The Data Center Frontier Show

Reliving International Data Center Day 2025 with 7x24 Exchange Leaders

As the digital economy accelerates on the back of AI and hyperscale infrastructure, the question of who will build and run tomorrow’s data centers has never been more urgent. Since its inception in 2015, International Data Center Day (IDCD), organized by 7x24 Exchange International, has steadily grown into a global campaign to answer that question—by inspiring the next generation of mission-critical talent.
This year’s IDCD, observed in March but increasingly seen as a year-round initiative, was the subject of a recent Data Center Frontier Show podcast conversation with 7x24 Exchange International Chairman and CEO Bob Cassiliano and Aheli Purkayastha, Chief Product Officer of Purkay Labs and President of the New England Chapter. The two industry leaders outlined how 7x24 Exchange is advancing the mission of IDCD through grassroots engagement, structured resources, and a growing constellation of strategic partnerships.
A Response to the Talent Shortage
The origin of IDCD traces back to 7x24 Exchange’s recognition—at a 2015 leadership event—that there was not only a lack of awareness of data center careers among students, but also a vacuum of visibility in the educational system. In response, the organization launched IDCD to build a long-term pipeline by introducing the industry to students early, consistently, and accessibly.
Today, that mission is more critical than ever. As generative AI workloads surge and new builds stretch power and land capacity, the need for skilled, motivated professionals to support design, operations, and innovation across the lifecycle of data centers has intensified.
Turning Awareness Into Action
In 2025, IDCD expanded its reach through a broad range of local chapter events and partner activations. These included data center tours, educational presentations, interactive demos, 5K runs, and a hackathon hosted by the New England Chapter. The hackathon stood out as a model for applied learning, pairing 50 high school students with industry professionals in a challenge to design a data center in space—all in just five hours. The result: heightened student interest, deeper industry engagement, and a clear illustration of the educational value these events can offer.
While university students remain a key audience, organizers have recognized the need to reach even younger learners. Initiatives are increasingly targeting elementary and middle school students through age-appropriate programming, with a special emphasis on encouraging young women to consider careers in mission-critical infrastructure.
Resources, Reach, and Real Outcomes
The IDCD campaign is more than a collection of events—it is supported by a robust infrastructure of tools, templates, and thought leadership. At the core is InternationalDataCenterDay.org, a centralized hub offering educational content tailored to different age groups, a career path “tree,” and a library of interviews with professionals across the ecosystem. These resources empower volunteers, educators, and sponsors to create consistent, high-impact programming.
The outcomes speak for themselves. IDCD has helped catalyze the development of data center curricula at both the secondary and postsecondary levels. The Carolinas Chapter, for instance, played a key role in helping Cleveland Community College secure a $23 million grant to develop a full-fledged data center program. Elsewhere, scholarships are on the rise, and growing numbers of students and faculty are attending industry conferences.
Supporting these gains are complementary 7x24 Exchange programs such as WIMCO (Women in Mission Critical Operations), STEM mentoring, and Data Center 101 sessions—designed to provide clear entry points for newcomers while reinforcing the industry's inclusive, interdisciplinary nature.

