Johnson Controls Targets Australia’s Data Centre Cooling
Johnson Controls has announced the expansion of its YORK YVAM air-cooled magnetic bearing chiller into the Australian market.
As data centre investment accelerates across the country, the company is positioning its high-efficiency chiller as a solution for both hyperscale and colocation sites looking to boost sustainability and cooling performance.
The chiller arrives as Australia faces increased pressure to expand digital infrastructure.
With AI, cloud services and enterprise workloads growing rapidly, operators are turning to more energy-efficient and climate-adapted solutions.
Craig Buettel, General Manager of Buildings for the Pacific at Johnson Controls, says the YVAM system is well-suited to address these challenges.
“Australia is experiencing significant growth in demand for data centres, driven by the rising need for data storage and management and the rapid adoption of AI and cloud services,” Craig says.
"To meet these evolving demands, data centre operators are increasingly seeking advanced cooling technologies that maximise efficiency and minimise resource consumption, even when operating in high temperatures.
“The YORK YVAM chiller is designed to address these challenges, offering unmatched energy savings, zero on-site water usage and operational flexibility – making it an ideal choice for Australia's dynamic data centre landscape.”
Thermal performance in extreme environments
The YVAM air-cooled chiller has been engineered to operate in ambient conditions ranging from -29°C to 55°C, ensuring year-round reliability in Australia’s varied climate zones.
It supports a wide range of chilled water outputs, from 15°C to 32°C, giving operators flexibility to pair the system with different cooling technologies.
These include cold air aisle containment, direct-to-chip liquid cooling and full immersion cooling.
With a design optimised for the R-1234ze refrigerant, which features an ultra-low Global Warming Potential (GWP), YVAM helps data centres improve environmental performance.
Johnson Controls claims it enables a 20% reduction in chiller contribution to Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) compared with traditional magnetic bearing systems.
The system also supports high-density applications, including AI workloads, with its ability to deliver Leaving Chilled Water Temperatures (LCHWT) of up to 32°C.
Its magnetic bearing design eliminates the need for oil-based lubrication, contributing to more efficient operation and reduced maintenance.
Zero water usage and enhanced cooling
In contrast to many traditional chillers that depend on evaporative cooling and consume large volumes of water, YVAM meets water conservation goals by operating without any on-site water usage.
This directly supports Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) targets, particularly in regions where drought conditions or water costs are increasing.
Additional technical benefits include low acoustic output – measured at 65 dBA from 10 metres – which makes the chiller suitable for urban locations with strict noise requirements.
The unit features Quick Start technology, resuming full load operation within three minutes of a power interruption, and Inverted Temperature Operation for free cooling without added coils.
For serviceability, the unit offers a simplified and flexible platform, reducing time on maintenance tasks and increasing uptime for critical operations.
Supporting growth in digital infrastructure
Johnson Controls says this launch is part of a wider commitment to serve Australia’s fast-growing digital infrastructure market.
The company offers a full portfolio of solutions tailored to hyperscale and colocation environments, including water-cooled chillers, air handling units, fire protection, building automation and digital services.
In June 2024, the company launched its Global Data Centre Solutions business unit to meet increasing demand and shorten lead times across key regions.
This global structure gives Johnson Controls the ability to deliver centralised service quality while adapting to local market requirements across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific.
“The YVAM chiller’s advanced design and efficiency will greatly enhance data centre thermal management in Australia,” Craig adds.
“With a strong track record in North America, Europe and Middle East, we are now bringing this next generation technology to Australia to help data centres scale efficiently and sustainably.”
Johnson Controls celebrates its 140th anniversary in 2025, marking a history of innovation across building technologies and critical infrastructure.
The company continues to develop smart, healthy and sustainable systems that meet the evolving needs of the data centre sector.
