When an enterprise requires cloud infrastructure, it typically partners with a hyperscaler like Amazon or Microsoft. But as enterprises scale their Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads and face sovereign AI pressures, neoclouds are disrupting the compute supply chain.
Lenovo’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) capabilities were on full display at the 2025 Global Industry Analyst Conference (GIAC) in Raleigh, North Carolina. ABI Research analysts Leo Gergs and Paul Schell made the trip across the pond from Europe to assess Lenovo’s innovative AI strategy.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) workloads demand significant computing resources, necessitating enterprises to partner with reliable cloud service providers. Hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and Google dominate the market with a more than 60% share. However, enterprises now require more custom cloud solutions tailored to their region and specific business outcomes.
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market continues to heat up, with tech juggernauts and emergent startups alike constantly innovating to accommodate new enterprise demands. AMD is one company that is privy to evolving market trends. At its Advancing AI 2025 event in San Jose, California, AMD unveiled new chips, system designs, and partnerships aimed at grabbing more of the AI compute market. Beyond the hardware and software upgrades, a recurring theme at the event was the expanding client list of neocloud providers. While neoclouds have enjoyed recent traction in the AI space, several roadblocks lie ahead before long-term success is a sure thing.
Data centers are the backbone of our digital age, but increasing compute demands from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and high-density racks make cooling a critical challenge. For example, data centers are forecast to double their annual energy consumption by 2030. ABI Research’s latest study ranks the top data center cooling companies, identifying leaders in delivering the best cooling systems with innovative thermal management solutions. From liquid cooling to digital oversight, these firms have demonstrated superior heat mitigation capabilities for data center operators around the world.
Table 1: Comparing the Top Data Center Cooling Companies
| Company Name |
Score (out of 100) |
Standout Features |
Strengths |
Best For (Who Would Be Interested?) |
| Vertiv |
81.1 |
Liebert range with free cooling, Vertiv 360AI, digital twin BMS integration, CoolTera acquisition, circular economy strategy |
Broad cooling portfolio (air + liquid), AI-ready with NVIDIA/Intel, ESG leadership, localized supply chain, strong onboarding, robust diagnostics and service |
Hyperscalers and colocation providers seeking full-stack, AI-optimized, sustainable cooling and integrated monitoring |
| Johnson Controls |
79.8 |
YORK chillers, Silent-Aire hyperscale cooling, OpenBlue software, Global DC Solutions org |
Long HVAC legacy, integrated services from design to maintenance, emission reduction ahead of target, strong retrofit and flexibility offerings |
Operators seeking mature, scalable solutions for multi-site operations with a focus on energy efficiency and lifecycle value |
| Schneider Electric |
74.1 |
EcoStruxure + DCIM 3.0, Motivair acquisition, modular builds, NVIDIA + NTT partnerships |
Cooling-agnostic and modular, liquid cooling for HPC, strong global footprint, software integration, strong edge and AI partnerships |
Enterprises or edge facilities prioritizing flexible deployment, global support, and AI-readiness |
| Daikin |
73.3 |
CRAH units, AHRI-standard chillers, Daikin on Site monitoring, L∞P circular economy program |
Strong air cooling, real-time monitoring, reclaimed refrigerant leadership, U.S. manufacturing expansion |
Data centers favoring standard-compliant air cooling with strong monitoring and circular economy capabilities |
| Trane |
71.1 |
TRACE®, myPLV®, myCO2e™ software tools, LiquidStack immersion cooling, Autodesk partnership |
High-efficiency HVAC, predictive software tools, circular service program, design-optimized solutions for engineers |
Facility managers and engineers focused on simulation-led design, performance optimization, and circular maintenance |
| Danfoss |
68.3 |
End-to-end cooling incl. direct-to-chip, Leanheat software, heat reuse, Net Zero Innovation Hub partnerships |
Proven PUE improvements, long-standing liquid cooling R&D, strong in North America + EU, small footprint modular products, IBM/HPE/Siemens collaborations |
Operators seeking liquid cooling innovations, heat reuse, and small-footprint efficiency |
Recent Research on Data Center Cooling
Electricity consumption in data centers poses one of the biggest decarbonization challenges of our time. On one hand, there is a huge demand for energy-guzzling applications within the Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen AI) and cloud computing domains. On the other hand, cloud AI technologies require an unprecedented amount of power to run.
By the end of 2025, there will be 6,111 public data centers worldwide—5,544 colocation sites and 567 hyperscale sites. Asia-Pacific has the highest concentration of data center locations, with Europe and North America following. ABI Research anticipates 8,378 data centers will be in operation by 2030.