Colombia faces power, cooling and talent challenges as data centers expand
The expansion of data centers in Colombia faces a technical challenge: adapting power capacity, cooling systems and talent availability to meet the demands of new artificial intelligence workloads.
Colombia has more than 20 data centers in operation, with projected and operational installed capacity exceeding 100 MW. Although the country ranks as the third-largest market in the Andean region and South America, it still trails Chile, which exceeds 250 MW, and Brazil, which is approaching 900 MW.
The growth of cloud computing and artificial intelligence is driving the expansion of digital infrastructure in the country. To advance toward larger-scale projects, Colombia needs to expand its power capacity, adapt cooling systems and develop specialized talent.
The concentration of data centers.
This scenario is part of a regional transformation that, according to Luis Santamaría, Cloud Service Providers segment leader at Schneider Electric, represents “one of the largest expansions of digital infrastructure in history.”
Latin America is beginning to establish itself as a strategic destination for investments related to these technologies.
Bogotá and its surrounding areas account for more than 70% of the country’s installed data center capacity. Municipalities in the Sabana region, such as Cota, Tenjo and Tocancipá, host a large share of the country’s larger-scale infrastructure, benefiting from land availability, industrial parks and access to medium- and high-voltage power grids. Emerging hubs in Medellín and along the Caribbean Coast are also contributing to this concentration.
The capacity to expand this infrastructure will become increasingly important as artificial intelligence workloads grow. These workloads are more variable, require higher levels of power and demand more advanced cooling systems.
Processing density is also changing. While traditional racks operated at around 10 kW, new installations exceed 50 kW and, in some cases, reach 100 kW. Data center planning must therefore account from the outset for power capacity, cooling requirements and opportunities for future expansion.
Energy and cooling challenges.
One of the main challenges is developing electrical infrastructure capable of supporting these higher processing densities. The challenge extends beyond power generation to include electricity transmission and distribution.
“We mainly see challenges in energy, not only from the standpoint of generation, but also in electricity transmission and distribution,” says Santamaría.
Meeting energy requirements also calls for training specialists who can design and operate these new architectures. The shortage of specialized talent is another challenge for the development of digital infrastructure across the region.
Cooling systems must also adapt to these new workloads. Liquid cooling systems will play an increasingly important role in artificial intelligence operations, although their adoption will depend on the characteristics and growth projections of each data center.
Planning for AI.
New projects must integrate power, cooling and technological infrastructure from the design stage to ensure that none of these components limits future expansion.
Efficiency is also becoming increasingly important. According to Santamaría:
“The only way for artificial intelligence to scale sustainably is by building increasingly efficient infrastructure. Sustainability is no longer an add-on; today, it is a design requirement.”
For Colombia, the challenge is to combine its strategic location, domestic demand and availability of industrial parks with an adequate and reliable energy supply, adaptable cooling technologies and specialized personnel.
Revenue in Colombia’s data center market is projected to exceed US$450 million by the end of the decade. The sector’s growth will depend not only on the construction of new facilities but also on the ability to develop infrastructure that meets the demands of the digital economy and the growth of artificial intelligence.
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