Jake Roberts, CCO, Excool: Raised Temperatures, Reduced PUE & the Efficiency Gains Hiding in Plain Sight
Release Date: 01/28/2026
Jake Roberts, CCO, Excool: Raised Temperatures, Reduced PUE & the Efficiency Gains Hiding in Plain Sight
Cooling Data Center Podcast
What if the biggest barrier to liquid cooling efficiency isn't the technology itself, but the legacy thinking that's keeping temperatures unnecessarily low? In this episode, Jake Roberts of Excool joins Robert for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to deliver cooling solutions across global markets, and why the data centre industry's conservative approach might be leaving serious efficiency gains on the table. From retrofitting existing facilities without ripping out infrastructure to challenging assumptions about water use in cooling, Jake brings practical...
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Cassandra Zentner, actnano: Automotive-Grade Protection – The Missing Piece in Direct Liquid Cooling
Cooling Data Center Podcast
What if the biggest barrier to liquid cooling adoption isn't the technology - it's just protecting against what happens when things go wrong? In this episode, Cassandra Zentner of Actnano joins Robert for a refreshingly practical conversation that strips away the idealism and gets to the heart of why protection matters just as much as prevention - and why automotive-grade coating technology is already more relevant than most people realise. From her decade protecting Tesla and Rivian autonomous driving systems to bringing 15-20 year warranty-grade protection to data centers, Cassandra brings...
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Allison Boen, Alcatex & OCP: Breaking Down Barriers- The Human Side of Single-Phase Immersion Cooling
Cooling Data Center Podcast
What if the biggest barrier to immersion cooling isn't technical - it's just understanding what it actually is? In this episode, Allison Boen of Alcatex and the Open Compute Project joins Robert for a warmly authentic conversation that strips away the jargon and gets to the heart of why single-phase immersion cooling matters - and why it's already more deployed than most people realise. From her 30-year journey as a self-described "CRAC dealer" (computer room air conditioner specialist) to becoming Shell's Brand Ambassador and OCP's immersion community champion, Allison brings infectious...
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Dave Wolfenden, Heat Load: From Wang Computers to 120MW - Three Decades of Data Centre Testing Evolution
Cooling Data Center Podcast
What happens when you've been testing data centres since before "data centre" was even a term? In this episode, Dave Wolfenden of Heat Load joins Robert to trace an extraordinary journey from COBOL programming at Heathrow Airport to becoming one of the UK's pioneering data centre commissioning specialists. Starting with Argos heaters and 500kW of rack-mounted units delivered in transit vans, Heat Load has evolved to deploy up to 120MW of testing equipment across 10 articulated lorries. Dave shares candid insights from over three decades in the industry - from the early days of chaotic rack...
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Maarten Trautmann, Oleon: Plant-Based Fluids, Energy Reuse & the Liquid Cooling Opportunity Europe’s Missing
Cooling Data Center Podcast
What if we could decarbonise IT… by rethinking the liquid? In this episode, Maarten Trautmann of Oleon joins Robert to unpack why plant-based dielectric fluids aren’t just a greener alternative - they may be the key to unlocking waterless, sustainable cooling at the edge, at scale, and across Europe. From his early fascination with Ireland to leading Oleon's charge into liquid cooling, Maarten shares how Oleon's biodegradable, non-toxic fluids are offering a credible path to closed-loop cooling, heat reuse, and decarbonisation - without compromising performance. Together, they dive into: ...
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Dr. Richard Bonner, CTO at Accelsius: The Two-Phase Cooling Revolution for AI-Driven Data Centers
Cooling Data Center Podcast
Two-phase cooling isn’t new - but it’s never been more needed. In this episode, Dr. Richard Bonner of Accelsius joins Robert to unpack how a decades-old thermal principle, once used in industrial processes, is being reimagined to meet the explosive demands of AI and high-power GPUs. They explore Accelsius’ patented two-phase cold plate technology - originally developed at Bell Labs - and how it’s being commercialised to deliver unmatched reliability, redundancy, and sustainability. From N+1 pump systems to the role of two-phase in future data center architectures, this episode covers...
