Data Centre Uncut

Cloud infrastructure may appear seamless to the people using it, but behind every digital service sits an enormous physical network of data centres, power systems, cooling infrastructure and people.In Episode 15 of Data Centre Uncut, Colm MacCárthaigh, Vice President and Distinguished Engineer at Amazon Web Services (AWS), explores what it takes to build and operate digital infrastructure at hyperscale.Drawing on a career spanning network engineering, systems engineering, software development and data centre infrastructure, Colm discusses the evolution of AWS, the physical logistics behind cloud computing and how infrastructure has changed to support increasingly demanding workloads.From edge computing and liquid cooling to unprecedented AI demand and growing pressure on electricity supply, Colm explains why the next phase of infrastructure will require operators to prioritise efficiency, consistency and, above all, agility.

Data centres have moved from a largely unseen part of digital infrastructure to an industry firmly in the public spotlight. AI growth, rising energy demand, investment and government interest mean the sector is receiving more attention than ever – but public understanding has not necessarily kept pace.In Episode 14 of Data Centre Uncut, Rory Flashman-Wells, Director at Spa Communications and member of the techUK Data Centre Council, explores how the industry can communicate its importance more effectively. Drawing on more than a decade working in data centre communications, Rory discusses changing public perceptions, the UK's recognition of data centres as Critical National Infrastructure and why education needs to become a greater priority for the sector.From National Data Centre Day and community engagement to schools, skills and future career pathways, Rory examines why the industry needs to make data centres relevant to the people whose everyday digital lives depend on them.

Power is rapidly becoming one of the defining constraints on AI infrastructure growth. While demand for compute can increase almost overnight, new power generation and transmission infrastructure can still take years to develop.In this episode, energy infrastructure expert Andrii Garanin explores why the electricity grid is struggling to keep pace with AI. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience across solar, wind, gas, storage and large-scale energy infrastructure, he discusses the growing disconnect between the speed of data centre development and the infrastructure required to power it.From interconnection queues and flexible demand to battery storage and grid-interactive data centres, Andrii examines how operators can rethink their relationship with power as AI drives increasingly intensive and unpredictable workloads.

AI is transforming the scale and complexity of data centre infrastructure. What were once individual data centre projects are becoming AI factories measured in hundreds of megawatts and even gigawatts, creating new challenges around power, GPUs, networking, cooling and talent.In Episode 12 of Data Centre Uncut, Blaine Daws, Co-Founder and Solutions Director at Wanted, explores what it takes to build and scale the physical infrastructure behind AI. Having worked within the NVIDIA ecosystem and supported major European AI infrastructure projects, Blaine discusses how the industry has evolved alongside accelerated computing.From sovereign AI and gigawatt-scale campuses to supply chain constraints and specialist talent shortages, Blaine examines why successful AI infrastructure requires more than capital. He also explores the growing role of liquid cooling and automation as AI factories continue to scale.

AI is driving unprecedented demand for computing power, creating new challenges for data centre operators tasked with managing increasingly dense infrastructure. As thermal limitations become a critical constraint, liquid cooling is moving from an emerging technology to a key consideration for the next generation of data centres.In Episode 11 of Data Centre Uncut, Aida Elbouanani, Business Development Director for Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Castrol, explores how thermal management is evolving to support AI infrastructure. Drawing on her technical and commercial experience, Aida discusses Castrol’s move into data centre cooling, the role of direct-to-chip and immersion technologies and why industry collaboration is essential for scaling deployment.