Making the impossible, possible: The design innovations shaping Australian data centres

There’s a scene in the final Mission Impossible film that takes place in the world’s most secure data centre. It’s hidden deep underground, off the grid, and built to survive Armageddon. Hollywood likes to exaggerate, but it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.

Today’s data centres face growing challenges—from cyberattacks and climate risk to power shortages and performance demands. What once sounded like fiction is now part of the design brief.

As the demand for data grows, data centres are becoming mission-critical infrastructure. The challenge is building Australian data centres that are denser, cleaner, more resilient. And we need to do it faster than ever.

Here, we explore how three innovations in data centre design are making the impossible possible. We will look at

• Modular design
• Liquid cooling
• AI-powered optimisation

Data centre construction: Beating the clock with modular design

In the race to meet the demand for Australian data centres, speed to market is everything. 

But key components—like chillers, generators, and transformers—often take up to a year to arrive. That can put real pressure on traditional builds.

That’s where modular construction comes in. Long lead equipment (LLE) is built off-site while detailed design and on-site construction get underway. This overlap can cut delivery time by as much as 30 percent.

But modular construction only works with the right mindset. Designers must plan for it from day one—standardising layouts and locking in LLE early. This upfront coordination is what enables fast, flexible delivery later.

But it’s about more than speed. Modular construction also delivers consistency. Factory assembly makes for tighter quality control, reduces on-site issues, and results in more reliable builds. Those are all essential for mission-critical infrastructure.

It also enables faster deployment in regional and remote areas. Prefabricated modules arrive ready to install, even where skilled labour is limited. 

And it’s not just faster. Modular construction also reduces waste and embodied carbon. It helps Australian data centres meet their sustainability goals.

Liquid cooling technology: Staying cool under pressure

Once a data centre comes online, the next big challenge presents itself: keeping it cool.

Data centres get hot. Really hot. And AI workloads make them even hotter. 

Running AI models takes massive amounts of computing power. As rack density rises—sometimes past 100 kilowatts per rack—air cooling can’t keep up.

That’s why liquid cooling is even more essential in Australian data centres. Liquids move heat far more efficiently than air, which allows systems to run harder without overheating. That’s why liquid cooling is becoming the standard for high-density, AI-driven environments.

There are several types of liquid cooling in use today. Direct-to-chip systems cool processors directly. Liquid immersion cooling submerges hardware in nonconductive fluid. Both work better than traditional air systems.

Liquid cooling can also make facilities greener. By capturing and reusing waste heat, data centres cut energy loss. For example, at the Paris Olympics recovered heat from one data centre was used to warm the swimming pool—just one way liquid cooling is a more sustainable option for cooling data centres.

AI-powered optimisation: The new normal for Australian data centres

When data becomes mission-critical, there’s no room for guesswork or downtime. Keeping facilities running 24/7 under AI-scale loads takes smarter control.

That’s why the smartest operators are turning to AI to manage complexity and risk. Predictive analytics and digital twins are now essential tools in the control room. 

A digital twin is a live, virtual model of the data centre’s core systems—cooling, power, airflow, and beyond.

Design teams use digital twins early to test performance in different scenarios. Once the facility is built, the same model is used to check and optimise real-world performance. This helps fine-tune energy use, improve thermal management, predict failures, and make smarter decisions about how the facility interacts with the grid.

Operators of Australian data centres are also starting to use grid‑interactive uninterruptible power supply systems. These backup units talk directly to the grid. They can switch to on‑site reserves during peak demand. That reduces grid pressure and improves uptime through frequency response and peak shaving.

By optimising energy and water use in real time, digital twins also support predictive maintenance. They move operators beyond power usage effectiveness as a single benchmark. They add insight into water use, carbon use, and embodied carbon. That means a more complete picture of overall sustainability.