HYPER-CONVERGED INFRASTRUCTURE, APPLICATION STORAGE
IDTechEx | March 27, 2023
Thermal Interface Material (TIM) plays an important role in power electronics, computing processors, sensors, and energy storage devices. TIMs are the materials used to fill the void between heat sources and heat sinks to enhance heat transfer. TIMs come in a variety of forms, including gap pads, thermal greases, thermally conductive adhesives, and phase change materials. The form varies significantly across target application areas, cost, and ease of mass deployment. With the ever-increasing power demand and heat generation for many emerging industries, such as data centers, 5G, and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), TIMs are experiencing rapid growth and evolution, leading to significant market opportunities and massive potential for each of the target industries.
Electric Vehicles (EVs) are a fast-growing market; IDTechEx forecasts that electric vehicle markets across land, sea, and air will generate US$2.6 trillion by 2042 with a double-digit annual growth rate. The battery is undoubtedly one of the most important components of an EV. Together with the fast adoption of EVs, there is also a trend for higher power density, larger battery capacity, and faster charging.
TCAs have the fastest growth but gap fillers retain their dominant position over the next ten years. Source: IDTechEx - "Thermal Interface Materials 2023-2033: Technologies, Markets and Opportunities".
The most used TIM forms in the EV battery industry include gap pads, gap fillers, and thermally conductive adhesives (TCAs). There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution when it comes to TIM form, and the choice is ultimately subject to battery design configuration. Gap filler is by far the most widely adopted TIM for EV batteries at this stage, thanks to their superior ability to be efficiently dispensed at high volumes. However, in order to increase energy density and achieve a longer range, EV batteries have been shifting from modular to cell-to-pack designs. This shift is expected to have profound impacts on the adoption of TIMs. Modular battery designs consist of multiple individual battery modules connected to form a battery pack. Each module has a separate casing and requires a separate TIM to transfer heat from the cell to the cooling system. In contrast, the cell-to-pack design combines the battery cells into a single, large battery module, eliminating the need for separate module housings and TIMs.
This battery transition reduces TIM usage per vehicle as there are fewer thermal interfaces between the cells and the cooling plate. The elimination of module housings means cells can directly contact the cooling plate, thereby changing the performance requirements of the TIM. The TIM needs to transfer heat efficiently to avoid hotspots, as well as present good material compatibility with the cold plate. As the TIMs are positioned directly between the cells and the cold plate, an increased adhesion of TIMs is needed to stick the cells and cold plates together. Therefore, IDTechEx forecasts thermally conductive adhesives to be increasingly adopted thanks to this battery design transition, and by 2020, the market size of TCA within the EV industry is expected to have a 15-fold increase. More details about the opportunities associated with this transition are included in IDTechEx's latest research, "Thermal Interface Materials 2023-2033: Technologies, Markets and Opportunities".
About IDTechEx
IDTechEx guides your strategic business decisions through its Research, Subscription and Consultancy products, helping you profit from emerging technologies.
Read More
HYPER-CONVERGED INFRASTRUCTURE, APPLICATION STORAGE
businesswire | March 23, 2023
H5 Data Centers, a national colocation and wholesale data center provider, broke ground yesterday in Ashburn, VA on a strategically-located, state-of-the-art data center. Upon completion, the three-story data center will support 42 MWs of critical load across 255,000 square feet.
Today's announcement responds to accelerating demand for large-scale data center space in top-tier markets. Pre-leasing is under way with availability in Q3 of 2024. The data center located on Beaumeade Circle will qualify for Virginia data center sales and use tax exemption.
“H5 Data Centers is investing extensively across our portfolio and today's announcement of our Ashburn groundbreaking is an exciting start to a busy year of development,” said Josh Simms, founder and CEO of H5 Data Centers. “Upon completion, the data center will provide our customers with the ability to meet their stringent security and reliability requirements.”
Northern Virginia is the largest data center market in the world, but the immense growth of the market has made it difficult for cloud and technology companies to source scalable capacity. The build represents a high-quality option for cloud service providers, content and technology companies, and Fortune 500 customers alike.
About H5 Data Centers
H5 Data Centers is one of the leading privately-owned data center operators in the United States with over 3 million square feet of data center space under management. The company designs and engineers flexible and scalable data center solutions to address the core infrastructure and edge requirements of its customers. H5 Data Centers operates data centers in 20 US markets.
Read More
APPLICATION INFRASTRUCTURE, WINDOWS SERVER OS
US Signal and Igneo Infrastructure Partners | February 20, 2023
Igneo Infrastructure Partners, a worldwide infrastructure investment manager with assets under management of $16.5 billion, has completed the acquisition of US Signal Company, LLC, a distinguished provider of data center and network solutions.
Partner and co-head of Igneo in North America, Michael Ryder, said, "Igneo enters 2023 with strong momentum. We are excited to add US Signal to our growing portfolio in North America, where we continue to see strong tailwinds in the digital infrastructure sector." He added, "This is our third global investment in the digital sector. Our focus remains on high-quality, mid-market, critical infrastructure businesses like US Signal."
(Source – PR Newswire)
U.S. Signal, headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, offers an array of services including network, data center, cloud hosting, connectivity, data protection, disaster recovery, and colocation to both sizeable national telecommunications carriers and regional enterprise customers. US Signal serves a broad customer base with eight data centers in the upper Midwest and a fiber network spanning 9,500 route miles across nine states.
This acquisition marks Igneo's initial foray into the U.S. telecom sector and the fourth platform asset in North America. In the past four years, Igneo has invested over US$2.0 billion of capital in companies such as Terra-Gen, Rialto Bioenergy, and Patriot Rail.
About US Signal
US Signal offers cutting-edge technology solutions for data centers, cloud services, and managed services that assist businesses in updating their IT operations and adapting to evolving technological and business demands. By leveraging a range of services such as colocation, IT infrastructure, data management, disaster recovery, endpoint monitoring, and security, US Signal can cater to even the most intricate technical requirements. US Signal's comprehensive fiber network powers all of these services, ensuring secure and reliable connectivity. The network is expertly designed to optimize edge computing, enabling private WAN connections and one-hop access to the internet via Tier 1 upstream relationships and direct connections to hyper-scale cloud providers.
About Igneo Infrastructure Partners
Igneo Infrastructure Partners is a globally recognized investment firm that focuses on investing in exceptional mid-market infrastructure companies across various regions, including the UK, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Being an independent investment team under the First Sentier Investors Group, Igneo has built a robust reputation for partnering with companies and providing value to investors. Since its establishment in 1994, the firm has honed its expertise in identifying promising investment opportunities in the infrastructure space and has consistently delivered exceptional results. The team prides itself on its capability to work closely with portfolio companies, implementing innovative solutions and proactive asset management practices that foster long-term sustainable growth.
Read More