In a collaborative effort to address the rising energy consumption challenges posed by AI and high-performance computing, Supermicro Computer, Inc., ASE Technology Holding, and Chunghwa System Integration (subsidiary of Chunghwa Telekom) have announced the establishment of Taiwan’s first new-generation water-cooled data center in Kaohsiung. This initiative aligns with the Taiwanese government’s ESG policies on energy conservation and carbon reduction.
ASE, recognized as Taiwan’s leading packaging giant, has partnered with Supermicro and Chunghwa System Integration to introduce advanced water-cooling technology and AI servers into its data centers. This technology aims to optimize research and development processes, enhance production, and provide superior customer service while significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Gao Chen-Yuan, Deputy Director of the Economic Development Bureau of the Kaohsiung City Government, expressed strong support for ASE Technology’s increased investment in Kaohsiung, which is expected to bolster local employment and industrial growth. He praised the project for its potential to save energy and reduce carbon emissions, thereby setting an exemplary standard for Kaohsiung’s burgeoning technology industry.
Supermicro, a global entity with deep roots in Taiwan, has played a pivotal role in this initiative. By integrating Supermicro’s water-cooled AI servers and energy-saving technologies, the new data center aims to lead the industry in adopting cutting-edge water-cooling solutions. This approach is expected to reduce overall energy consumption and operational costs while promoting green computing practices.
The ASE data center has incorporated Supermicro’s modular servers and comprehensive water-cooling solutions, including heat sinks, cooling distribution units (CDU), cooling distribution manifolds (CDM), and complete cooling towers. These solutions are designed to lower the data center’s temperature, reduce power consumption, and decrease total energy usage.
Li Zhengjie, Deputy General Manager of ASE Semiconductor, emphasized the company’s long-standing commitment to ESG policies. He highlighted that the new water-cooling technology will improve heat dissipation efficiency, cut down energy consumption, and minimize environmental impact. The initiative is projected to reduce ASE’s data center energy consumption by at least 20%, helping to achieve a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of less than 1.2, in line with the 2030 net-zero goal.
Li also pointed out that the enhanced AI computing power provided by the water-cooled data center will benefit smart manufacturing, engineering R&D, and operations, thereby reducing research and development time, maintaining stable quality, and accurately predicting order demand. This technology will also help reduce the carbon footprint of the product supply chain, fostering a low-carbon transformation in collaboration with value chain partners.
Wu Mingde, Chairman of Chunghwa System Integration, shared insights from over 20 years of experience in the ICT industry. He noted that this project integrates ICT application technology, energy management, and computer room maintenance, combined with high-speed computing servers and advanced water-cooling solutions. This heterogeneous integrated solution aims to address the high energy consumption issue and improve PUE performance indicators for their clients.
The establishment of this innovative data center marks a significant step towards sustainable and efficient computing, demonstrating a robust commitment to technological advancement and environmental stewardship. This collaboration not only positions Kaohsiung as a leader in green technology but also sets a benchmark for future developments in the semiconductor and data center industries.