Navigating the Future of Data Center Project Management

The data center industry is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by technological advancements, sustainability concerns, and evolving market demands. This conversation with JLL data center expert Sean Farney explores the world of data center project management, offering insights into current challenges and opportunities.
One of the most significant trends in the industry is the growing need for liquid cooling retrofits. With only 4.6% of global data center critical load currently supporting liquid cooling, there's a substantial opportunity for upgrading existing facilities to meet the demands of high-density computing. This shift is driven by rapid advancements in chip technology, forcing data centers to adapt quickly to maintain efficiency and performance.
Adaptive reuse has emerged as another key strategy in the data center sector. This approach involves converting non-traditional spaces into data centers or updating existing facilities for new technologies. Beyond addressing capacity demands, adaptive reuse offers significant sustainability benefits, aligning with the industry's growing focus on environmental responsibility.
Energy efficiency and sustainability are critical considerations in modern data center design and operations. Often driven by cost savings, these initiatives are reshaping the industry. For instance, some estimates suggest that liquid cooling can reduce carbon impact by up to 40% in new facilities, highlighting the potential for both operational and environmental improvements.
The global nature of data center operations presents unique challenges for project managers. Navigating complex regulatory environments across different markets requires a deep understanding of local codes and standards while meeting global corporate objectives. This complexity underscores the need for project management teams with both global reach and local expertise.
As the industry grapples with a significant talent shortage, innovative approaches to attracting, training, and retaining skilled professionals are crucial. Comprehensive training programs and strategies for bridging the skills gap are becoming increasingly important in this rapidly evolving field.
Emerging technologies continue to shape the future of data center project management. The integration of AI and machine learning in facility management is becoming more common, while the potential impact of quantum computing looms on the horizon. Project managers must stay ahead of these technological shifts to deliver future-ready facilities.
As the data center industry continues to evolve, project management will play a crucial role in delivering cost-effective, efficient, and future-ready facilities. By addressing key challenges such as energy efficiency, technological adaptation, global operations, and talent management, project managers can help transform data center portfolios into strategic assets that support critical business objectives.
 

Powering the Future with Fuel Cells: A Deep Dive into On-Site Power Solutions for Data Centers

In today’s podcast, Matt Vincent, Editor in Chief of Data Center Frontier is joined by Bala Naidu, Vice President – Energy Transition Solutions at Bloom Energy to discuss how the exponential growth of data centers in the United States is putting immense pressure on the power infrastructure. With traditional power sources struggling to keep up, data centers are facing a critical challenge: how to secure timely access to affordable power while adhering to sustainability and permitting regulations.

Solving the Power Problem for Data Centers

The data center industry is experiencing substantial growth, placing increasing pressure on the power grid to meet the rising demand. These facilities necessitate continuous power supply with zero interruptions and demand highly reliable backup power to minimize downtime. The expansion of data centers is contributing to a disparity between the demand for power and the capacity of the grid to supply it, which may result in gaps ranging from several months to multiple years. Consequently, numerous developers are exploring alternative power supply options to address these challenges. Solutions that act as a bridge to grid power, commonly referred to as bridge power, are becoming increasingly essential. Reliable bridge power solutions are critical for enabling stakeholders to expedite revenue generation and enhance the resilience of these mission-critical developments.  Users may also decide to forgoe the utility and procure a self-generated behind-the-meter permanent solution.
When considering a bridge power or self-generation behind-the-meter solution, one of the first factors to examine is the length of time from power need to utility availability. A key question arises: when can we expect the utility power to be available? Accurately assessing the length of time for which the bridge solution is required is vital in determining various other components of the power system.  A bridge power solution acts as a temporary or permanent on-site power plant for a data center, providing not only immediate energy needs but also the potential for long-term flexibility and scalability. This adaptability in both duration and equipment selection significantly accelerates the ability to respond to market demands, ensuring that the data center capacity can continue to expand to meet data storage needs.
The next critical consideration in the development of bridge or behind-the-meter power energy solutions is fuel, as it represents one of the most significant ongoing expenses for projects that operate continuously, 24/7.  Natural-gas-fueled reciprocating engine generators have been proven to be highly effective in distributed generation applications. They offer reliable power supply, straightforward maintenance procedures, and low life-cycle costs, making them an attractive option for many operators. Additionally, natural gas is widely available across most regions in the country, and its comparatively low market prices in various areas enhance the appeal of reciprocating engines, making them a cost-effective solution.  As projects extend into longer timeframes, the option to incorporate gas turbines becomes increasingly relevant. These turbines are particularly well-suited for long-term applications and can be effectively combined with reciprocating engines to optimize capacity and ensure an uninterrupted power supply. This combination allows operators to leverage the strengths of both technologies, ensuring efficiency and reliability in energy production. 
In situations where natural gas is not accessible, but the project's duration justifies the use of natural gas solutions, a virtual pipeline system can be deployed. A virtual pipeline consists of a modular approach utilizing either Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). These gases can be transported through various modes effectively bridging the gap in areas lacking direct natural gas infrastructure. The flexibility of virtual pipelines enables efficient delivery of fuel to remote sites well before a conventional pipeline is constructed.
A bridge or behind-the-meter power solution represents a substantial investment, and like any significant financial commitment, it comes with various inherent risks the project. These risks can be categorized into several areas including: technology risks, environmental permitting risks, construction risks, and financial risks.  To streamline the complexities of the project, it is advisable to collaborate with an experienced partner specializing in bridge and permanent power solutions.  The ideal partner should demonstrate a robust track record of installing and servicing comprehensive power solutions and employ a network of service technicians. These experts can offer a wide range of support, from basic planned maintenance and overhauls to detailed long-term service agreements that ensure sustained performance.  Moreover, the partner should ideally manage the entire project lifecycle, handling engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) while supplying all necessary components, including engines, generators, transformers, switchgear, fuel treatment systems, and other essential ancillary equipment.  Another crucial aspect is the partner's diverse financing capability.  This includes the ability to finance the entire infrastructure rather than just the generation equipment and to provide flexible financing programs tailored to meet unique project needs.
To address the surging demand for power, companies are actively exploring alternative generation solutions such as permanent self-generation, bridge power, and enhanced load flexibility. This examination of options underscores the urgent need for technology-agnostic strategies, highlighting the effectiveness of a holistic solutions approach. In an industry striving to expand data center capacity to meet insatiable demand, adopting these innovative solutions is essential for long-term success and competitive advantage.

