Imperial College and Digital Realty Launch UK's First Direct Liquid-Cooled AI Deployment
Imperial College London has teamed up with Digital Realty to launch the UK's first direct liquid-cooled AI deployment at the Woking data center, utilizing Lenovo's technology to enhance computing performance while reducing energy consumption. This high-performance computing platform will enable researchers to train larger AI models and improve data-intensive simulations, advancing fields such as drug discovery and climate modeling. The project, part of the ICICLE initiative, reflects the growing need for advanced digital infrastructure in research.

Imperial College London has partnered with Digital Realty to implement the UK's first direct liquid-cooled AI deployment at Digital Realty's Woking data center. The high-performance computing (HPC) platform utilizes direct liquid-cooling technology from Lenovo, enabling higher compute performance per rack while reducing energy consumption.
This infrastructure will allow researchers at Imperial to train larger, more complex AI models and enhance data-intensive simulations. The project aims to accelerate advancements in various fields, including drug discovery and climate modeling.
The contract was signed in July 2025, with the operational environment completed by the end of the year. This initiative expands on the Imperial College Intel Corporation Lenovo (ICICLE) project, highlighting the importance of advanced digital infrastructure for research.




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