Why Imperial College has Partnered With Digital Realty

Imperial College London launches the UK’s first direct liquid-cooled (DLC), HPC system in a live data centre, selecting Digital Realty’s Woking facility to host the platform. 

The new installation supports AI model training, large-scale simulations and research across multiple scientific fields.

Digital Realty’s data centre provides the infrastructure needed to support this system, using Lenovo’s DLC technology to increase compute density while cutting energy consumption. 

This helps Imperial meet sustainability goals and scale performance for next-generation research.

AI-ready infrastructure for research expansion

The deployment forms part of Imperial’s long-term strategy to strengthen its Tier 3 HPC environment. 

The platform supports research in AI, climate science, healthcare and engineering, enabling more complex workloads and faster discoveries.

It builds on the ICICLE (Imperial College Intel Corporation Lenovo) initiative, which set out a vision for efficient, high-performance computing. 

That vision is now in operation at scale through a partnership combining purpose-built facilities with advanced cooling systems.

Researchers working in areas such as drug discovery, robotics, climate modelling and materials science will benefit from the improved performance. 

The new system shortens time between research and application, supporting data-intensive simulations and advanced AI model training.

Séamus Dunne, Managing Director, UK & Ireland, Digital Realty, says “This deployment demonstrates what can be achieved when leading academic institutions, a global technology powerhouse and digital infrastructure providers work closely together. 

“Imperial’s research ambitions require an environment designed for extreme performance, resilience and sustainability and we are proud to provide that platform at our Woking data centre.

"Together, we are helping to create the technical foundations needed for the next generation of AI discovery in the UK.”

Direct liquid cooling helps manage energy and scale

Direct liquid cooling is a method that removes heat from components like processors using liquid instead of air. It is essential for supporting the high thermal output of modern HPC and AI systems.

The technology allows greater computing power per rack, while helping Imperial reduce its environmental footprint. The system at Woking is supplied by Lenovo and supports higher density performance while controlling power usage.

Kate Steele, Director of HPC, Lenovo EMEA, says: “Direct liquid cooling is becoming essential for modern AI and HPC systems, where performance and sustainability must go hand in hand. 

“We’re pleased to support this collaboration by providing a solution designed specifically for these intensive workloads, helping Imperial’s researchers unlock new possibilities while reducing the environmental footprint of high-performance computing.”

By using an AI-ready facility, the university ensures its infrastructure can meet growing demand. 

The Woking data centre is built to handle high-density deployments, with power and cooling capabilities designed for workloads that require speed, efficiency and security.

Deployment completed on fast-track schedule

The project moves from contract to live operation in under six months. Imperial signs the agreement in July 2025 and the system goes live in the fourth quarter. 

Digital Realty handles floor reinforcement, cooling system installation, integration and final commissioning.

This short delivery window demonstrates how complex infrastructure can be deployed rapidly to meet time-sensitive research needs.

Jenny Rae, CIO at Imperial College London, says: “Advanced digital infrastructure is now as critical to research as laboratories and instrumentation. 

“This deployment gives our researchers access to the scale and performance they need to tackle some of the most complex scientific and societal challenges. 

“Working with Digital Realty provides us with a secure, resilient and sustainable platform, while Lenovo’s direct liquid-cooled technology allows us to grow our AI capabilities responsibly. 

“Together with our technology partners, we are building an environment that will serve Imperial’s research community for many years to come.”

The collaboration between Imperial, Digital Realty and Lenovo provides a model for scaling AI infrastructure while managing energy demands. The deployment shows how targeted investments in data centres can support national research efforts.