In tropical regions like Indonesia, where high temperatures and humidity are the norm year-round, data center cooling isn’t just a technical concern — it’s a strategic one. Effective cooling systems are essential to ensuring uptime, efficiency, and long-term hardware reliability.

At Datagarda, we are constantly evaluating the performance, sustainability, and scalability of various cooling solutions, particularly air cooling and water cooling, to determine what works best in a tropical environment. Each has its advantages, challenges, and ideal use cases — and the right choice depends on multiple operational and environmental factors.

🌬️ Air Cooling: Simplicity and Scalability

Air cooling remains the most widely used method in traditional data centers due to its straightforward design and lower initial capital costs. In this setup, heat generated by IT equipment is removed using Computer Room Air Conditioning (CRAC) or Computer Room Air Handling (CRAH) units that circulate cooled air throughout the server rooms.

✅ Advantages:

• Lower initial cost and easier to install

• Simpler maintenance, with fewer components to monitor

• Modular scalability, especially in smaller or edge data centers

⚠️ Challenges in Tropical Climates:

• Reduced efficiency in high ambient temperatures, requiring more energy to maintain target conditions

• Higher energy use to overcome humidity and maintain airflow consistency

• Limited ability to support high-density loads compared to liquid systems

In Indonesia, where external temperatures often exceed 30°C, air cooling systems must work harder and longer — which can lead to higher operational costs and increased strain on backup systems.

💧 Water Cooling: Efficiency and Density

Water cooling, especially through technologies like liquid-to-the-rack, rear-door heat exchangers, or direct-to-chip cooling, uses liquid as a medium to absorb and transfer heat away from the IT load more efficiently.

✅ Advantages:

• Superior heat transfer efficiency, particularly in hot, humid climates

• Lower Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), reducing total energy costs

• High-density support for racks exceeding 20kW, often required for AI and HPC workloads

• Smaller footprint in high-performance environments

⚠️ Challenges in Implementation:

• Higher upfront costs and infrastructure complexity

• Water treatment and quality control are critical to avoid corrosion or contamination

• Requires skilled maintenance teams and advanced monitoring systems

In a tropical context, water cooling is often the more sustainable and future-ready solution — especially for large-scale data centers prioritizing energy efficiency, density, and environmental goals.

🌱 Sustainability Considerations

As sustainability becomes a key driver in data center development, water cooling offers notable advantages in reducing both energy consumption and carbon emissions. Paired with renewable energy sources, water-based systems can significantly improve environmental performance — a growing priority for hyperscalers, governments, and enterprise clients.

However, water availability and conservation are also critical in Indonesia. Any liquid cooling implementation must be designed to minimize water usage, integrate closed-loop systems, and comply with environmental regulations.

🔍 Which Cooling System is Best for Tropical Data Centers?

🧠 Datagarda’s Approach: Fit-for-Purpose Cooling

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. At Datagarda, we evaluate:

• Site conditions (temperature, humidity, water availability)

• Client requirements (density, SLA, ESG goals)

• Scalability plans

• Operational resilience and TCO (Total Cost of Ownership)

Our data centers are designed with flexible cooling architectures, including hybrid options that combine air and water technologies for optimal performance.

Conclusion: Engineering for the Climate

In tropical environments, cooling decisions must be made with precision, foresight, and a deep understanding of both technology and the local ecosystem. While air cooling remains practical in many cases, water cooling is emerging as the preferred choice for organizations focused on efficiency, sustainability, and future scalability.

At Datagarda, we’re committed to delivering cooling solutions that balance performance, cost, and environmental responsibility — because smart infrastructure starts with smart climate engineering.

Learn more about our engineering solutions at www.datagarda.id