Tony Grayson Breaks Down Northstar–Compass Quantum Deal for AI Data Centers

For this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, DCF Editor-in-Chief Matt Vincent and Senior Editor David Chernicoff sat down with Tony Grayson, President and General Manager of Northstar Technology Group's Enterprise and Defense unit, to unpack a strategic acquisition that’s shaking up the edge and modular data center space.
The conversation centered on Northstar’s acquisition of Compass Quantum, a company known for its rapidly deployable, composite-based modular infrastructure tailored for both enterprise and defense applications.
From Compass to Northstar: A Strategic Realignment
“We were developing a modular brand at Compass,” said Grayson. “Where Compass was building the gigawatt-scale campuses, I was building the smaller campuses using building blocks of modules—versus, you know, kind of a stick build.” That smaller-scale focus gained traction with enterprise clients, including several Fortune 50 companies, but new opportunities in the defense sector introduced regulatory friction.
“Compass is Canadian-owned, and that goes against some of the rules that the U.S. government has,” Grayson explained. “Chris Crosby was a huge supporter… he wanted to sell us so he wouldn’t hinder us from growing the company or servicing U.S. defense needs.”
Enter Northstar Technology Group, which brings a strategic partnership with Owens Corning—the manufacturer and IP holder behind Compass Quantum’s composite materials. With engineering, manufacturing, and construction capabilities now integrated under one roof, Grayson sees the acquisition as a natural fit. “Everything is now in-house instead of trying to go outside to other consultants,” he said.
AI-Ready Modulars in 5MW Increments
As hyperscale demands evolve, Grayson noted growing customer appetite for 5 megawatt modular units—mirroring the scale at which Nvidia and others are now building AI infrastructure. “You’ve seen Wade Vinson talk about it at Data Center World, and you see Jensen [Huang] talking about 5 megawatts being the line where you cross between the L2 and L3 network,” he said. “We can build in 5 megawatt increments and drop that stuff in parking lots—either as an operating lease or as a sale.”
That flexibility extends to Northstar’s channel partners, who are increasingly seeking a variety of procurement models. “Some want sales, not just leases. It gives us more freedom to do that kind of stuff,” said Grayson. “Sometimes it’s better to be lucky than good, and I feel like the timing of this couldn’t have been better for where the industry’s at right now.”
Veteran-Led Advisory Team Strengthens Defense Strategy
In addition to the materials and platform innovations, Northstar’s defense ambitions are underpinned by what Grayson describes as a “dream team” of senior military advisors. “We basically have every outgoing ‘six’—the people in charge of IT and comms for the Air Force, Marine Corps, Army, and Navy—as advisors,” he said. “Some will be coming on full time.”
These high-level advisors, many of whom retired as three-star generals, are instrumental in helping Northstar align its solutions with evolving defense requirements, particularly in distributed compute and real-time data processing.
“We’re making huge progress on the enterprise side, but the defense side is where we need to catch up,” Grayson added. “Defense globally needs distributed compute… they’re ahead of enterprise when it comes to inference platforms.”
He also highlighted Northstar’s engagement with the Navy, particularly around airborne systems. “That’s why we have the old air boss, Admiral Weitzel. He helps us with aircraft systems. These planes generate so much data, and we need advice on how best to internalize and analyze it.”
Material Advantage: Why FRP Composites Are a Game-Changer: Durability, Customization—and No Tariffs
A key differentiator for Northstar’s modular approach is its use of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites instead of traditional steel or concrete enclosures. As Grayson explained, “There’s no tariffs involved in any of this stuff. It’s all locally sourced and rather easy to get from Owens Corning.”
This material advantage extends far beyond sourcing. FRP composites allow Northstar to customize modules for specific use cases, including:
Fire resistance: Two-hour fire ratings.
Extreme weather: Withstanding 250 mph winds—Category 5 hurricanes and F5 tornadoes.
Military resilience: Ballistic protection up to 7.62mm and .50 caliber rounds.
And despite their strength, these modules are extremely lightweight—“30% lighter than aluminum,” said Grayson. “I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the picture of me holding the 15-foot I-beam. I’m a sub guy, not Army tough. I definitely couldn’t hold that up if it were steel.”

