The Data Center Frontier Executive Roundtable features insights from industry executives with lengthy experience in the data center industry. Here’s a look at the insights from Patrick McGinn, Chief Operating Officer at CoolIT Systems.
Patrick McGinn is the Chief Operating Officer at CoolIT Systems, overseeing the company’s marketing, sales, product development, engineering, supply chain, and manufacturing. Since joining CoolIT in 2012, Patrick has held various leadership roles, significantly contributing to the company’s growth in the data center cooling market.
Under Patrick’s leadership, CoolIT has solidified its position as the global market share leader in direct liquid cooling. His team is deeply involved in advanced technology research and new market analysis, areas that Patrick finds particularly exciting and vital for the company’s future.
Patrick is a visionary leader who believes in the power of fostering a dynamic culture, nurturing talented teams, and pursuing innovative strategies. His dedication to these principles ensures that CoolIT remains on a robust growth trajectory in the years ahead.
Data Center Frontier: As we close out the Fourth Quarter of 2024, how do you see regulatory and public pressures shaping the data center industry's ambitions vs. its realities?
Pat McGinn, CoolIT: The data center industry has ambitious goals to meet escalating demands for capacity and performance, but regulatory and public pressures are redefining how these ambitions are realized.
Increasingly stringent environmental standards, combined with heightened expectations for energy efficiency and water conservation, are challenging operators to balance growth with sustainability.
These pressures are not merely constraints—they are catalysts for innovation.
As the industry continues to align with global sustainability goals, we see operators adopting advanced cooling and energy efficiency technologies, rethinking site selection strategies, and collaborating with renewable energy providers to reduce environmental impact.
However, the gap between ambition and reality remains significant.
Achieving high-density deployments while adhering to stricter regulatory requirements will require not only technological advancements but also greater collaboration across stakeholders, transparency in reporting, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
Data Center Frontier: To what degree is data center site selection the North Star for construction and development stakeholders in terms of guiding decisions on power and cooling infrastructure?
Pat McGinn, CoolIT: Site selection is a critical determinant in shaping the design and infrastructure of modern data centers. Beyond proximity to power sources and reliable cooling, site selection now incorporates considerations like regional sustainability policies, access to renewable energy, and environmental impact.
Increasingly, the industry is prioritizing sites in regions with favorable climates for natural cooling or abundant renewable energy sources, as these choices align with both operational efficiency and sustainability goals. However, emerging technologies such as liquid cooling and heat reuse are enabling greater flexibility, allowing operators to consider locations that may not have been viable under traditional cooling models.
For the industry, the challenge is finding balance—leveraging technology to optimize site potential while ensuring scalability and sustainability. As we look to the future, site selection will continue to be guided by evolving energy markets, regulatory frameworks, and the need for geographic diversity to support a global digital infrastructure.
Data Center Frontier: What are the most pivotal sustainability considerations and actions for colocation and hyperscale data centers headed into 2025?
Pat McGinn, CoolIT: Sustainability is no longer a secondary concern—it is a core driver of strategy for colocation and hyperscale data centers heading into 2025. Among the most critical considerations are energy efficiency, water conservation, and resource optimization.
Energy efficiency remains paramount as data centers strive to meet both rising power demands and stringent carbon reduction targets. Water conservation is equally pressing, especially as facilities expand into water-stressed regions where traditional cooling methods face growing scrutiny.
Furthermore, the adoption of circular economy principles, including the repurposing of hardware and waste reduction, will play a growing role in advancing sustainability efforts.
As sustainability pressures intensify, the industry must also focus on systemic approaches—integrating renewable energy, leveraging data for operational efficiency, and engaging in cross-sector collaboration.
These actions are not just about meeting regulations; they are about future-proofing data center operations against environmental and economic risks.
Data Center Frontier: From your perspective, how is the massive build-out of AI infrastructure and its associated power demand impacting prospects for future data center investment and planning?
Pat McGinn, CoolIT: The rapid build-out of AI infrastructure is fundamentally reshaping the data center industry. AI workloads demand unprecedented power densities and advanced cooling solutions, placing immense pressure on existing infrastructure and driving a re-evaluation of investment priorities. From a planning perspective, operators are increasingly focusing on scalable, energy-efficient cooling technologies and renewable energy integration to meet these growing demands. However, the challenges extend beyond infrastructure: AI’s growth necessitates more robust site selection strategies, closer collaboration across supply chains, and future-proofing investments to adapt to the unpredictable pace of technological advancement.
As the industry invests in AI infrastructure, it must also navigate broader considerations—ensuring sustainability, aligning with regulatory requirements, and balancing short-term needs with long-term resilience. This period of transformation presents an opportunity for data centers to redefine their role as enablers of innovation while maintaining a steadfast commitment to environmental responsibility.
Matt Vincent
A B2B technology journalist and editor with more than two decades of experience, Matt Vincent is Editor in Chief of Data Center Frontier.
