A new data center cooling startup has launched in the UK.

Dew Point Systems, a University of Hull spin-out, is developing a new patented indirect evaporative technology for data centers.

Dr Xiaoli Ma, senior research fellow at the University of Hull, said: “We are focused on developing technologies to tackle climate change. Air cooling systems are huge consumers of electricity, with air conditioning and electric fans accounting for about 10 percent of all global energy consumption.

“Through a series of technological breakthroughs, we have developed a super performance dew point cooler which significantly improves efficiency compared to existing technologies. Dew point cooling technology cools the air using the principle of water evaporation, leading to significant energy savings compared to conventional systems.”

Ma said that real world testing saw cooling energy consumption reduced by around 90 percent. The company hasn’t provided many details about the air-cooled technology, but has previously tested a 100kW system.

“After 15 years developing and refining the technology we are delighted to be able to share it commercially through the launch of Dew Point Systems,” Ma added.

DCD previously reported on the University of Hull’s dew point cooling tech in 2021, when ten 10kW units were deployed at Hull City Council’s data center (aka the Maritime Data Centre) following testing at the university’s Aura Innovation Centre in the Yorkshire town of Hessle.

The company was launched in collaboration with Cambridge Future Tech, a venture firm that works with UK universities to create and scale companies from their scientific research.

CEO and co-founder of Cambridge Future Tech, Owen Thompson, said: “The starting point is always great science. The research at the University of Hull stood out because of the quality of the engineering and its potential to address the growing challenge of data centre cooling.”

Dew Point Systems is now raising pre-seed funding to build its team and establish commercial channels to market.

Dew Point Systems CEO Nick Simmons said: “I’m thrilled to be working with the teams from the University of Hull and Cambridge Future Tech to commercialise dew point cooling. Sustainable cooling is critical to the energy transition, especially given the relentless growth of data centers.”