Meeting Increasing Cooling Demands in the Data Center Market with LG

Global demand for data center capacity is expected to grow between 19 and 22 percent annually through 2030, according to McKinsey & Company.  As data center capacity expands, so does the challenge of managing the heat generated by high-performance chips. This includes heat at the chip, as well as external heat rejection and room cooling. LG, a global HVAC technology leader, discusses the evolving landscape and the latest technology to ensure efficient, reliable cooling for data centers. This includes the full suite of data center cooling solutions that LG debuted at Data Center World 2025. The cutting-edge cooling technologies, including direct-to-chip, room, and chiller plant cooling capabilities, are intended to meet the challenge of increasing data center capacity head-onm helping provide reliable, energy-efficient solutions.

Digital Hub on Fortaleza: The role of Tecto and V.tal

This episode will explore how Tecto Data Centers is shaping the future of digital infrastructure in Latin America through its operations in Fortaleza, Brazil. André Busnardo, Head of Data Center Sales at Tecto, discuss why the region is considered one of the most important connectivity hubs in LATAM and how the company’s investment strategy is helping address the growing demand for reliable, neutral, and scalable infrastructure.

Are we coming up short? Navigating the Global Power Deficit

Global power deficit and solutions
 
The discussion will address the power deficit we are experiencing and how new demands for power are navigated across different regions.

Nomads at the Frontier: Nabeel Mahmood on the Future of Data Centers and Disruptive Sustainability

