is to accompany professionals, offering support and updated tools that allow them to face the changes in the sector and contribute to the technical and sustainable development of critical infrastructures.

In this context, how does ASHRAE promote sustainability and energy efficiency in the design, construction and operation of data centers?

Through standards such as ASHRAE 90.4, which establishes minimum energy performance requirements, or the Thermal Guidelines of TC 9.9, which extend operating temperature and humidity ranges to optimize the use of free-cooling, ASHRAE provides the industry with practical tools to reduce energy consumption without compromising reliability.

We also promote the adoption of renewable energies, the reuse of waste heat, liquid cooling and the digitalization of the operation through intelligent management systems.

All of this is carried out through professional training programs, including courses, technical seminars and collaborations with associations and universities, with the aim of supporting innovation and sustainable development in the sector.

What are the main trends in air conditioning and cooling that are marking the future of Data Centers in Spain and Europe, and what role do digitalization and Artificial Intelligence play in the energy management and optimization of these critical infrastructures?

The future of data center HVAC is defined by a transition to more efficient, sustainable and adaptive systems, driven by the need to reduce the carbon footprint and respond to rapidly growing digital demand.

From ASHRAE Spain Chapter we are very supportive, given the temperate climate we have in our country, to use technologies such as direct and indirect free-cooling, hybrid adiabatic systems, liquid cooling, waste heat reuse, etc.. These solutions make it possible to drastically reduce the energy consumption associated with cooling, which in some cases exceeds 40% of the total DPC.

In line with our commitment, we also promote the use of low GWP natural refrigerants to meet the sustainability requirements set by the European Energy Efficiency Strategy and climate neutrality commitments for 2050.

AI plays a major role in enabling the prediction of thermal loads, early detection of inefficiencies and automated decision making, contributing to a much more intelligent, flexible and resilient operating model. In short, the future of the Data Center lies in the convergence of energy efficiency, digital intelligence and environmental sustainability, principles that are fully aligned with ASHRAE's global guidelines.

From your perspective, which emerging technologies will have the greatest impact on the decarbonization of the sector in the coming years?

The technologies with the greatest impact on the decarbonization of the sector will be those that combine energy efficiency, electrification and digitalization.

The application of Artificial Intelligence to optimize thermal and electrical management in real time will be very important in the coming years. All this, under the regulatory framework of ASHRAE 90.4 and the decarbonization guidelines, which guarantee a measurable, efficient and aligned technological transition with the objectives of climate neutrality.

What competitive opportunities does Spain have with respect to other European countries in terms of air conditioning and energy efficiency applied to Data Centers?

Spain has clear competitive advantages in air conditioning and energy efficiency applied to data centers. Its temperate climate, as I mentioned earlier, with ample free-cooling hours for a good part of the year, allows a significant reduction in the energy devoted to cooling.

In addition, our country has a robust electricity infrastructure and a high penetration of renewable energies, which facilitates progress towards decarbonized data center models.

From ASHRAE Spain Chapter we believe that all this makes Spain a particularly favorable environment to develop efficient and competitive data centers in the European market.

What does it mean for ASHRAE to be part of Tech Show Madrid 2025 and what messages do you want to convey in its fifth edition?

For ASHRAE, participating in Tech Show Madrid 2025 represents a key opportunity to reinforce its role as an international technical reference in sustainability, energy efficiency and decarbonization of the built environment.

In this fifth edition, the objective is to bring regulatory knowledge and ASHRAE guidelines closer to digital and data center professionals, showing how standards - such as ASHRAE 90.4 or the Thermal Guidelines of TC 9.9 - can be applied in a practical way in the Spanish and European context.

For ASHRAE Spain Chapter, technological innovation will only be sustainable if it is designed with criteria of efficiency, resilience and environmental responsibility. We want to inspire the industry to design, operate and maintain critical infrastructures aligned with climate neutrality objectives, promoting collaboration between engineering, technology and energy management.