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Craig MacFadyen Returns: Inside OCP, Innovation Theatre, and What’s Really Coming Next for Cooling
Cooling Data Center Podcast
Craig MacFadyen is back on the podcast - this time fresh from the floor of the OCP Global Summit in Dublin. In this episode, Craig and Robert dig into the real conversations happening around liquid cooling, hyperscaler expectations, and whether the data center world is preparing for a future that hasn’t quite arrived yet. From CDUs and 500kW rack forecasts to the tension between innovation and affordability, they tackle the practical, the political, and the philosophical challenges facing data center cooling in 2025. Craig also shares his perspective on startup tech, smarter not newer...
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Ryan Scott, CTO at DNA Behavior: AI, Behavioural Data, and the Future of Decentralised Intelligence
Cooling Data Center Podcast
Is AI truly revolutionising the way we understand clients and employees? Or is it just another buzzword being tossed around? In this episode, Ryan Scott, Chief Technology Officer at DNA Behavior, joins me to break down the real-world impact of AI in behavioural data analytics. We dive into how DNA Behavior is leveraging AI to predict client behaviour with 70% accuracy - without even requiring a questionnaire. Ryan and I explore the shift towards decentralised AI, the challenges of integrating AI-driven insights into enterprise workflows, and the ethical dilemmas of AI-powered sales...
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HOT TAKE: Microsoft’s Data Center U-Turn – What’s Behind the Shift?
Cooling Data Center Podcast
🚨 Microsoft is making waves in the data center world – but not in the way you’d expect. The tech giant has canceled multiple U.S. data center leases, scaled back international expansion, and reallocated billions in AI spending—but why? In this quick Hot Take, we break down: - Microsoft’s shifting AI and cloud strategy – is this a cost-saving pivot or something bigger? Pre-committed global data center investments getting cut – what’s behind the sudden change? Is AI infrastructure spending slowing down? Or is this a strategic retreat? Apple stepping in – are they about to...
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HOT TAKE: France, UAE, and the Billion-Dollar AI Bet – A New Power Player Emerges?
Cooling Data Center Podcast
France and the UAE are making waves with a $30-$50 billion investment in a 1-gigawatt AI data center—but why now, and why Europe? 🇫🇷🇦🇪 With France offering 35 potential sites and the UAE backing the deal, this move signals a shift in AI dominance beyond the US and China. Could this mark the start of Europe’s AI infrastructure revolution? And what does this mean for global AI competition? 🎙️ Listen now to hear our take on this game-changing alliance and what it means for the future of AI and data centers. 👉 Join the conversation on LinkedIn:
info_outlineWhat if the biggest barrier to liquid cooling efficiency isn't the technology itself, but the legacy thinking that's keeping temperatures unnecessarily low?
In this episode, Jake Roberts of Excool joins Robert for a refreshingly honest conversation about what it really takes to deliver cooling solutions across global markets, and why the data centre industry's conservative approach might be leaving serious efficiency gains on the table.
From retrofitting existing facilities without ripping out infrastructure to challenging assumptions about water use in cooling, Jake brings practical engineering insight to an industry still debating whether to raise chip temperatures above 20 degrees Celsius.
Together, they explore:
· Why retrofitting for liquid cooling doesn't have to mean reinventing the wheel or running chilled water everywhere
· The real efficiency cost of running entire chiller plants at 18 degrees just to handle 20-30% of airside load
· How indirect cooling units can decouple airside and liquid cooling temperatures for better PUE
· Why NVIDIA's push toward 45 degree facility water loops could eliminate the need for water chillers entirely
· The nuanced truth about water use: why a little adiabatic cooling on peak days beats moving the problem to power stations
· How West Midlands manufacturing heritage enables rapid, bespoke delivery to global markets
· What speed to market really means when customers need solutions in expedited timelines
If you've ever wondered whether your cooling design philosophy is leaving stranded power on the table, or wanted someone to explain retrofit options without assuming you're starting from scratch, Jake delivers straight talk with engineering credibility. His insight? Pushing temperatures up has such a positive effect on the industry, from sustainability through to cost efficiency, and the ROI on reduced peak PUE is immediate.