WASHINGTON, D.C.— At this year’s Data Center World 2025, held earlier this month at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, the halls were buzzing with what could only be described as industry sensory overload. As hyperscalers, hardware vendors, and infrastructure specialists converged on D.C., the sheer density of innovation underscored a central truth: the data center sector is in the midst of rapid, almost disorienting, expansion.
That made it the perfect setting for the latest episode in our ongoing podcast miniseries with Nomad Futurist, aptly titled Nomads at the Frontier. This time, I sat down in person with Nabeel Mahmood, co-founder and board director of the Nomad Futurist Foundation—a rare face-to-face meeting after years of remote collaboration.
“Lovely seeing you in person,” Mahmood said. “It’s brilliant to get to spend some quality time at an event that’s really started to hit its stride—especially in terms of content.”
Mahmood noted a welcome evolution in conference programming: a shift away from vendor-heavy pitches and toward deeper, mission-driven dialogue about the sector’s true challenges and future trajectory. “Events like these were getting overloaded by vendor speak,” he said. “We need to talk about core challenges, advancements, and what we’re doing to improve and move forward.”
A standout example of this renewed focus was a panel on disruptive sustainability, in which Mahmood joined representatives from Microsoft, AWS, and a former longtime lieutenant of Elon Musk’s sustainability operations. “It’s not just about e-cycling or carbon,” Mahmood emphasized. “We have to build muscle memory. We’ve got to do things for the right reasons—and start early.”
That starting point, he argued, is education—but not in the traditional sense. Instead, Mahmood called for a multi-layered approach that spans K–12, higher education, and workforce reskilling. “We’ve come out from behind the Wizard of Oz curtain,” he said. “Now we’re in the boardroom. We need to teach people not just how technology works, but why we use it—and how to design platforms with real intention.”
Mahmood’s remarks highlighted a growing consensus among forward-thinking leaders: data is no longer a support function. It is foundational. “There is no business, no government, no economy that can operate today—or in the future—without data,” he said. “So let’s measure what we do. That’s the KPI. That’s the minimum threshold.”
Drawing a memorable parallel, Mahmood compared this kind of education to swimming lessons. “Sure, you might not swim for 20 years,” he said. “But if you learned as a kid, you’ll still be able to make it back to shore.”
Inside-Out Sustainability and Building the Data Center Workforce of Tomorrow
As our conversation continued, we circled back to Mahmood’s earlier analogy of swimming as a foundational skill—like technology fluency, it stays with you for life. I joked that I could relate, recalling long-forgotten golf lessons from middle school. “I'm a terrible golfer,” I said. “But I still go out and do it. It’s muscle memory.”
“Exactly,” Mahmood replied. “There’s a social element. You’re able to enjoy it. But you still know your handicap—and that’s part of it too. You know your limits.”
Limits and possibilities are central to today’s discourse around sustainability, especially as the industry’s most powerful players—the hyperscalers—increasingly self-regulate in the absence of comprehensive mandates. I asked Mahmood whether sustainability had truly become “chapter and verse” for major cloud operators, or if it remained largely aspirational, despite high-profile initiatives.
His answer was candid.
“Yes and no,” he said. “No one's following a perfect process. There are some who use it for market optics—buying carbon credits and doing carbon accounting to claim carbon neutrality. But there are others genuinely trying to meet their own internal expectations.”
The real challenge, Mahmood noted, lies in the absence of uniform metrics and definitions around terms like “circularity” or “carbon neutrality.” In his view, too much of today’s sustainability push is “still monetarily driven… keeping shareholders happy and share value rising.”
He laid out two possible futures. “One is that the government forces us to comply—and that could create friction, because the mandates may come from people who don’t understand what our industry really needs. The other is that we educate from within, define our own standards, and eventually shape compliance bodies from the inside out.”
Among the more promising developments Mahmood cited was the work of Rob Lawson-Shanks, whose innovations in automated disassembly and robotic circularity are setting a high bar for operational sustainability. “What Rob is doing is amazing,” Mahmood said. “His interest is to give back. But we need thousands of Robs—people who understand how it works and can repurpose that knowledge back into the tech ecosystem.”
That call for deeper education led us to the second major theme of our conversation: preparing the next generation of data center professionals.
With its hands-on community initiatives, Nomad Futurist is making significant strides in that direction. Mahmood described his foundation as “connective tissue” between industry stakeholders and emerging talent, partnering with organizations like Open Compute, Infrastructure Masons, and the iMasons Climate Accord.
Earlier this year, Nomad Futurist launched an online Academy that now features five training modules, with over 200 hours of content development in the pipeline. Just as importantly, the foundation has built a community collaboration platform—native to the Academy itself—that allows learners to directly engage with content creators.
“If a student has a question and the instructor was me or someone like you, they can just ask it directly within the platform,” Mahmood explained. “It creates comfort and accessibility.”
In parallel, the foundation has beta launched a job board, in partnership with Infrastructure Masons, and is developing a career pathways platform. The goal: to create clear entry points into the data center industry for people of all backgrounds and education levels—and to help them grow once they’re in.
“Those old jobs, like the town whisperer, they don’t exist anymore,” Mahmood quipped. “Now it’s Facebook, Twitter, social media. That’s how people get jobs. So we’re adapting to that.”
By providing tools for upskilling, career matching, and community-building, Mahmood sees Nomad Futurist playing a key role in preparing the sector for the inevitable generational shift ahead. “As we start aging out of this industry over the next 10 to 20 years,” he said, “we need to give people a foundation—and a reason—to take it forward.”

