Oil and gas company Petronas Lubricants International is launching a new data center cooling fluid and has partnered with Iceotope.
The Malaysian firm this week announced its Petronas Iona Tera, a liquid coolant specifically designed for data centers.
The company also announced plans to collaborate with Iceotope to jointly develop thermal management solutions for data centers, Edge computing facilities, and blockchain operations to enhance efficiency whilst reducing carbon emissions and water usage.
Petronas Lubricants International’s MD and group CEO, Hezlinn Idris said: "Petronas Lubricants International is proud to collaborate with Iceotope, as we share a common ground in liquid cooling technologies expertise. Through this partnership, we will be able to offer a significant impact by enabling improved performance for the data infrastructure sector without adversely affecting the environment. It is also a testament of progress for Petronas Lubricants International, as we endeavor to contribute to wider sectors beyond automotive."
Iceotope CEO, David Craig added: "Today, power consumption and environmental impact are top priorities for data center operators. Precision Liquid Cooling represents a revolutionary shift, empowering organizations to deploy IT infrastructure without compromising performance or sustainability. Our collaboration with Petronas Lubricants International places innovation in sustainable practices at the forefront. By combining Iceotope's expertise with Petronas' leading-edge technology, we are not only cooling data centers; we are ensuring efficient, responsible cooling at the highest standard."
The companies have been working together since 2022, and Petronas said the launch of the Iona Tera coolant follows nearly two years of thermal management R&D and validation processes, including the evaluation of different fluid chemistries and materials in laboratory conditions.
Formulated using “selected technologies and high-quality base oils,” the Iona fluid was initially developed for electric vehicles (EV), targeting the engine, gearbox, battery, and bearings. It has also been used as a cooling fluid for EV charging stations and phase change materials.
A number of other oil companies, including Shell, Castrol, ExxonMobil, ENEOS, and SK Enmove have launched data center coolant fluids. US food giant Cargill and chemical firm Chemours have also launched fluids.
