Salute launches direct-to-chip liquid cooling service for data center AI operations

Salute has announced the launch of a comprehensive direct-to-chip (DTC) liquid cooling operational service, designed specifically for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing (HPC) environments in data centers. Introduced at NVIDIA GTC Washington DC, the service aims to address the technical and safety risks associated with high-density, liquid-based operations and claims to be the industry’s first offering of its kind.

According to Salute, DTC liquid cooling is essential for AI and HPC workloads due to their significant power densities, but it introduces operational hazards such as leak risks, equipment damage from thermal spikes, and potential downtime. To address these issues, Salute’s service offers technical solutions including:

Facility-specific design and operational assessments to create customized models.
Commissioning support for system optimization in AI/HPC operations.
An evolving library of DTC liquid cooling best practices, continuously updated through partnerships with chip and cooling vendors, chemistry manufacturers, distributors, and major operators deploying AI workloads.
Standardized operational procedures (EOPs, MOPs, SOPs) covering chemistry management, leak management, safety protocols, pump management, and risk mitigation, authored by experts with experience in supercomputing.
A training program comprising on-site, online, and lab-based certification for operations teams managing DTC liquid systems.
Scalable operational solutions to help operators expand teams and support large-scale AI/HPC environments.

Salute reports that leading data center operators—including Applied Digital, Compass Datacenters, and SDC—have already adopted the model to support DTC liquid operations in their AI offerings. Salute says the service will support an estimated 260 megawatts (MW) of data center capacity in the near term, projected to grow to 3,300 MW by the end of 2027.

“Salute has achieved a long list of industry firsts that have made us an indispensable partner for 80% of companies in the data center industry. This first-of-its-kind DTC liquid cooling service is a major new milestone for our industry that solves complex operational challenges for every company making major investments in AI/HPC,” said Erich Sanchack, CEO at Salute.

“This service has already proven to be a game changer for the many data center service providers who partnered with us as early adopters,” said John Shultz, Chief Product Officer AI and Learning Officer for Salute. “By successfully mitigating the risks of DTC liquid cooling, Salute is enabling these companies to rapidly expand their AI/HPC operations to meet customer demand. These companies will rely on this service from Salute to support an estimated 260 MW of data center capacity in the coming months and will expand that to an estimated 3,300 MW of additional data center capacity by the end of 2027. This is an enormous validation of the impact of our service on their ability to scale. Now other companies can benefit from this service to protect their investments in AI.”

Data center operators can find additional technical details and request information about the service at Salute’s AI hub.