From Concept to Reality: The Future of Hydrogen Fuel Cells in Data Centers

As the data center industry continues to expand, two powerful forces are reshaping the search for next-generation power solutions. First, the rapid expansion of AI, IoT, and digital transformation is significantly increasing global power demand, placing increased pressure on traditional grid systems to meet the energy needs. The International Energy Agency forecasts that electricity consumption by data centers and AI could double by 2026, adding an amount equal to the entire current electricity usage of Japan. The second force is the urgent need for a smaller environmental footprint. As energy consumption rises, the drive for decarbonization becomes more critical, making it harder for data centers to balance environmental sustainability with performance reliability.
In response to these challenges, data center leaders are looking beyond conventional solutions and exploring innovative alternatives that can meet the demands of a rapidly evolving industry. This podcast will focus on hydrogen fuel cell technology as a potential fuel source. This emerging technology has the potential to transform how data centers power their operations, providing a sustainable solution that not only helps reduce carbon emissions but also ensures reliable and scalable energy for the future.
Hydrogen fuel cells present an opportunity for data centers. Unlike traditional fossil fuel-based systems, hydrogen fuel cells generate power through an electrochemical reaction between hydrogen and oxygen, with water and heat as the only byproducts. This makes them a virtually emission-free, environmentally friendly power solution. Moreover, hydrogen fuel cells can reduce data center emissions by up to 99%, providing one of the most effective means of decarbonizing the industry. The environmental benefits are matched by their impressive efficiency, as fuel cells operate with fewer energy losses compared to traditional combustion-based systems.
In this episode, Ben Rapp, Strategic Product Development Manager at Rehlko, will explore the science behind hydrogen fuel cells, offering an overview of the key components that make them a viable power solution for data centers. He will also highlight the practical advantages of hydrogen fuel cells, particularly their ability to deliver reliable, on-demand power with minimal disruption. This episode also addresses the challenges of adopting hydrogen fuel cells, including infrastructure development, cost, and the need for a robust hydrogen distribution network.
Additionally, we talked to Ben about Rehlko’s hydrogen fuel cell project and the partnerships involved. As part of this initiative, Rehlko has collaborated with companies like Toyota to develop a 100-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell solution aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of data centers. We’ll go over the progress of this partnership and the practical steps being taken to make hydrogen fuel cells a viable and scalable power solution.
Finally, Ben will talk about his perspective on the future role of hydrogen fuel cells in data centers worldwide. With the industry facing increasing pressure to meet sustainability targets while ensuring performance reliability, hydrogen fuel cells are poised to play a critical role in the evolution of data center power systems. They offer both environmental and operational benefits that are essential for the industry’s future.
Whether used as a primary power source, backup system, or for grid stabilization, hydrogen fuel cells are poised to become a key player in the future of data center energy management.